I'll be mounting a plasma weighing 75lbs above my fireplace. I've already cut a 3x2' access hole in the drywall to run cables, an electrical outlet, and to add/reinforce studs. It gives me good access to the inside wall. I'm not concerned with the mount itself but rather with the wall it'll be bolted to.
This is an alcove (a small closet-like thing) where the fireplace is mounted and the metal chimney runs up inside. It's a wood burning zero clearance burning fireplace with an insulated metal chimney. The framing on the front face of the fireplace is basic framing with two studs coming down to the floor on either side of the FP and one down in the middle which rests on a 2x4 cross brace (header) between the 2 outside studs. Picture a H with an additional line in the middle of the top part of the H. The FP being in the bottom of the H. I'm thinking I should add some additional support on the cross brace header above the FP box. I'll also be adding 2 more studs between the centre stud and each outside stud which will also rest on that same header. The mount is not wide enough to get bolts into the 2 outer studs which is why I have to add something in the middle.
I've also though I should maybe reinforce at the top of each stud where they're nailed to the top plate. Normally there'd be 2 nails through the plate into each stud so I was thinking of toe-screwing a few screws into those as well.
Am I overkilling this? Is a weight of 75lbs no big deal for a wall to carry?
Any good suggestions or procedures to follow? If a picture or 2 will help I can post some.
This is an alcove (a small closet-like thing) where the fireplace is mounted and the metal chimney runs up inside. It's a wood burning zero clearance burning fireplace with an insulated metal chimney. The framing on the front face of the fireplace is basic framing with two studs coming down to the floor on either side of the FP and one down in the middle which rests on a 2x4 cross brace (header) between the 2 outside studs. Picture a H with an additional line in the middle of the top part of the H. The FP being in the bottom of the H. I'm thinking I should add some additional support on the cross brace header above the FP box. I'll also be adding 2 more studs between the centre stud and each outside stud which will also rest on that same header. The mount is not wide enough to get bolts into the 2 outer studs which is why I have to add something in the middle.
I've also though I should maybe reinforce at the top of each stud where they're nailed to the top plate. Normally there'd be 2 nails through the plate into each stud so I was thinking of toe-screwing a few screws into those as well.
Am I overkilling this? Is a weight of 75lbs no big deal for a wall to carry?
Any good suggestions or procedures to follow? If a picture or 2 will help I can post some.
