Greetings

I have what I hope is a very basic question. I have a 40" Samsung LCD TV I plan to wall mount in my living room. The wall I plan to use is an exterior wall with a stud down the center. I used a stud finder to find the center stud and the studs on either side. Measuring from the outer end of 1st stud to the outer end of 3rd stud I come up with 34" width. The mount itself if 32" wide.

I'm a bit worried that I will only be able to mount it to two studs, which would severely off-center the TV in the room or leave the TV hanging over a portion not secured to a stud.

Anyone have any ideas?

This is the mount I bought:
monoprice.com
Product ID: 4173

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=108&cp_id=10828&cs_id=1082801&p_id=4173&seq=1&format=2

There are a few options.

1. Cut out some sheetrock and add some support in the wall. Re-sheetrock the opening.

2. Use a piece of wood that is big enough to cover the span of the three studs, but small enough to not stick out from behind the TV. Then mount the bracket to the new piece of wood. I would use a solid piece of hard wood and either paint it the same color as the wall or the same color as the bracket.

I would choose option #2

I just helped a friend with the same problem! We ended up cutting the drywall and installing a couple of horizontal 2x6s between the studs, and then mounted the Monoprice mount along these horizontal 2x6s.

More work, but its worth it.

2. Use a piece of wood that is big enough to cover the span of the three studs, but small enough to not stick out from behind the TV. Then mount the bracket to the new piece of wood. I would use a solid piece of hard wood and either paint it the same color as the wall or the same color as the bracket.

I would choose option #2

#2 is a nice idea!!!!

[QUOTE=Triton46;15243851]Greetings

The wall I plan to use is an exterior wall with a stud down the center. I used a stud finder to find the center stud and the studs on either side. Measuring from the outer end of 1st stud to the outer end of 3rd stud I come up with 34" width. The mount itself if 32" wide.

QUOTE]

Sounds like you may have not found the "other" stud in the wall between the other.
HIGHLY UNLIKELY on an exterior wall studs would be that far apart. Standard industry building code for residential is 16" from center to center of studs for load bearing walls. My guess, is at 34" from the edge of one stud, that tells me there has to be another at 17" from that same edge, although stud-to-stud mesurments are typically center-to-center.
Try using a small 2" long nail 17 or so inches from the known edge of the stud you found and tap it in the drywall, if you hit wood then there's your other stud. To find center of the "other new found stud" measure 16" from the center of the known one you found to the new and you'll have 2 centered studs.

The amount of work to put in a wood panel is extreme and isn't necessary, there are other products to use in a situation where you don't have a stud where you need one. Try googling "Toggler bolts" Not the usual wing toggles, but special design used for wall mounting heavy items without making a huge hole for a wing type. Good luck.

Sounds like you may have not found the "other" stud in the wall between the other.
HIGHLY UNLIKELY on an exterior wall studs would be that far apart. Standard industry building code for residential is 16" from center to center of studs for load bearing walls. My guess, is at 34" from the edge of one stud, that tells me there has to be another at 17" from that same edge, although stud-to-stud mesurments are typically center-to-center.
Try using a small 2" long nail 17 or so inches from the known edge of the stud you found and tap it in the drywall, if you hit wood then there's your other stud. To find center of the "other new found stud" measure 16" from the center of the known one you found to the new and you'll have 2 centered studs.

The amount of work to put in a wood panel is extreme and isn't necessary, there are other products to use in a situation where you don't have a stud where you need one. Try googling "Toggler bolts" Not the usual wing toggles, but special design used for wall mounting heavy items without making a huge hole for a wing type. Good luck.
Read it again. He did find three studs.

And I wouldn't say putting in a piece of wood is extreme, LOL.
Greetings

The wall I plan to use is an exterior wall with a stud down the center. I used a stud finder to find the center stud and the studs on either side. Measuring from the outer end of 1st stud to the outer end of 3rd stud I come up with 34" width. The mount itself if 32" wide.

in2photos, no need to be sarcastic!

I did read he found 3 studs, what I'm saying is, for a EXTERIOR wall 34" spaced studs is very unlikely and stud finders sometimes are not accurate and can have misreads. I suggest to TRY a simple nail at 16" from center and just see if another stud is there.
If not, then his wall is built very different then most for an exterior wall.

This is a forum to make and read SUGGESTIONS, I was making a SUGGESTION, not striking out at you or anyones SUGGESTION, all I said was putting in a wood panel seems very extreme when there are other alternatives. I'm sure if you ask a CEDIA professional installer, it would be a rare event they cut the wall away and use wood panels to mount TV's.

in2photos, no need to be sarcastic!

I did read he found 3 studs, what I'm saying is, for a EXTERIOR wall 34" spaced studs is very unlikely and stud finders sometimes are not accurate and can have misreads. I suggest to TRY a simple nail at 16" from center and just see if another stud is there.
If not, then his wall is built very different then most for an exterior wall.

This is a forum to make and read SUGGESTIONS, I was making a SUGGESTION, not striking out at you or anyones SUGGESTION, all I said was putting in a wood panel seems very extreme when there are other alternatives. I'm sure if you ask a CEDIA professional installer, it would be a rare event they cut the wall away and use wood panels to mount TV's.
Whoa! Hold on! Chill out!

He said that from the outside of a stud to the outside of the third stud is 34". So if you subtract 1.5" (2 studs, .75" a piece) you end up with 32.5" on center with a stud between. This is perfectly acceptable. As you mention stud finders are not extremely accurate so even getting close with them is a good thing!

Now, my suggestion for a wood panel was not for INSIDE the wall, but instead to be mounted ON the OUTSIDE of the existing wall. I had two separate suggestions (which you did say were a good thing right?). Opening up the wall might be "extreme", yes, but since we are supposed to suggest things it was merely a suggestion. I did note that I thought method #2 was the better, less "extreme" choice.

And since I have worked with CEDIA installers in the past I know for a fact that they have no issues opening up a wall if they NEED to. But yes other options are certainly entertained first!

Thanks for the help all.

Yes, from outside to outside is 34", which yields 16" between the 1st and 2nd and 2nd and 3rd. I'll get a thin nail and verify the exact edges when I install.

My issue with using togglers is that the 2nd stud is dead center, meaning half the TV will be unsupported. This may be strong enough, but I'm not comfortable with it.

I'm debating between using a piece of wood (assuming something hard like oak) or getting a mount that is 36" wide (to allow for inset of the mounting holes).

I found one on monoprice...but it isn't painted (no big deal). Anyone have any leads on a 36" mount for a good price?