People warn about screwing to a wooden wall that is empty in the back. The screws have nothing to hold on to aside from the thin plasterboard and once the heavy TV is mounted on the wall bracket, there is a high risk that the weight will pull the brackets out of the wall instantaneously. Can the same situation happen on concrete? People think that a concrete wall is sturdier than a wooden panel. A concrete wall might not be as flimsy or easily torn by the weight but it is still susceptible to breaking loose from the heavy weight of the TV. Take note that concrete walls make use of hollow blocks with cement poured through their openings. If your screws attach to the previous openings of the hollow blocks, it is not very stable regardless the poured cement. It is not as solid as a stud. As much as possible, look for the studs and screw the brackets firmly into the beam. The LCD TV brackets have been tested for different sizes and weights, and will definitely be able to sustain the specified models. What is doubtful is whether the wall, that the brackets are attached to, is strong enough to hold the metal plate and TV brackets. Cement is definitely firmer than wood but it can be loose if you happen to screw the wall mount on an open space in the hollow block.
The other aspect you should consider about a concrete wall is the exposure of the cables and wires. If you had the foresight to decide where your flat TV screen would be located on the cement wall while the house was under construction, you should have had a conduit run through the wall. A conduit is a protective pipe that makes it easy to pull wires through. You can set up several conduit pipes in different rooms and when you need to run wires, all you need to do is locate the conduit pipe and insert the wires into the pipes. The pipe is set behind the wall and once situated, cannot be changed or relocated without destroying the wall. Another option is to have the pipe outside the wall and paint or decorate it so it blends with the wall and decor. The wires are neatly stacked inside the pipe and are out of sight, making for a neat and orderly appearance. In addition to the TV brackets, you can have other brackets to install your speakers. You can also consider wireless speakers so you don't have wires running all over the walls.
There are models of TV wall brackets with boxes for the wires and cables. You can install the wire box at the same time the wall brackets are being installed. Provide some space behind the TV or you will have a difficult time connecting the cables and wires. Another alternative is to connect the wires and cables before mounting the TV onto the TV wall bracket. Be sure everything is in place and functioning properly because once you hang the TV on the LCD bracket, you will not be able to access the cables and wires easily. If you have a concrete wall that has been covered with wallboard, you may be able to cut out a channel and then repaint the area once completed. After you've planned out everything and put all the aesthetics in place, you can mount the flat screen brackets to the concrete wall. Don't assume the concrete wall can hold the TV brackets firmly in place. Use a stud finder and locate the studs. Use the masonry drill to make the holes for the mounting brackets. Be sure everything is straight and level. If you make a mistake in the placement of the holes, plug it with cement and start again. Once the holes are done, put plastic anchors in the holes. A #8 plastic anchor in gyp rock may be able to hold 325 pounds in concrete. Put more anchors if needed and to be doubly sure, put adhesive to the anchors when you insert them in the holes. You can apply cement to secure the screws and fastenings. Make sure the cement and adhesive are dry and settled before applying any weight on the wall clamps. Play safe and use the studs or cement the wall on top of the screws to ensure they remain firmly in place.
No comments:
Post a Comment