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Quick question on wall mounting an LCD

post #1 of 11
2/24/09 at 7:36pm
Thread Starter 
Greetings all, I'm not sure if this is the correct forum so excuse me in advance if not!

Okay, I am working on installing a 52" LCD over a friend's fireplace. Since the wall is completely symmetrical the TV *has* to be centered over the fireplace. After removing some of the drywall to route the wires, I noticed that there is a stud at just about the exact middle over the fireplace. The LCD mount is about 20" wide. So. . . . what the heck do I do to install it?

With the stud in the middle it is in the same place the middle of hte mount must land. But what that really means is that I would need a stud about 8 inches out from the center stud on each side. But, of course, the next studs are 16" away!

So am I going to have to add studs 8" away from the center stud?

I can't find *any* info about adding studs to support an LCD install so am I just crazy here or what!?

Some one talk me off the ledge!

Thanks in advance.
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post #2 of 11
2/24/09 at 8:12pm
the easiest thing to do if the mount can't be shifted one way or the other is to use a 3/4" piece of plywood. slightly smaller than the tv. mount this to all the studs you can using lag bolts, then mount the tv mount to the plywood. hit as many studs as you can with the TV mount, but the 3/4" ply should provide enough support.
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post #3 of 11
2/25/09 at 5:24am
Yep, what Brandon suggested is what is usually done.

However, if you have the wall open, you can put whatever you want in the way of support in leiu of or in addition to the plywood.
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post #4 of 11
2/25/09 at 7:11am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by bethomas View Post

the easiest thing to do if the mount can't be shifted one way or the other is to use a 3/4" piece of plywood. slightly smaller than the tv. mount this to all the studs you can using lag bolts, then mount the tv mount to the plywood. hit as many studs as you can with the TV mount, but the 3/4" ply should provide enough support.

Would you use lag bolts to connect the mount to the plywood then or another type of fastener?

Also, how do you deal with making hte plywood look good afterwards? Wouldn't you just have a huge block of playwood sitting there? if the drywall is 1/2" it wouldn't be flush would it?
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post #5 of 11
2/25/09 at 7:50am
What Bud said is going to look the best, basically tear out a little of the drywall, add some 2x4 blocking (attached to the other studs) and then replace the small section of drywall that you tore out, then mount tv.

You can also add the plywood like bethomas said, which would work just as well but as you said you'd have to paint the plywood and it would make your tv protrude out 3/4, because no it would not be flush.
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post #6 of 11
2/25/09 at 7:54am
no, i would only use the lag bolts for the plywood into the stud and the mount into the studs (predrill!) for the mount onto the plywood some good 1/2" or larger bolts with washers should work just fine. note you will have to notch out the drywall behind where the bolts will go so that the ply sits flush against the drwall. or you could cut out the rectangle in the drywall equal to the size of the ply. granted you will still have a 1/4" sticking out at the minimum. if you are just doing a non telescoping or swiveling mount just paint the plywood black and no one will ever see it. for a swiveling or telescoping mount, when you move the tv out from the wall you will be able to see the plywood, but in this situation your options are kind of limited, unless you tear out all the drywall and add more studs or bracing to that wall.
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post #7 of 11
2/25/09 at 7:56am
shawn's suggestion is probably the best compromise of the solutions, however i was offering the easiest one with the plywood. if i had to do it i would do the blocking between the studs, while a little more work, it will look the best.
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post #8 of 11
2/25/09 at 8:42am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the replies gang I really appreciate it!

Okay, I think my plan (since I've already cut out a lot of drywall in that region will be to:

1. Cut out drywall so that i can see all 3 studs that are in play (the somewhat centered one and the two next to it).
2. Mount some new blocking horizontally at teh height of the wall mount (either toenailing or using hangers if I can't get at the sides of the studs [I think the outer two are 2 2x4s)
3. replace drywall
4. use lag bolts to connect wall mount to new blocking studs

Does that sound like a plan?
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post #9 of 11
2/25/09 at 10:41am
Quote:


2. Mount some new blocking horizontally at teh height of the wall mount (either toenailing or using hangers if I can't get at the sides of the studs [I think the outer two are 2 2x4s)

I wouldn't trust toenailing to hold in this situation. Wedge your new horizontal blocking in place and then screw a scrap piece of wood under the blocking, into the side of the existing stud. Essentially, you're building a little ledge for the blocking to sit on. Using screws to fasten the "ledge" in place will give more strength than you could easily achieve in any other way.

Another reason to avoid toenailing is that hammering on the side of an existing wall stud can sometimes cause problems in the drywall on one or both sides of the wall.
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post #10 of 11
2/25/09 at 11:14am
Thread Starter 
Right on Dwight.

I don't trust toenailing myself. I bought some hangers to really mount it to the existing studs well. But I also like the thought of sure-ing it up with some "baby trimmers" and making little sills out of it like you suggest.
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post #11 of 11
2/25/09 at 2:43pm
oh and to make life easier, make sure you mark the studs and bracing while you have the wall open, this will take the guess work otu of where the studs and bracing is at. and predrill the holes for the lag bolts.
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