Mounting a TV on the wall seems straightforward enough, doesn’t it? You grab some screws, find what looks like a sturdy spot on the wall, and Bob’s your uncle. But here’s the thing — I’ve seen more botched TV installations than I care to count, and trust me, the aftermath isn’t pretty.
Your expensive telly crashing to the floor at 2 AM isn’t exactly what you’d call a pleasant wake-up call.
The reality is that TV mounting involves more precision than most people realise. It’s one of those jobs where the devil truly lives in the details, & even seasoned DIY enthusiasts can find themselves scratching their heads when things go sideways.
Missing the Wall Studs Completely
This is probably the most catastrophic mistake you can make when mounting a TV. I remember watching my neighbour confidently drill into what he was convinced was a solid wall, only to have his brand-new 55-inch Samsung come crashing down three days later. The plasterboard simply couldn’t handle the weight — not even close.
Wall studs are the backbone of your mounting system. These wooden or metal supports run vertically behind your walls, typically spaced 400mm or 600mm apart in UK homes. Without them, you’re essentially asking a thin sheet of plasterboard to support 20-30kg of television. It’s like trying to hang a heavy picture on tissue paper.
The tricky bit is actually finding these studs. Stud finders can be unreliable, especially on textured walls or surfaces with multiple layers of paint. Some people resort to the old-fashioned knock test, but this requires a trained ear & even then it’s not foolproof. Professional installers often use magnetic stud finders that detect the metal screws in the studs, which tends to be more accurate than the electronic versions you’ll find at B&Q.
Here’s what happens when you miss the studs: the mount might feel secure initially, but over time the screws will work loose. The constant vibration from sound, the slight movement when adjusting the TV angle, and even just the natural settling of the house will gradually weaken the connection until gravity wins.
Choosing the Wrong Mounting Hardware
Not all screws are created equal, and this is where many DIY installations go wrong. The screws that come with your TV mount might look substantial, but they need to match both your wall type & the studs you’re drilling into.
For wooden studs, you’ll want wood screws that are long enough to penetrate at least 40mm into the stud itself. But if you’re dealing with metal studs (increasingly common in newer builds), you’ll need self-tapping screws designed specifically for metal. Use the wrong type & you’ll either strip the hole or fail to achieve a secure connection.
Then there’s the wall plug situation. If you’re mounting into masonry or brick walls, those little plastic plugs that come in the box are often inadequate. You need proper heavy-duty fixings — Rawlplugs or chemical anchors that can handle the dynamic load of a TV mount. I’ve seen too many installations where someone used standard wall plugs & wondered why their TV kept shifting position.
The washers matter too, though people often overlook them. These distribute the load & prevent the screw heads from pulling through the mounting bracket. Skip them at your peril.
Mounting Your TV at the Wrong Height
This mistake won’t cause your TV to crash to the floor, but it’ll give you a proper crick in the neck. The number of TVs I’ve seen mounted near the ceiling is frankly ridiculous — it’s like watching telly in a hospital bed, permanently.
The centre of your TV screen should be at eye level when you’re seated in your normal viewing position. For most people, this works out to roughly 1.2 to 1.4 metres from the floor to the centre of the screen. But here’s where it gets tricky: you need to factor in the size of your TV & the type of mount you’re using.
Fixed mounts keep your TV flush against the wall, while tilting mounts allow you to angle the screen downward slightly. If you’re mounting above eye level (say, above a fireplace), a tilting mount is essential to avoid neck strain. Full-motion mounts give you the most flexibility but also take up more space when extended.
I always tell people to mock up the installation first. Use masking tape to outline where the TV will sit on the wall, then sit in your usual spot & see how it feels. You’d be surprised how different it looks once the TV is actually up there.
Ignoring Cable Management Planning
Nothing ruins a sleek wall-mounted TV quite like a tangle of cables hanging beneath it. Yet cable management is often an afterthought, which leads to either unsightly wire arrangements or, worse, inadequate connections that affect picture & sound quality.
The best approach is to plan your cable runs before you mount anything. This might mean running cables through the wall cavity, which requires cutting holes & potentially some replastering. It’s additional work, but the finished result is infinitely better.
If running cables through walls isn’t practical, cable conduits or trunking can provide a neat solution. But you need to plan the route carefully — cables that run diagonally across the wall or loop around obstacles look amateurish.
Don’t forget about power requirements either. Your TV will need mains power, & depending on your setup, you might need additional sockets for soundbars, streaming devices, or gaming consoles. Adding these after the TV is mounted is much more difficult & often compromises the clean look you’re trying to achieve.
Skipping the Level Check
A wonky TV is immediately noticeable & incredibly irritating. Once you’ve spotted it, you can’t unsee it — every programme becomes an exercise in trying to ignore the tilted horizon.
This seems like an obvious mistake to avoid, but it’s surprisingly common. The problem often starts with the wall bracket installation. If the bracket isn’t perfectly level, no amount of adjusting the TV itself will fix the issue. You need to check level at every stage: when marking the bracket position, after drilling the holes, & again once everything is mounted.
But here’s a curveball — not all walls are perfectly straight. Older houses especially can have walls that bow or lean slightly. Your spirit level might show the bracket is perfect, but if the wall itself isn’t plumb, the TV will still look off. Professional installers often use laser levels to check both horizontal & vertical alignment across the entire wall surface.
Some TV mounts have built-in adjustment mechanisms that can compensate for minor alignment issues, but these have limits. It’s far better to get the bracket position right from the start than to rely on micro-adjustments later.
Attempting Complex Installations Without Professional Help
Look, I’m all for DIY projects, but there’s a point where stubbornness becomes expensive. Mounting a TV on a simple stud wall with easy cable access? Fair enough, have a go. But mounting on brick walls, dealing with complex cable runs, or installing large TVs on tricky surfaces? That’s when you should probably call in the professionals.
I learned this lesson the hard way when I attempted to mount a 65-inch TV on a brick chimney breast. What should have been a simple job turned into a weekend-long saga involving multiple trips to the hardware store, a lot of swearing, & eventually admitting defeat. The professional installer I called finished the job in two hours & made it look effortless.
It’s often the small mistakes that cause the biggest problems. A single misplaced screw can lead to an insecure mount. To avoid these common pitfalls, it’s often easier & safer to call in the professionals. A company like TV Aerial Installer has done this hundreds of times, ensuring a perfect, mistake-free job every time.
Complex installations might involve factors you haven’t considered: wall composition that isn’t immediately obvious, electrical safety requirements, or building regulations that apply to certain types of modifications. Professional installers carry insurance & have the experience to spot potential problems before they become expensive disasters.
Final Thoughts
TV wall mounting isn’t rocket science, but it does require attention to detail & proper planning. The mistakes I’ve outlined here are all preventable with the right approach & patience. Take time to understand your wall construction, invest in proper hardware, & don’t rush the installation process.
Remember that a botched installation doesn’t just risk damaging your TV — it can also damage your wall, your furniture, or worse, injure someone. When in doubt, seek professional advice. It’s a small price to pay for peace of mind & a perfect installation that’ll last for years to come.
