New TV Placement Help

[Coasterdon]

Hi

I just moved and while I have a separate media room with my 50 inch tv I have a problem with the main floor living room. Because it is not large and has a gas fireplace I do not really have room for a large CRT TV. I decided to purchase a 37 inch LCD TV for that room and place it on the mantle. It looks great and the height is ok but the mantle is not that large and a couple of inches of the stand stick out over the edge which looks dumb not to mention the fear it may fall. They give you a clip that I can attach to the wall to hold it but I am still not sure about that. My questions are:

How difficult would it be to wall mount it? I am not sure what is above a gas fireplace. Anything I shouldn't put a hole in? It sounds hollow.

Any way to make the mantle wider?

Can I change the stand? Will that cable they gave me hold it?

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

Don

[57]

You have perhaps already read the threads which recommend not putting a TV over a fireplace...

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/show...28&postcount=3

So, lets get to the mechanics.

1. Do you have any house drawings?
2. Do they show where the gas line is?
3. Do they show how the gas fireplace vents.
4. Could there be wiring, plumbing, warm air ducts, cold air return ducts in the space behind where you plan to put the TV?

In order to place a TV over the fireplace, people usually have a conduit/electrical outlet for power (where are you getting your power) and also something (separate conduit) for the signal cables. A Wall Mount is usually recommended. Doing this as an "afterthought" is not really recommended and requires appropriate planning and thought, electrical and mechanical skills far beyond the average handyman.

[probak118]

1/ Use a stud finder and locate the wall studs that can be used for anchoring the mounting bracket. There are also units that detect wiring so you can also determine where the wires run.
2/ Go outside and see how high the fireplace exhaust vent sits. Compare that height to where you may want your tv bracket located. Any distance above this height and on either side of the pipe's diameter should be clear.
3/ The gas line I would hope is run between studs and not fastened to them so, issues with screws or anchors piercing it should not exist.
If still unsure cut a piece of drywall out and look behind to see. It's not hard to repair. Odds are your hole will be behind your tv and mounting bracket anyway. So if your repair is not perfect it will be covered anyway.

[Coasterdon]

Thanks for the ideas. I don't really like fireplaces. I like it cool so the fireplace will probably never be on so that's not really a problem. I also don't intend to mount it too high. If I can find out what's behind the wall I will get a wall mount. I have a good handy man in the family who can help.

Don