Baltimore Carlos
07-12-09, 06:14 PM
Hi Folks,
I know that there have been a few threads already discussing how to mount a flat panel display to a wall framed with metal studs. I have referenced these threads to the best of my ability and have tried to integrate some existing strategies in order to come up with a solution suitable for my setup. I just want to run my plans by the knowledgeable members of this forum with the hopes that you all can let me know if I am on the right track, and if not, what changes I may have to make.
First things first: I am trying to mount a 60" Pioneer Elite PRO-141FD plasma monitor (110 lbs). I am using a Sanus VMPL3 Tilting Wall Mount (26 lbs, supports up to 280 lbs).
The wall that I am going to mount the display on is composed of drywall (unsure of the thickness) framed by metal studs (unsure of the gauge and exact width). Since it is not a load-bearing wall (it is an interior wall that merely separates the guest bedroom and living room in my condominium), I believe that the metal studs will be fairly thin (~25 gauge). The studs are 24" apart from center-to-center.
In order to safely mount my plasma display, I have decided to cut out a section of drywall 72" wide by 20" high. I will replace this section of drywall with a sheet of finished plywood (unsure of thickness; I think it will need to be the same thickness as the drywall that it replaces). This sheet of plywood will be secured to 3 studs with 5 screws (or toggle bolts) securing it to each stud.
Once the plywood sheet has been secured to the studs, blended into the surrounding drywall with joint compound, and painted to match the rest of the wall, I will secure the Sanus mount to the plywood with 20 lag screws. I will also run the necessary cabling through the wall (before securing the plywood sheet) and install a recessed outlet in the drywall just below the plywood sheet, but still concealed by where the TV will hang. Lastly, I will hang my plasma display and connect the cabling.
Here is a scale drawing of my plans for this project (please pardon my crappy MS Paint skills):
147686
The only thing I forgot to include in this drawing is the location of the power outlet that I am going to install. That shouldn't be too difficult to picture though, since it is going to be installed in the drywall below the plywood and behind the TV. To clarify my color coding, the vertical light gray rectangles are the metal studs, the brown rectangle is the plywood sheet, the darker gray rectangle is the Sanus mount, and the large black outline represents the borders of the plasma display. White circles indicate the approximate locations of the screws or toggle bolts, and are not drawn to scale (although they are correct in number).
What do you guys think of my plan? I am particularly interested in knowing
1. whether you guys think that this will be structurally strong enough to safely hold my display,
2. what kind of screws (or toggle bolts) you think that I should use to secure the plywood sheet to the studs, and
3. what kind of screws (or toggle bolts) you think that I should use to secure the mount to the plywood sheet.
Sorry for the lengthy thread, but I wanted to be thorough in the explanation of my plans. I really appreciate whatever feedback or input you all are able to offer me!
I know that there have been a few threads already discussing how to mount a flat panel display to a wall framed with metal studs. I have referenced these threads to the best of my ability and have tried to integrate some existing strategies in order to come up with a solution suitable for my setup. I just want to run my plans by the knowledgeable members of this forum with the hopes that you all can let me know if I am on the right track, and if not, what changes I may have to make.
First things first: I am trying to mount a 60" Pioneer Elite PRO-141FD plasma monitor (110 lbs). I am using a Sanus VMPL3 Tilting Wall Mount (26 lbs, supports up to 280 lbs).
The wall that I am going to mount the display on is composed of drywall (unsure of the thickness) framed by metal studs (unsure of the gauge and exact width). Since it is not a load-bearing wall (it is an interior wall that merely separates the guest bedroom and living room in my condominium), I believe that the metal studs will be fairly thin (~25 gauge). The studs are 24" apart from center-to-center.
In order to safely mount my plasma display, I have decided to cut out a section of drywall 72" wide by 20" high. I will replace this section of drywall with a sheet of finished plywood (unsure of thickness; I think it will need to be the same thickness as the drywall that it replaces). This sheet of plywood will be secured to 3 studs with 5 screws (or toggle bolts) securing it to each stud.
Once the plywood sheet has been secured to the studs, blended into the surrounding drywall with joint compound, and painted to match the rest of the wall, I will secure the Sanus mount to the plywood with 20 lag screws. I will also run the necessary cabling through the wall (before securing the plywood sheet) and install a recessed outlet in the drywall just below the plywood sheet, but still concealed by where the TV will hang. Lastly, I will hang my plasma display and connect the cabling.
Here is a scale drawing of my plans for this project (please pardon my crappy MS Paint skills):
147686
The only thing I forgot to include in this drawing is the location of the power outlet that I am going to install. That shouldn't be too difficult to picture though, since it is going to be installed in the drywall below the plywood and behind the TV. To clarify my color coding, the vertical light gray rectangles are the metal studs, the brown rectangle is the plywood sheet, the darker gray rectangle is the Sanus mount, and the large black outline represents the borders of the plasma display. White circles indicate the approximate locations of the screws or toggle bolts, and are not drawn to scale (although they are correct in number).
What do you guys think of my plan? I am particularly interested in knowing
1. whether you guys think that this will be structurally strong enough to safely hold my display,
2. what kind of screws (or toggle bolts) you think that I should use to secure the plywood sheet to the studs, and
3. what kind of screws (or toggle bolts) you think that I should use to secure the mount to the plywood sheet.
Sorry for the lengthy thread, but I wanted to be thorough in the explanation of my plans. I really appreciate whatever feedback or input you all are able to offer me!