I'm preparing to buy my first house so I am really excited to get things done shortly after closing. We do not have the house yet, but I am planning it all out already. I already have a 46" plasma that I want to mount on the wall over the fireplace. I'm just trying to get an idea of how much this install will cost or how much work it's going to be.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a34/BigDogF150/tvoverfire.jpg

As you can see, I photoshopped a TV similar to mine over the fireplace. I will need an electrical outlet installed up there behind the tv along with getting all the cables (HDMI, coax cable and other cables) from the left side of the fireplace, up to the back of the tv. I'm assuming I can hire an electrician to install a new outlet for the power cable, and then have an audio/video specialist come in to run the cables from the receiver and such up the tv/ Anyone think this is going to be a problem or have any advice? I look forward to your comments and advice. Thanks

It will greatly depend on what is behind that wall.

Gehind which wall? Where I would put all the components is a bedroom. I'm guessing you're talking about what kind of strutcure there is behind the tv and fireplace. I"m gonna have to leave this up to the pros

Correct, the wall that the display will hang on. Most likely it is framed out in front of the flute so you shouldn't have any issues - However, you are on an outside wall in the corner of the house- your attic access will be limited there.

It may be easier to fish the display wires from the existing coax location up to the display - But you will have a few furring strips that will need to be drilled behind - unless you have a wood framed house, that I don't know.

It is a wood framed house. There is not an attic above the living room so I think it will be a little difficult fishing wires. I guess running surround sound wires will be a problem too :confused:

Your best bet is to stick your equipment to the left of the FP, run an HDMI and (2) cat5e to the display (1) for control, (1) for future ethernet.

As far as surround goes, can always go with the surround bar approach. Boston Acoustics/Yamaha/B&W Panorama (if your budget allows) There is always a way of getting the wire there, just may need to do some patch work :) You could do floor standing rears and fish the wire under the carpet..

When there's a will...

I had a plasma above my fireplace in my house for about a year until I uninstalled it. Generally, the placement is too high and is not conducent to comfortable TV viewing. The TV should be around eye level unless you want a stiff neck. Just my two cents.

As the previous poster has stated, you're house looks pretty new so I wouldn't think the cost would be that bad probably around $400 - $500. Obviously more if you get any custom work done.

The fireplace is the focal point of the room. [I think] When the display is to the side of the FP, it throws off the aesthetics of the room.

Well your on an Audio/Video Science forum not HGTV...

just kidding. I just thought i would pass along my experience. Personally I'm more interested in the watching TV but I understand some people like to "tie the room together"

I had a plasma above my fireplace in my house for about a year until I uninstalled it. Generally, the placement is too high and is not conducent to comfortable TV viewing. The TV should be around eye level unless you want a stiff neck. Just my two cents.

As the previous poster has stated, you're house looks pretty new so I wouldn't think the cost would be that bad probably around $400 - $500. Obviously more if you get any custom work done.
I agree. I moved my TV to an adjacent wall in an entertainment center and have zero regrets!
The fireplace is the focal point of the room. [I think] When the display is to the side of the FP, it throws off the aesthetics of the room.
While the FP may be the "focal point" of the room, which gets used more, the FP or the TV? So which one should get second fiddle when it comes to placement?

Same thing with a bathroom. All the focus shifts to a stupid bathtub and a shower gets no love. Yet the shower gets used everyday, and the tub gets dusty. :rolleyes:

Viva la revolution! Let's change the priorities in our houses! :D

What about a basement? The question is how are you going to get the needed wires to the needed locations without ruining the look you want to achieve. You mentioned putting components in a bedroom...what's the path of least resistance for your wire pulling adventure?

Don't get me wrong, I don't want to look up at my TV either :P

design on a dime is a wonderful show btw.. :D

It's really easy. By the angle in the ceiling I'm going to assume that this is a one story house and that it's built on a slab. Your chimney is most likely a double walled tube so you shouldn't need fire rated romex. But you should look to your city's electrical code requirements just to be sure. Make sure you can get access to the firebox from the attic first. Then cut two holes above the fireplace for two separate single gang remodel boxes and shine a powerful light in the holes.(Most electrical codes do not allow high and low voltage to be run together into the same box.) The just snake the lines in from the attic down into the firebox and pull them through the holes. You may need to run metal walled conduit and use metal junction boxes. Again, check your code. Tap into a wire that runs in the attic or tap into an attic light or plug if your code allows for this. I have done this several times and depending on your ease of access above the fireplace and what the fireplace is faced with(stone and brick is a bit$h!) it is a relatively simple thing to do.

Did I mention check your electrical codes? You can cheat on this but I would highly advise against it. If you go to sell your house and an inspector catches a code violation, then you'll have to fix it. Or, if your house burns down, your insurance company will have a reason not to pay. So be careful!

I myself have done this install at least 50 times.
your options are limited.
If i see the picture correctly thats a pine tree out that window which means you live in the north parts and probably have a basement?
The wires can easily go down behind the fireplace into the basement and then back up to where your equipment will sit. The electric gets tied into the basement.
Prices vary in diff areas but a low price would be about $350-400 for electric and tv install. Add about 250 If your doing 5.1 audio as well.
hope this helps

My guess is you are going to need to cut some drywall out and then patch it back.

Thanks for all the replies. Everyone has their own scenario of how to do it but its the internet and it's hard to tell just from a picture. I have not bought the house yet(bank owned, still waiting for them to accept/reject our offer) so I cant get in there to find out whats behind the walls. I am hoping its not a huge issue but time will tell.

The house is a single level and on a slab due to being in Myrtle Beach, SC. No basements allowed here.

I guess until we get the house, I will just have to be patient on this.I was gonna go ahead and buy a full motion wall mount but I"ll wait until we can talk to an electrician about our options.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll post up once we actually get a house

Ha ha I was closest as to guessing what he had!!!!!