Mounting a TV on Brick Fireplaces: In-Depth Guide
If you are considering mounting a TV above a brick fireplace, you should be prepared for a little extra work. While this task can be challenging, it’s not impossible. Many people now chose this location to mount their TVs.
For some, there’s no other wall in their family room or den to hang their TV on. Between the doorways and windows, this spot of the wall is all that’s left. Other people specifically choose the fireplace to create a trendy or contemporary aesthetic. Either way, successfully mounting a TV above a fireplace requires more diligence than mounting it in other common areas of your home.
You don’t have to do it alone, however. The technicians at We Mount TVs are experts wall mounting above a fireplace. We’ve put together some tips to help you safely achieve the TV placement you want.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Mounting a TV Above a Fireplace
When you’re looking at mounting a TV above a brick fireplace, you should start by understanding best practices and common pitfalls.
Move the Furniture
If you’ve ever been forced to sit in the front row at the movie theater, you know what happens to your neck after a few minutes. When you mount your TV, consider how far away the furniture is; you don’t want to sit underneath the screen.
Mounting a TV on a wall tends to place the screen higher than it would be positioned in a wall cabinet, for example. To adjust the viewing angle, push your couch back slightly to create the right effect and avoid straining your neck to watch your favorite programs. Make sure you have a large enough TV to make up for this distance.
Don’t Use a Fixed Mount
When you’re mounting a TV above a brick fireplace, you might think making it stationary is the best way to protect it, but this dramatically cuts down on the viewing experience. To watch TV from anywhere in the room, you will want a motorized or tilting wall mount. This allows you to alter the TV angle to get a perfect view and ideal picture quality.
Choosing a tilting mount is especially important if you have an LED TV. These tend to have a limited viewing angle, so adjustments are frequently needed. You might prefer to invest in an OLED TV, which works better at most any angle.
Keep it Cool
The heat that comes off a fireplace when it’s in use isn’t healthy for your electronics. If you plan on mounting a TV on a fireplace, consider how you will protect your devices and ensure they are kept cool.
For those who live in warm climates and never use the fireplace, heat protection isn’t much of an issue. If you use your fireplace often, keep in mind that even with the flue completely open, there will be plenty of heat created, as well as some soot. Since heat rises, a TV placed over a fireplace can be at-risk for damage.
There are ways to reduce the heat above the fireplace and protect the life of your devices, however, such as adding a shelf or mantle between the fireplace and TV. Make sure you have plenty of room between the two for safety purposes.
Don’t Have a Fire While Watching TV
It might be tempting to have a fire rolling while your favorite show is on, but it can be distracting. Not only that, but the flicker of the fire and the continual changing of the brightness in the room is sure to interfere with your viewing experience.
Hire a Professional
While it’s possible to mount the TV yourself, a DIY approach for something as labor-intensive as mounting a flat screen can be frustrating. Unless you have extensive experience with masonry work, you also run the risk of breaking or damaging the mantle or other components of your fireplace.
The best way to achieve the result you want is to hire a professional TV installer to offer their opinion and expertise. They can pick the right angle to create an ideal picture and a long-lasting mount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you mount a TV on a brick wall?
It is possible to mount a TV on a brick wall, but special provisions must be made. Not only will you require some specific hardware, but it’s helpful to have experience with this type of installation.
How do you hide the TV wires over a brick fireplace?
Because most homes with brick fireplaces don’t have electrical or cable receptacles on that wall, so you may need to have an electrician place a receptacle nearby. To hide the cables, choose a color close to that of your brick fireplace; they can then be routed to the side of the fireplace inconspicuously.
Is any special equipment needed to mount a TV on a brick fireplace?
Mounting a TV always requires special equipment, no matter what type of wall you use. Mounting a TV above a brick fireplace requires masonry bits and a hammer drill to get the job done. If you can get a friend to hold a shop-vac under you while drilling, you will also save yourself time and effort in the clean-up process.
Count on We Mount TVs to Help
At We Mount TVs, we regularly install televisions above the fireplace. Our customers trust us for professional, courteous, and respectful service. We value your time, which is why we offer flexible scheduling; you can expect our team to show up at the appointed time.
When it comes time for installation, we take care of the entire process, from start to finish. There is nothing you need to worry about. From unboxing your equipment to the cleanup, we ensure all tasks associated with your installation are complete. The team at We Mount TVs can connect your home surround sound or smart devices to the system as well. Before we leave, we ensure that all of the cables are hidden and then we train you on using your new setup.
Contact We Mount TVs to create the home entertainment set-up of your dreams. We handle full home theater configurations, patio systems, surround sound, and home automation. There’s a reason we’re the premium TV mounting service near you.