Mounting TV above Fireplace

[IreneKennedy]

What has been your experience hanging a flat screen LCD or LED television above gas log fireplace? Is the heat a consideration? Is there a minimum distance from mantel to bottom of TV? Which mounting bracket is recommended?

All help is appreciated.

 

[Spata]

should be fine, just make sure the mount is solid.

 

[71buickfreak]

As long as the hearth is correctly built, there shouldn't be any heat issues. Like has already been said, a secure mount is the most important part.

 

[ISFast]

Yep the mount being stong is the main thing. I noticed that as long as the mantel is there and the TV doesn't stick out from it you are fine. Now if you have a TV where it sticks over the mantel then you need a slimmer mount and/or TV. Easy way to test this is kick your fire place on and see what kind of heat you are getting from different areas.

We have a TV over a gas fireplace with zero issues for over 3 years.

 

[ewheeley]

Heat should not be an issue. What kind of material are you mounting in to? Brick, rock, or decorative wood? That should be more of a concern to you. Brick or rock, and you'll need anchors that aren't supplied with most mounts. I work in home theater at Best Buy, and last week I had to go help with an installation over a gas fireplace. It was a custom built home with a massive oak built-in surrounding the fireplace. No studs behind the wood, though. Luckily it was 3/4" plywood, so we just drilled an extra set of holes and it held fine.

Biggest thing you should consider beyond that is how you plan on getting your source cables to the television. The absolute last thing you should do is drill a hole unless you're completely sure you're ready to drill. Hold the mount up, use a level, and trace out the holes before you get started.

I guess, as a salesman, that I should mention that Geek Squad will do an over the fireplace mount for $370, including the cost of a tilting mount. I can sympathize that it's a fair amount of money, but for that price they'll run an HDMI cable in-wall and across a stud bay for you, which will make the whole thing look a lot nicer. PM me if you have any questions, though, and I'll offer whatever help I can.

 

[tRidiot]

Mounts from Monoprice do come with anchors and are just as good (if not better) than the mounts I've seen for 5x the price or more at retail stores. Easy to set up, solid as HAIL, and definitely reasonably-priced.

I've used several I bought there and every time I see the ones sold in the stores (especially BB, no offense), I just shake my head or crack up laughing. lol

I think I paid $35 for mine? And it holds my 54" plasma at 89 pounds with zero problems. In fact, I hung my 200+ lb (and then some ) frame from it before hanging the TV and it didn't budge at all!

 

[ssgrock3]

got the mount for my 60" sony (92lbs) from cdrokc.com, I think they were on penn/i240 or thereabouts. anywho, no name tilting mount for $50 and it is solid as a rock. No experiance on the fireplace, other than to say before you mount it up there, sit on your couch and see if you are watching tv with your head tilted backwards. too high and it is ridiculous.

 

[tRidiot]

got the mount for my 60" sony (92lbs) from cdrokc.com, I think they were on penn/i240 or thereabouts. anywho, no name tilting mount for $50 and it is solid as a rock. No experiance on the fireplace, other than to say before you mount it up there, sit on your couch and see if you are watching tv with your head tilted backwards. too high and it is ridiculous.

You should do this for a couple of hours, IMO. I had planned on mounting mine up there, and when recling to watch TV, it was "ok", but when I tried to play Xbox, I ended up with a horrible crick in my neck for days, after only about 30 mins of play time. Horrible idea.

Ended up changing my whole living room orientation because of it.

 

[carlstretch]

Heat has never been an issue for us. We burn real logs and it gets pretty hot but not at the tv. I used a standard mount from Best Buy when I bought my 60" LCD. Used 2 screws into studs and had to use 2 anchors. It's been fine.

Good luck.

 

[rlongnt]

Thanks, I have thought about this for a while. Good info.


I figured it would hurt the TV. As usual, my wife was right etc. etc...