A new TV leaning against the wall on top of the old cabinet is a familiar sight. Getting it onto the wall safely takes the right bracket, the right fixings for the wall, careful measuring and a second pair of hands. Done properly, a mounted TV is safer around kids and pets, frees up floor space and looks much tidier.

Leongatha Handyman mounts TVs on plasterboard, timber, brick and block walls in homes, rentals, holiday houses and small businesses across Leongatha, Korumburra, Mirboo North, Meeniyan, Inverloch and the surrounding district.

What a TV mounting job includes

• Helping you choose the right height and position for the room
• Locating studs or assessing the masonry
• Fitting the bracket with fixings suited to the wall and the TV weight
• Attaching the mounting arms to the back of the TV
• Lifting and hanging the TV, then levelling it
• Running visible cables neatly in a surface cable cover, painted if you like
• Tidying up and taking the packaging away if you want

Choosing a bracket

Fixed brackets

The TV sits flat and close to the wall. This is the neatest look and suits rooms where you sit directly in front of the screen at a comfortable height.

Tilting brackets

The TV can tilt down a few degrees. This helps if the TV has to go a little higher, such as above a fireplace or a low cabinet, and it reduces glare from windows.

Full-motion or swing-arm brackets

The TV pulls out from the wall and swings left or right. These are useful in open-plan rooms, where you want to watch from the kitchen and the lounge, or in corners. They put much more leverage on the wall, so they must be fixed securely into studs or solid masonry.

We can supply a suitable bracket, or fit one you have already bought. If you buy your own, check that it matches the VESA hole pattern on the back of the TV and is rated for its weight. Send us the TV model and we can confirm.

Getting the height right

The most common mistake is mounting a TV too high. As a rough guide, the centre of the screen should be close to eye level when you are seated. In most lounge rooms that puts the bottom of the screen somewhere around the height of a typical sideboard. We mark the position with painter’s tape first so you can sit down and check before anything is drilled.

Above a fireplace is a popular spot, especially in older homes where the fireplace is the focus of the room, but it is usually higher than ideal. A tilting bracket helps. We also check that heat from the fireplace or flue will not affect the TV. Many manufacturers advise against mounting directly above a working wood fire.

Different walls, different fixings

Plasterboard on timber studs

This is the most common wall in newer homes and many renovations. We find the studs and fix the bracket directly into them with heavy-duty screws or coach screws. Plasterboard alone is not strong enough to hold a TV, especially a full-motion bracket.

Plasterboard on steel studs

Some newer homes have steel frames. We use fixings designed for steel studs.

Brick and block

Brick veneer homes have the plasterboard on timber studs, but many older homes, extensions and garages have solid brick or block walls. We drill and fix with masonry anchors suited to the wall material. Old soft bricks need extra care to get a strong fixing.

Lath and plaster

Older weatherboard homes in Leongatha, Korumburra and Mirboo North often have lath-and-plaster walls. The plaster itself is brittle, so we locate the studs behind it and fix into those. Drilling slowly prevents the plaster from cracking.

Timber lining boards

Many farmhouses and holiday houses have timber lining boards. These look great and are generally easy to fix to, but we still find the framing behind for a heavy TV.

Cables

Loose cables hanging down the wall spoil a mounted TV. The simplest solution is a surface cable cover, a slim channel that runs from the TV down to the cabinet. We cut it to length, fix it neatly and can paint it to match the wall so it almost disappears.

Running cables inside the wall is sometimes possible, but it involves cutting holes and, if a new power point is needed behind the TV, a licensed electrician must do that part. We do not do electrical work. If you want a power point moved, book an electrician first and we can mount the TV afterwards.

Other things we mount

The same skills apply to plenty of other items:

• Soundbars, mounted under the TV
• Monitors on wall arms in home offices
• Projector screens
• Wall-mounted speakers
• Mirrors, large artworks and heavy shelving
• Outdoor TVs in covered alfresco areas, using brackets suited to outdoor use

TVs in rentals and holiday houses

Tenants usually need the landlord’s permission before anything is mounted to the wall. If you are a tenant, check with your property manager first. Landlords and holiday house owners sometimes mount TVs themselves to make a property more appealing. In holiday homes, a mounted TV is safer with visiting children and less likely to be knocked over.

Safety

A falling TV can seriously injure a child. That is reason enough to mount it properly or to use an anti-tip strap if it stays on furniture. Every TV we mount is fixed into solid structure, and we test the bracket under load before hanging the TV.

How booking works

1. Send the TV size and model, a photo of the wall, and tell us what the wall is made of if you know.

2. Tell us whether you have a bracket or want us to supply one.

3. We quote and book a time.

4. On the day, we confirm the position with you before drilling.

5. Most single TV installations take one to two hours.

Areas we cover

We mount TVs in Leongatha, Korumburra, Mirboo North, Meeniyan, Koonwarra, Dumbalk, Inverloch, Tarwin Lower, Nyora, Loch and Poowong, and on rural properties throughout South Gippsland.

Planning for the room

Before mounting, think about:

• Glare. Look at where the sun comes in during the afternoon and evening. A west-facing window opposite the TV causes glare for hours in summer.
• Furniture. Where will the couch actually sit? Measure from there.
• Devices. Gaming consoles, set-top boxes and streaming devices need somewhere to live below the TV, and cables need a path.
• Future changes. If you might move the TV later, a bracket with some adjustment gives you options.

Picking the right bracket

• Fixed brackets hold the TV close to the wall. They suit rooms where you sit straight in front of the screen.
• Tilting brackets angle the screen down slightly, which helps when the TV is mounted above head height or there is glare from a window.
• Full-motion arms let you pull the screen out and swing it towards different parts of the room. They suit open-plan living areas and corner positions, but they need very solid fixings because the leverage on the wall is much greater.
• Ceiling mounts are occasionally used in shops, clubs and gyms.

Check the VESA pattern on the back of your TV and the weight rating before buying a bracket, or tell us the model and we can advise.

Viewing height and comfort

A common mistake is mounting the screen too high. For most living rooms, the centre of the screen should be close to eye level when seated, which is lower than most people expect. Above a fireplace looks tidy but can mean a sore neck and, with a wood heater, heat rising past the TV. Many South Gippsland homes rely on wood heaters through winter, so we check the clearances recommended by the heater and TV manufacturers before mounting anywhere near one.

Cables and power

We can run cables through a wall cavity using an approved in-wall cable kit, or neatly along the wall in a paintable cover. We do not install or move power points; if a new outlet is needed behind the TV, a licensed electrician will need to do that, and we can mount the TV after they have finished.

Reception in South Gippsland

Free-to-air reception varies across the hills and valleys between Leongatha, Mirboo North and the coast. If your picture breaks up, the problem is usually the antenna, cabling or signal, which is a job for an antenna specialist. We mount the screen and tidy the cables; we do not install antennas or satellite dishes.

Mounting in rentals, holiday homes and businesses

Rental properties usually need the owner’s written permission before a TV is wall-mounted. Holiday houses at Inverloch and Venus Bay often benefit from a mounted TV in the living area and bunk rooms, keeping screens out of reach of small hands. Cafés, clubs, gyms and waiting rooms in Leongatha and Korumburra use mounted screens for menus and information; we work outside opening hours where possible. When a TV comes off the wall at the end of a lease or a renovation, we remove the bracket and patch and touch up the holes.

After the job

We test the bracket’s tilt and swivel, check the screen is level, and leave the manuals and spare parts with you.

Mounting on brick and stone

Brick and stone feature walls need masonry anchors set into solid brick, not mortar joints.

Removing old brackets

Old brackets come off cleanly, holes are patched, and the wall is ready to paint.

Frequently asked questions