You've spent plenty of time and money selecting the perfect plasma screen. Have you considered where you're going to place it and how? We'll make the next steps easy with some helpful tips for mounting your new plasma screen.

When it comes to mounting a plasma screen, there are several things you need to know for an easy and successful installation:

What's behind your wall or ceiling?

Plasma screens are heavy. To make sure that your investment is securely mounted, you need to first have a set of wall studs or a ceiling joist that will confidently support the weight of a screen.

Ceiling Mount Basics: When using a plasma ceiling mount a ceiling flange and extension pipe are required to properly position and secure the screen. Check above your ceiling surface for wood or metal joists. Many plasma ceiling mounts include the hardware, ceiling flanges and extension pipes necessary for mounting; check to make sure the mount you want will meet your hardware needs.

Wall Mount Basics: For wall mounting a plasma screen there are lots of style and mobility options (flat, tilt, swivel and articulating arms), but the principle is the same: you need a sturdy pair of wall studs to securely mount your screen. Plasma wall mounts are made for standard wall-stud spacings, 16" centers are standard for domestic applications and 24" centers are standard for industrial applications. Hardware kits are available or included for wood or metal studs, and also for solid concrete or cinder blocks. Check to make sure the wall mount you're purchasing includes the hardware you require, or make other provisions.

What type of mount do you need?

The most popular types of plasma mounts are wall mounts and ceiling mounts.

Wall Mounts: There are several options to choose from when wall mounting a plasma screen. You can mount your screen flat for direct viewing, you can tilt it down from the wall so that it is better angled for viewing when it is positioned relatively high on the wall, or you can mount the screen with an articulating arm. If you're looking at a tilting wall mount, check to see how easily adjustable it is; some mounts allow you to tilt your screen while its mounted, others require you to remove the screen before making adjustments.

The articulating arm is by far the most versatile of the plasma mounts that are offered; they offer both tilt and/or swivel, in addition to a wide range of positioning options enabled by the extension and bend of the arm (see image).

Ceiling Mounts: Ceiling mounts are great for places where wall mounting is not an option, like when placing your screen in the middle of a big room, or in front of a window or door. With the use of an extension pipe you can customize the height of your ceiling-mounted plasma screen. If you purchase an adjustable extension pipe this process is made even easier.

Tabletop Mounts: Tabletop mounts can be paired with attractive stands and generally offer options like tilt and vertical screen-positioning flexibility.

Plasma Lifts: If you really want to enhance your home theater with style and technology, the ultimate plasma mount is a lift. A plasma lift will conceal and reveal your screen within a stand or ceiling with the touch of a button.

How do I know that a mount will fit my screen?

Once you know what kind of mount you want and where you're going to put it, the next step is to make sure that your screen and mount will be compatible. Every screen has a hole pattern on its back to which a mount can be fastened with screws. Since screen manufacturers make a variety of hole patterns on their plasmas, adapter plates are necessary to make sure mounts that are made to match most screens will accommodate the particular patterns that are specific to each model. A plasma adapter plate is just a metal plate with the same hole pattern as the screen it matches and the same hole pattern as the mount it matches.

Mount manufacturers offer lists of adapter plates that are guaranteed, when selected correctly, to perfectly fit and mount your screen. We offer adapter plate cross reference lists for each of the plasma mounts we sell. All you have to do is look for your mount's List of Supported Monitors on our site, then find your screen's model number on the list with its adapter plate match.

How do I install my screen and mount?

Installing your screen and mount should be done with a minimum of two people if your screen is large. Lifting the screen into place, positioning it and then fastening it is a simple job, but it is important to have a friend available to help hold the screen while you work. We recommend securing your mount to it's fixture in the ceiling or wall, fastening the adapter plate to your screen, and then mounting your plasma and adapter plate to the mount itself.

Depending on your mount, cable management will be one of the final steps of the plasma installation process. Many mounts do offer cable management systems to conceal unruly wires.

Be sure to read the mount and plasma installation instructions that accompany your screen and mount, and get a friend to help.