TV Mount Buying Guide : eBay Guides

If you're thinking about ways to free up floor space or keep your television out of the reach of children, a TV mount is an easy solution. Used often in classrooms, hospitals, gyms, bars and homes to keep valuable video equipment safely positioned out of harm's way, TV mounts also can improve your viewing angle.

Below we offer valuable advice for selecting a television mount that will neatly and attractively support your television from either the wall or ceiling.

The most important part of making your TV mount selection is to determine the location where your screen will be mounted. To make this decision you must consider what kinds of wall studs or ceiling joists can be used to support the screen and viewing position.

TV wall mounts are designed to be mounted on single or double studs, and are available with hardware options for wood and metal studs, as well as anchor kits for concrete blocks and walls. Knowing what is behind your wall and how far the studs are spaced is the first step of mounting your television. The next step is to decide where you will be seated when viewing the screen. A mounting location where you have solid wall studs and a good view of the screen is perfect place for your TV. Depending on the weight of your television and the style of mount you choose, one or two wall studs may be required.

Similarly, TV ceiling mounts need to be supported by a strong ceiling joist or joists. We offer hardware for all kinds of ceiling joists, from wood to metal I-beams and with additional parts available for drop ceilings. For mounting screens to drop or suspended ceilings you will of course need a solid joist above the ceiling surface, but with our additional hardware packs you can conceal the upper parts of the ceiling mount with faux ceiling panels and escutcheon rings. Again, knowing the weight of your TV and the strength of your ceiling supports is important for guaranteeing the safety and security of your screen.

TV Platform Mounts

Platform mounts are just what their name describes, a platform supported with an arm that can be mounted to the wall or ceiling. The base of the screen can be held in place with screws, friction pads and a lip on the front of the platform surface, depending on the mount's quality and security options. Platform mounts provide a more streamlined profile, but may not be allowed for all applications (schools sometimes have safety requirements that prevent the use of platform mounts). However, platform mounts are certainly safe so long as they are adequately supported by the ceiling or wall joists and studs and if the weight capacity of the mount and its hardware is greater than the weight of the television itself. Platforms can offer limited tilt and swivel.

TV Bracket Mounts

Bracket mounts encircle the screen in a bracket with adjustable height and width. In addition, bracket mounts usually screw into the bottom of the television screen and offer additional support from clamps that hold the front and back of the screen with rubber grips. Brackets provide more security options and a few models are even OSHPD approved for areas that are at high risk for earthquakes. Bracket mounts, their hardware and the ceiling joists and wall studs used with them must all have sufficient weight capacity for the screen that they will hold. Brackets offer the best range of tilting or swiveling for placing the screen in a more easily viewable position.

Accessories for Wall Mounts

Wall mounts are generally fairly self-contained platforms or brackets that don't require additional hardware unless your application calls for concrete or brick anchor kits. VHS, DVD players and cable boxes can be mounted to the bottom of TV wall mount brackets or platforms with the addition of component brackets. The TV mounts we carry offer additional hardware and component brackets that are guaranteed to match the mounts they are sold with. Make sure that the dimensions of your video components match those of the component brackets.

Remember that a mount is only as strong as the hardware that supports it. These are hardware parts you may require for mounting your television to a ceiling.

Accessories for Ceiling Mounts

Ceiling mounts can be a bit more involved due to the different kinds of ceilings and heights from which a television may be mounted. Extension pipes are used to cover the distance between the television mount and the ceiling itself.

Meeting Your Safety Requirements

Mounts are rated for safety by organizations like the Underwriter's Laboratories (UL), Canadian Standards Association (CSA), and the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development of California (OSHPD). These organizations offer certification of a mount's safety based on the limits of its weight capacity, electrical safety and seismic integrity. Look for symbols like 'UL listed', 'CSA Certified' and 'OSHPD Approved' to be 100% confident in the safety of your mount. In certain applications security belts are required for an extra safety guarantee.