Fitting TV Brackets to stud walls and plasterboard

How do I go about mounting my TV bracket onto a stud wall?

A potentially frustrating issue that we occasionally come across is around plasterboard stud walls and the problems they present when it comes to successfully mounting a TV bracket.

In summary stud walls are really good for insulation, as well as cost of installation  and therefore not surprisingly they are very popular in modern house building.   Unfortunately they aren’t very good for mounting certain type of TV bracket onto!

Flat / Flush fitting TV brackets

If you have a flat or flush fitting TV bracket, stud walls are potentially pretty straightforward.  With these ensure the TV bracket is screwed through the plasterboard and into at least two of the vertical wooden studs behind the plasterboard.  As long as the ends of the TV bracket overlap a stud by a minimum of 30mm you are ok and you can safely get your TV on the wall. 

Where this isn’t possible, you can install directly onto the plasterboard using specialist fixings.  We install using the Danish “Expandet” system and find these give a strong and secure installation for TVs up to 50” / 20Kgs

Expandet Specialist Fittings

IB11B – suitable for screens 40” and above

IB40B -200 – suitable for TVs up to 36”

If your walls are dry-lined (plasterboard on thin batons over brick or blockwork) or Dot & Dab (plasterboard stuck over brick or block), then use Rigifix mountings which are designed specifically for this task.  We have installed using these countless times and highly recommend them. Available in M6 size which require a 12mm masonry drill or M8 which needs a 16mm drill they are incredibly strong and are easy to use.  We find 6 x M6 is ideal in the vast majority of situations.

Rigifix M6 Specialist Fittings

Rigifix M8 Specialist Fittings

Tilting TV brackets

Broadly, these follow the same rules as above.  Buy a long enough bracket to span two vertical studs (typically these are c600mm apart)and screw through the plasterboard and into the studs.  We sell standard length tilting brackets

IB71B – slim fitting, 710mm long wall plate for TVs 40” up to 60”

Or extra long extra strong ones to give greater flexibility

IB43B – slim fitting, extra long 840mm wall plate for TVs up to 70” / 75Kg

Where you cannot do this or you have a smaller TV and therefore have a smaller TV bracket, then install using specialist fixings. We use the “Expandet” system which is rated to 40 kgs into single sheet thickness plasterboard and we find this is safe and secure for TVs up to 50” to a maximum of 20kg TV weight (we believe it is best never to exceed 50% of a products rating)

Expandet Specialist Fittings

IB41B  - for smaller TVs up to 40”

Or for dry-lined walls use the rigifix bolts and anchors as on the links above under flat brackets.

Swivel and Tilt TV brackets for TVs up to 40” / 10Kg

These are straightforward to fit as the wall mounting plates are usually vertical in design can be screwed straight through the plasterboard and into one of the vertical wooden studs behind.  To find the stud see the section below or locally reinforce the wall, again covered below.

Popular TV brackets suitable for this installation

IB101S (silver) or in black (IB101B) for TVs up to 29” where the VESA fitting is not more than 100x100

IB141B for TVs up to 36” – particularly good for VESA sizes 200x100   

IB610B-200  optimum strength,  longest wall plate to spread the weight and long reach –

Swivel and Tilt TV brackets above 40” / 10Kg

If you have dry-lined walls or Dot & Dab walls then its easy using the Rigifix anchor system designed and made in the UK and these are excellent and these are on the link below

Rigifix M6 Specialist Fittings

If however you have traditional plasterboard / stud walls, then things are more complicated for these arm type cantilever TV brackets.  The beauty of these TV brackets is the ability to swing the TV out into the room when needed and fold back to the wall when not.  When opened out there is tremendous leverage on the bracket and then onto the wall, so if wishing to use on stud walls, they will need strengthening.

 

Where you have a modern LED TV say under 25kg the strengthening doesn’t need to be as substantial

Modern under 25 kg TVs.

Cut away the plasterboard to expose 2 vertical studs.  Next fit two horizontal new studs (noggins) between the 2 vertical studs spaced to allow the top and bottom fixing holes of the TV bracket to screw into.  For added rigidity, add an extra stud screwed to the outside of both vertical studs extending 500mm above and below the new horizontal studs.  Once done, refit the plasterboard or fit new and decorate ensuring you remember where the new studs are!

 

TVs over 25 kg  

Firstly choose a TV bracket that has a wide wall mounting back-plate section to maximise the spreading of the load.

IB87B

IB600B

Next cut away the plasterboard sufficiently to expose 4 vertical studs for around a metre in height centered on the position of your TV.
Next fit extra studs for around a metre length to either side of the 2 central studs and to the inside of the outer studs.  Where securely screwed, fit 3 horizontal stud sections of extra width such as 4” x 2” equally spaced between the uprights.
When completed, redecorate remembering where the centre is.
Fit your TV bracket so it is central to the reinforced section and is very securely screwed onto the two central studs.

 

How to locate a stud behind plasterboard

The easiest is to use a stud finder £10 - £15 from DIY shops or on line but if you haven’t one of these then they can be located by tapping the wall along its length and listening carefully- where there is no stud it will sound hallow so tap along until it is no longer hollow and mark the wall.  Verify this by carefully tapping in a thin nail – if its hallow the nail will pass through the plasterboard and into air, where the stud is it will go into the wood.  Once located use the nail technique to find the centre of the stud which is where the bracket will need to screwed into.  The next stud along will typically be c600mm on most UK housing.

WARNING:  Do not drill/ tap into the wall anywhere near water pipes and / or electrical points, cables, wires or services.  If in any doubt whatsoever use a stud finder which will also show the location of pipes and services.

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

While we have written this article in good faith we can not be responsible for the strength of your stud walls used to fit TV brackets too.  In all cases customers should satisfy themselves their walls are sufficiently strong to safely hold the wall mounted TV bracket.