The time has come to go out and buy a set of mounts to support your LCD TV.

Selecting the correct mounts for your television is the first consideration that comes to mind. You can check your paperwork on the television to find the dimensions you are going to be working with, or you can just do it the old fashioned way, and eyeball it. While using the eyeballs, add some measurements while you are at it, as it will save time and reduce chances of getting a bad headache. This is one of those projects that can backfire when done wrong, such as a lot of new decorative holes in the wall or ceiling, or maybe a lopsided hanging LCD TV. Such a do-it-yourself project can easily become one that gets your local neighborhood professional involved at the cost of your pride.

Important things to be aware of are, what do you want the unit to do? Stay stationary, as in not move at all? Would you like it to be able to adjust with different angles? These options can both be done whether it is hung from a wall or the ceiling. You just have to be careful to pick the right hardware. Do not be afraid to shop around and ask at the hardware store for recommendations, check with the manufacturer to see if they offer some that are specific to the unit you own, and least but most important is talk to people and get some testimonials from others who have experienced this process also. Those are the places where you will gain the most practical knowledge, especially since they already went through the bang and hang and will most certainly want to share their knowledge.

LCD TV wall mountings are fantastic for making your surroundings look really cool. Sort of brings a space age feel to the home and makes you look like you are on the fast track to greatness. Basics, such as children in the home, may account for deciding where and how to hang the LCD. Regardless, safety is a huge concern in the consideration of what to use. Be sure to pick the hardware that will hold/support the weight of your TV.

Prior to purchase, decide how you want it to hang. Is it going to be flat up against the wall, or out a bit? For the adjustable one, will it be manual or will it be electrically adjustable? In a large room, with a smaller screen, electric remote would be real handy, and a large room setup may not need much adjusting, so manual would be fine here.

Write out your dictionary of terms before you go shopping, so when you are at the store you can make an informed decision. Here are some of the hardware terms: ceiling mount, corner mount, tilt, swivel, electric, and for the earthquake prone home, check out the platform style wall mount. Make sure you also pick up anything required to accommodate any cables or other accessories which will enhance your viewing pleasure. The last headache you want to have is from forgetting that you had to attach parts of other products to the TV prior to final installation on the brackets.

Mark out the exact location of mounting so you will be able to tell whether the brackets you are buying go into a stud or need some other type of preparation. Drywall has to be prepped before you hang anything ever, and a stud is simple to use. Don’t even consider being cheap here, do not look at nails. No, no.

I noticed that a popular item in our LCD TV Wall Mounts Store is the Retraact-It 9800 Universal 3-In-1 LCD TV Mount, so I thought I’d write a little about this fine TV mount.

This LCD TV wall mount is for units with screens from 12″-31″ wide, so it’s perfect for the TV in the kitchen, den or bedroom – we prefer the den. You can mount it to the wall and get it out of the way while getting a better viewing angle. The Retraact-It TV bracket features multiple articulating positions from fixed, 5 or 10 degree tilt positions as well as 150-degree swivel and tilt. Wow. So you can easily put it in a variety of positions, making this a very versatile TV wall mount.

It’s Vesa compliant 50mm, 75mm and 100mm which is just tech speak for it’ll fit virtually any LCD TV made in the last few years since nearly every LCD TV manufacturer sets their mount points to the Vesa standard. You’ll want to check this for sure when purchasing your TV and / or wall mount because it’s important to know which wall mounts are compatible.

Also keep in mind that the maximum weight these Retraact-It 9800 Universal 3-In-1 LCD Television Mounts can hold is 70 pounds. Your 12 to 31 inch LCD TV will most likely not exceed this weight limit. This is just a friendly reminder for you to double check that so that your fragile, LCD screen doesn’t end up on the floor in the middle of the night scaring the dog, making your children cry and causing you to run into the den with a flashlight and your 45. It’s always best to just avoid that situation altogether – trust us, we know what we’re talking about and so do our wives.

When doing this kind of project, it’s good to know how to hide power cords when using a TV wall mount. It’s really best to not run power cords through the wall as you may be tempted to do. Don’t give in to that temptation. That kind of cord is not meant for the inside of your wall and is not rated for safe in-wall use nor is it compliant with local electrical codes, Sparky. Your best bet with power cords is to have an electrician run a separate electrical outlet up near where the TV is mounted. It’s actually not a difficult job for them if there’s another outlet near by. Remember that if you’re planning on mounting the TV on an exterior wall of your house, this project may become more difficult and require more beer drinking. Interior walls are easier.

If you’d rather run your wires on the outside of your wall but still have it look nice and neat, you’re in luck, Chuck! You’ll want to get some cable management raceways / conduits. They’re paintable and they hide your TV’s audio, video and power cables neatly between your set and an A/V cabinet.

So you’ve got your LCD TV, wall mounts, conduit and beer for the electrician. Don’t forget to make sure you’ve got enough A/V wires to reach everywhere and also plan out where you’ll be sitting when you’re watching the game in your den. Cheers!

Don’t forget to order that Retraact-It 9800 Universal 3-In-1 LCD Television Mount!