Plan, buy, and sequence a wall-mounted TV install over several days, covering bracket fitting, optional soundbar, cable hiding and any wiring work.
TV-01Survey the wall and plan the jobBefore buying anything, work out where the TV will go and what's behind the wall. Follow 'Safe zones: where cables and pipes usually run' and 'Using a detector before you drill' to map out any wiring, pipework or joists in the area. Decide roughly now whether cables will run inside the wall or along the surface, as this affects what you buy. Spend a day on this before ordering the bracket.
RULES1 each · Cable and pipe detector hire or purchase 1 set · Pencil and masking tape (for marking) KNOW THE RULES
Check the wall with a detector before any drilling or cutting later in the project, and still expect to find something unexpected. Treat every wall as live until proven otherwise.
TV-02Choose the bracket and plan the positionFollow 'Choose the right TV bracket for your TV and wall' to pick a fixed or tilting bracket rated for your TV's weight and VESA pattern, and suited to your wall type. Mark the final height and position on the wall, checking eye-line from the main seating spot. Order the bracket, soundbar bracket (if fitting one), and cable-hiding materials together so everything arrives before you start.
1 each · TV bracket (fixed or tilting) TV-03Arrange any electrical first fix before closing up the wallIf you want a socket behind or above the TV, this must go in before cables are chased in or boxed over. Adding or moving a socket is electrical work: book an electrician to run and connect it, ideally before the bracket-mounting day, as first fix needs to happen before the wall is patched or covered. A new socket on an existing circuit in a living room is not usually notifiable, but it's still wiring work best left to a qualified electrician; never attempt a new circuit or consumer unit work yourself, as that is notifiable under Part P.
RULES1 job · Electrician's first-fix visit (socket addition) KNOW THE RULES
Any electrical work beyond like-for-like should be done by a qualified electrician, and a new circuit or consumer unit work is notifiable under Building Regulations. Switch off the circuit at the consumer unit and prove it dead with a tester before any existing faceplate is loosened or removed.
TV-04Fit the bracket to the wallOnce the wall is clear of any new wiring work, follow 'Mount a fixed or tilting TV bracket' to fit it at the marked position. Re-check the exact fixing points with the detector immediately before drilling, even though you checked earlier, as plans can shift. This is usually a half-day job including hanging the TV and checking it's level and secure.
RULES1 set · Wall fixings for bracket (type per wall survey) KNOW THE RULES
Check for cables and pipes with a detector immediately before drilling or fixing into the wall, and still expect something to be there.
TV-05Fit a soundbar bracket (optional)If you're adding a soundbar, follow 'Mount a soundbar bracket' straight after the TV bracket, while tools and the detector are still out. This usually adds an hour or two to the mounting day. Skip this phase if you're not fitting a soundbar.
RULES1 each · Soundbar bracket 1 set · Wall fixings for soundbar bracket KNOW THE RULES
Check for cables and pipes with a detector before drilling the soundbar bracket fixings.
TV-06Hide the cablesChoose your method based on the wall type and how much disruption you want. For a simple, low-cost finish, follow 'Hide TV cables with surface trunking' to box the cables along the wall surface. For a flush, invisible finish on a stud wall, follow 'Run TV cables inside a stud wall' instead, which involves cutting and patching plasterboard. Allow a full day for trunking, or a day plus drying time for patching if you chase cables into a stud wall.
RULES1 kit · Surface cable trunking kit 1 kit · In-wall TV cable bushing/drop kit 1 kit · Plasterboard patch repair kit KNOW THE RULES
Check for cables and pipes with a detector before cutting any access holes in plasterboard, even on a wall you've already checked, as routes can be unexpected.
TV-07Final checks and tidy-upTest the TV and soundbar power up correctly and that cables sit neatly before tidying tools away. Give the bracket a firm tug-test to check it's secure, and recheck the TV is level. Touch up any paint on patched plasterboard once fully dry, usually the next day.
1 small tin · Touch-up paint (matching wall colour) Travis Perkins and Tooled Up links are affiliate links: if you buy after clicking, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. B&Q and Amazon links are plain searches and earn us nothing.
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