Thinking about mounting your TV? Whether you’ve just gotten a brand new TV or you’ve had yours for years, your flat screen was meant to be mounted, and there’s no time like the present to get started.
Sure, the idea of installing it on your own doesn’t sound like the most complicated thing in the world. In fact, if you’re interested in doing so, we’ve got plenty of DIY guides available to get you started.
That being said, if you want it done the proper way, the full process does entail a bit more than meets the eye, and it’s certainly not for the faint of heart. While we’re big advocates of the DIY method and tackling your own home improvement projects, there are some substantial benefits to leaving things to a professional TV mounting service, rather than struggling to go it alone.
Why Should You Hire Professional Services to Mount a TV?
From reducing the risk of potential damage to your wall and TV, to increased accuracy and convenience, the list of benefits of using a professional install company goes on and on. To help you weigh the options out for yourself, here’s our top 9 reasons to seriously consider using a TV mount technician to do the job for you.
1. To not Damage an Expensive TV
No matter what kind of Black Friday TV deal you managed to score this year, TVs certainly ain’t cheap. Depending on the size, brand and screen quality, most flat screen TVs on the market today will cost anywhere from $300-$600, with some models priced at well over $1,000.
Your TV was obviously a serious investment, and after shelling out all that cash, you and your family expect to be able to enjoy watching it over at least a few years. The last thing you want is for your expensive TV to end up scratched, damaged, or completely shattered due to an unstable or subpar install job.
When you hire someone to mount a TV, they will help you locate the perfect spot on the wall, ascertain a stud that can support your TV’s full weight, and tightly secure both the bracket and the TV itself, for the ideal TV setup that’s built to last. This way, you can feel confident that your costly TV won’t end up on the ground in pieces.
2. Heavy Lifting isn’t for Everyone
There’s certainly no shame in feeling wary about lifting that weight on your own for long periods of time. If you’re not equipped to carry such a heavy load or you don’t have someone around to assist you, hire someone to mount a TV on a wall to keep things simple and minimize the possibility of you throwing out your back.
3. Precision and Accuracy
This, of course, requires the use of a tape measure, leveler, and some extremely close attention to detail. Remember the last time you put up a picture frame, and the hours you spent arguing about whether or not it was even?
When you hire a TV mount installer, they will have all the tools and expertise needed to take care of this for you, so you won’t have to spend a second agonizing over those meticulous details.
4. Get a Full Setup
Sadly, attaching your TV to the wall is just the beginning of the full TV mounting process. The tricky part is what comes after - that massive pile of cords to hide, installing shelves and/or sound bars, surround sound setup, device or cable box configuration, and more.
Don’t waste a second bickering with your partner or kids over how to set up your speakers or streaming devices properly. Most TV mounting services are equipped to handle all these complex aspects for you, so it’s smooth sailing all the way.
5. Save Time and Headache
You’ve probably got some idea in your head that involves simply drilling a few holes, effortlessly plopping your TV on the wall, and that’s that. As you know, our expectations don’t always tend to match up with reality, especially when it comes to DIY projects.
Unfortunately, the TV mounting process does in fact entail quite a bit of time and effort. From measuring everything out, to laying down tape, finding a stud, using a level, drilling into your wall and lifting your heavy TV for long periods of time, you’ll start to understand why there’s now an entire industry dedicated to taking the hassle out of this process for you.
Furthermore, after all the time energy you invested trying to install your TV on your own, you could still be unhappy with the crooked or messy-looking final result. Save yourself the time and headache, and leave installation to the industry experts and hire someone to mount a TV.
6. Get Expert Recommendations
While you can find just about anything on the internet these days, when it comes to hanging your tv on the wall, you really need expert recommendations. Did you know that there are three key factors that dictate the best distance to sit from your TV? They are size, field of view, and screen resolution. An expert can provide those details because you don’t know what you don’t know. It’s hard to search YouTube if you don’t know what questions to ask.
The closer you are to the screen, the larger the digital pixels look and the clarity will be reduced. Sitting too far away is almost as bad as you’ll be squinting to see where the ball is with every football game.
Different size TVs and resolutions can impact just how much you enjoy your program. Remember what it was like before HD or 4K? Professional installers do too which is why there are unique formulas for the installation of these high-definition marvels. The same applies for every location in your home whether you want to mount it over the fireplace, in bright sunlight, or outside on the patio—a professional installer will provide all the details on what you need.
7. High-quality Wiring
This is the key question homeowners ask when mounting a TV on the wall, “How do I hide all the wires?” Hiding the wires is one thing, but you’ll also need an electrical outlet nearby or behind the TV and long enough power, HDMI/AV cables to reach the components. A professional installer will have the expertise and the equipment needed for a seamless, high-quality wiring with everything hidden behind the walls.
Why attempt to do the work yourself and risk frustration or a TV that underperforms due to poor wiring? Hire a company that specializes in TV mounting to get the job done right the first time.
8. Familiarity with all necessary tools
If you’re handy with tools and have a work area with all those needed to prepare and mount your own TV, you can save a little money by tackling the job yourself. If you’re like most though, you have a small tool bag with a screwdriver, hammer, and pliers. Depending on the wall material you’re mounting to, you’re definitely going to need a few more tools and the know-how to use them.
Hire a professional who has every tool necessary to securely affix your TV. You can feel confident that the job is done right—where you want it, with the proper type of mount, without unsightly holes, and without the worry that your TV will fall off the wall.
9. Detect the Best Spot and Location
You may already have “the perfect spot” picked out for your wall-mounted TV, but is it really the best place to put it? You’ll want the expertise of someone who understands exactly what is needed for the optimum location.
For example:
- Is the TV positioned properly for the best viewing? Is there too much glare from a window, is the furniture too close or too far away from your big screen, high-definition TV?
- Is there an electrical outlet nearby?
- Is it even possible to hang your TV over the fireplace without it getting too hot?
- Is there sufficient support behind the wall to hold the TV securely?
- Can the cables be hidden inside a plaster or stone wall?
What are Pros and Cons of DIY TV Mounting?
We all know that guy who is handy at everything. He owns a massive amount of tools and is constantly building something. For him, mounting his own TV may make sense, but for the average person, the job isn’t as simple as you might imagine. Here’s a list of the pros and cons for going the DIY method:
Pros
- Save money—you can save a few dollars by doing the work yourself but if you have problems, it may affect just how much.
- Get the job done fast—if you’ve got the tools, the bracket, and the time, you can knock out the job on your timetable. There’s no need to wait until you can get an appointment.
Cons
- Damage your TV—it’s awkward and difficult to secure the TV to the bracket. If you drop the TV while you’re installing it or it falls off the wall, you may end up buying a new one.
- Damage to your wall—if you’re mounting the TV on drywall, you’ll need to find a stud to secure it to. You’ll need to find the stud with a stud finder but occasionally, you’ll hit the edge of the stud or realize you drilled in the wrong spot—requiring you to drill another hole. Yes, your TV may cover it, but it will eventually need repairs.
- Purchase the wrong bracket—there are many different brackets to choose from and while some may say they are a universal fit, the hold pattern may not match your TV.
- Poor viewability—you may have trouble seeing your TV or you may not achieve the best picture quality if you position the bracket too high, too low, too far away, or too close to where you will be sitting. This will compromise the clarity of the picture. Also, if you’re across from a window, the glare may make it impossible for everyone in the room to see the television.
- Exposed cables—once you mount your TV, you’ll have a maze of cables and wires that must be plugged into cable boxes, sound bars, and electrical outlets. Fishing wires through a wall is no easy task so you may have an unattractive set-up that detracts from the entire room.
- No warranty—if something goes wrong with the installation, you have no recourse or backup. You’ll need to absorb the cost of fixing the problem.
How Much Will TV Mounting Cost?
Mounting a TV on drywall will be considered a basic installation and the least expensive option. You will provide the bracket and pay extra for cables, concealing wires, connecting equipment, and mounting above a fireplace or surface other than drywall.
Companies use different payment structures—some offer a flat fee starting at $69 for televisions up to 31” to $179 for larger units over 81”, while others charge between $70 and $110 per hour for a basic installation.
If you want to purchase the mounting bracket from the company, you can expect to pay anywhere from $39 to $105 on average, depending on the size of your TV.
FAQ
Is it worth it to pay someone to mount a TV?
Yes, the cost to hire a professional is minimal considering the benefits of using their expertise. You can save some money by only paying for a basic installation. You can provide your own bracket and connect your equipment yourself for no extra charge.
Should you mount your own TV or hire someone?
Unless you’re extremely handy and proficient with the tools needed to mount your TV, it is advisable to hire a professional installer. You’ll have the benefit of their expertise with location, right-sized bracket, easily concealed wires, and connecting all your equipment.
How long will it take a professional to mount a TV?
A basic installation on drywall should take between one and two hours. It could take four hours or more if it is a complicated installation where blocking is needed or the wall surface is difficult to work with.
How much should you spend on a TV wall mount?
The old adage, “You get what you pay for” may apply well here. While you don’t want to overpay for a bracket, you want to make sure it is both compatible with your TV and strong enough to hold its weight. Buy from a reputable source (or the installer) and pay between $39 and $105, depending on size.
Do you need a professional electrician to mount a TV?
While it’s not necessary to have a professional electrician mount your TV, you can achieve a clean, uncluttered look if you do. An electrician can run a new electrical outlet or relocate existing electrical power, install necessary cable, network, and internet connections, provide a recessed outlet so your TV sits flat against the wall, and include an infrared repeater system to run all your components so they can be hidden behind cabinet doors or on a bookshelf across the room.
What are the Advantages of Hiring Puls’ Professionals to Mount a TV?
Conveniently book a time slot online at a time that works best for you, and one of our expert TV mounting technicians can be at your door as soon as same-day, with all the parts and knowledge needed to handle everything on the spot.
Don’t have a bracket? No problem - we’d be happy to bring your choice of bracket to you as part of your appointment. Want in-wall cord concealment, shelf install, surround sound setup, or install on a complex wall surface like on brick or above a fireplace? Sure thing - we do all of those, too.
If that’s not enough to entice you, our prices start as low as $69, and all of our services come backed by our 90-day guarantee. It’s our goal to take all the hassle out of TV mounting, so you can take your TV watching experience to the next level with total peace of mind.
Schedule an appointment with our TV install experts today, and you’ll be on your way to enjoying your dream TV setup by as soon as tonight.
Conclusion
It may be tempting to try to save some money and mount your own TV, but hiring a professional installer makes more sense. The benefits and expertise of using a someone who knows what they are doing outweighs any initial savings. You can feel confident the job is done right the first time, you will have a seamless connection, and a warranty in case something goes wrong. The money you spend today will last for years and you can sit back and enjoy your new TV without any worries.
