How can I hit studs and avoid cables when installing a TV mount?

Question

I bought a suitable TV wall mount bracket (45"-55") for my 48" television, however, I have reservations about committing to the work. My concerns are

1. Should I look for a wall stud, and screw into that?
2. Will hollow wall bolts be strong enough to support the TV if I just mount it to the plasterboard?
3. What if I hit a power cable?

What techniques can I use to alleviate my fears?

Answer 1

Although you TV set may be light enough so that wall anchors will support the weight they may pull loose when the set gets re-positioned and adjusted.

Always try to secure the mount to a framing member (stud). Most mounts are designed for this installation as they have openings spaced at 16 inches (the distance between each studs' center).

A stud sensor is the easiest way to precisely find a stud, but locating a stud behind the wall isn't that difficult with out one if you know what to look for:

• Tapping along a dry-walled wall listening for a duller less hollow sound is good.

• Looking for a nail head that has popped up works.

• Floor molding is usually nailed through to studs.

• Switch and receptacle boxes are sometimes nailed off to studs (on one side of the box or the other).

You should be aware of cable and plumbing that may be in the vicinity. Usually electric cable is ran through studs so that it is recessed back from the wall about 2 inches so that an 1 5/8th's drywall screw won't damage it. Plumbing is also usually protected by the same location and/or a metal stud plate directly over it. Drill slowly and cautiously if in doubt.

Answer 2

Personally I've never had much luck with electronic stud finders.

Other techniques that work for me:

• Use a magnet out of an old hard drive to locate nails/screws. Find one then search up and down for others. Hits in the top/bottom plate can be misleading. Wrap the magnet in some tape to help it slide over the wall without marking. I tried dangling the magnet from a string too, but that wasn't much help.
• If the wall is sanded/painted, use a very bright light at an acute angle to look for subtle imperfections in the finish that indicate a nail or a vertical joint.
• Get into the roof space and look at the top plate. Big nail heads can show where the studs are. This doesn't work for metal-framing, nor from underneath a floor.
• Existing fixtures - most power socket plates are screwed immediately to the left/right of a stud. So take a plate off the wall and have a look inside. You can also use a thin poker like a steel ruler or wire to slip behind the wall cladding and feel for the stud. (mind the power etc)

It is tempting to find one stud (or start beside a door/window) and then measure off 24"/600mm centers, or 18"/450mm centers, or whatever your home was built to. And that helps give a starting point for a magnet search. But there are many standards, and the spacing may vary across the wall.

For complete confidence, you can identify the center, create an access hole in the drywall, and mount in some wooden support dwangs/nods/noggins exactly where you need them. Of course this is the most work but the most long-term reliable solution. Additionally, this helps with hiding data/signal/aerial cables to have ready access into the wall. You might put a removable panel on the wall, or a cupbaord door, or drywall/plaster/paint the hole behind the TV.

Perhaps in the future you have a hundred inch TV which needs more support, so future proofing is a good idea. There is no overkill, especially if you live in an earthquake/tornado/etc region.

Answer 3

1 - Absolutely yes. Use a stud finder.

2 - No.

3 - Don't. A stud finder will help you again. Look vertically to see if you have an outlet directly below where you're drilling or above as that's an indication of a conduit as well.

Answer 4

Def. use a stud finder. I have something like this and it also alerts me to electrical cables. Like another poster said, just sheetrock is NOT strong enough to mount a TV to. You'll end up with a ripped up wall and a crashed TV at some point.