Okay, here’s my blog post about installing a TV above my brick fireplace:
Alright, so I finally tackled that project I’ve been putting off forever – mounting the TV above the fireplace. It’s one of those things that looks simple enough, but when you’ve got a brick fireplace, it adds a whole new layer of “fun.” I wanted to share how I did it, mostly so I can remember next time, but hopefully, it helps someone else out too.
Planning and Prepping
First things first, I measured everything like five times. I wanted to make sure the TV would be centered and at a comfortable viewing height. I also had to figure out where the studs were behind the brick. This was tricky. My stud finder was giving me all kinds of weird readings, probably because of the brick and mortar.
I did some googling and found to test and see what the stud finder reads in a normal wall, and mimic that with the brick. I did that and it work!
Once I thought I had the studs located, I used a small drill bit to make some pilot holes. I figured it was better to make a few small mistakes I could patch up rather than one giant hole in the wrong spot. Turns out, I was pretty close with my stud finder guesses!
Getting the Right Tools (and Some Help)
I knew I needed a heavy-duty drill for this job. My little cordless one wasn’t going to cut it. I ended up borrowing a hammer drill from my neighbor, which made a HUGE difference. Seriously, if you’re drilling into brick, get a hammer drill. You’ll thank me later.
I also enlisted the help of my buddy, Mark. Having an extra set of hands (and eyes) was super helpful, especially when it came to lifting the TV and making sure everything was level.
Drilling and Mounting
This was the most nerve-wracking part. I used a masonry drill bit that was slightly smaller than the lag bolts I was using for the mount. I started slow, letting the hammer drill do the work. It took a while, and there was a lot of brick dust, but I eventually got the holes drilled.
Next, we attached the TV mount to the brick using the lag bolts. This is where Mark came in handy. He held the mount in place while I tightened the bolts. We made sure to use a level to get it perfectly straight.
Hiding the Wires
Nobody wants a bunch of ugly wires hanging down. I bought a cable management kit that included some paintable wire channels. These were pretty easy to install – I just stuck them to the brick and ran the wires through them. Once they were painted the same color as the wall, they blended right in.
The Final Result
After a few hours of work (and a lot of sweating), the TV was up! It looks great, and it’s so much more comfortable to watch TV now. I’m pretty proud of myself for tackling this project, and I’m glad I documented the process so I can remember how I did it next time (or maybe just hire someone!).
I hope if your doing this, you have found this usefull. Just take you time, and it’ll look great!