TV Mount and Shelf Installation: Studs, Anchors and Safety

Find the studs

This Old House says studs are typically 16 inches apart on center in older homes and 24 inches in some newer construction. Ways to find them include checking outlets and switches, which are nailed to the side of a stud, using a magnet to find drywall screws or nails, following lines of trim nails, and sliding a flashlight flat against the wall to show ridges.

What a TV mount manual actually says

The SANUS VMPL50A installation manual is a good example. It calls for wood studs of at least 2×4 nominal, limits drywall covering to 5/8 inch, says the mount is not designed for metal-stud walls, warns not to over-tighten the lag bolts, and says never to drill into the mortar between concrete blocks. Weight limits and bolt sizes differ by model, so use your own manual and not a general rule.

Plaster and brick in older Rochester homes

• Plaster over lath: Hunker says plaster sits on wood lath nailed to studs. Electronic stud finders will not work through lath, but a magnetic stud finder finds the lath nails. The best option is to screw brackets into studs with wood screws at least 2 inches long. Toggle bolts suit lighter loads. Plaster is brittle, so pre-drill.
• Brick or block: drill into the brick face, not the mortar, and use anchors rated for masonry. Anchor ratings are the manufacturer’s claims, so match them to your load with margin.

Wires and cords

The Electrical Safety Foundation International says to use extreme caution when cutting or drilling into walls where wires or pipes could be, and to turn off the circuit at the breaker before electrical work. It also says extension cords should never be run through walls, doorways, ceilings or floors, because a covered cord traps heat and is a fire hazard. If you want power hidden behind the TV, use an in-wall power kit designed for that purpose, or hire a licensed electrician. In Rochester, electrical work is covered by the city electrical licensing code. See our handyman or contractor guide.

Anchor furniture and TVs

The CPSC Anchor It report for 2022 says about 22,500 Americans each year need emergency treatment for TV and furniture tip-over injuries, and about 44 percent of those involve children. It counts 581 deaths since 2000, of which 472 were children. It says anchor kits cost under $20 and take under 20 minutes to install, and advises putting TVs on low, sturdy bases pushed back from the edge and storing heavy items low.

What we install

We mount TVs, hang shelves and mirrors, install curtain rods and assemble furniture, into studs wherever possible. We do not run new circuits or open panels. See our installation page.