You’ve just brought home your dream telly – a massive, razor-thin OLED beauty that cost more than your first car. Now comes the crucial question: where to put this technological masterpiece? Propping it on a cabinet seems… underwhelming. That’s when wall mounting enters the chat.
I’ve been there myself. Three years ago, I purchased a 65-inch Samsung that practically demanded wall mounting. After watching countless YouTube tutorials, I felt invincible – how hard could it be? Several hours, two near-disasters, and one patched wall later, I finally admitted defeat & called a professional. Best decision ever.
What follows is my frank assessment of why paying someone else to mount your TV isnt just a convenience — it’s an investment in peace of mind, aesthetic perfection, and potentially saving your precious screen from catastrophe.
The Hidden Complexities of TV Mounting
TV wall mounting might seem straightforward: drill some holes, attach a bracket, hang the TV. But that surface simplicity hides a minefield of potential complications. First, there’s the matter of finding wall studs — those crucial wooden supports behind your plasterboard that actually hold weight. Miss them, and you’re essentially hanging your £1,200 investment on glorified cardboard.
Then comes the challenge of ensuring perfect levelness. A slight tilt might not be obvious immediately, but you’ll notice it EVERY SINGLE TIME you watch. Trust me, that 1-degree slant will haunt your viewing experience like a particularly persistent ghost.
Perhaps most daunting are the electrical considerations. Professional installers know how to hide cables properly, sometimes even running them through walls (where safe and permissible), creating that sleek, cord-free look we all covet. They also understand the importance of proper ventilation for your TV’s components and how close it should be to heat sources.
The professionals bring specialized tools most households simply don’t have — stud finders that actually work, cable management systems, and mounting hardware that often exceeds what comes in the box with your bracket.
Safety First: Protecting Your Investment & Your Family
Let’s talk cold, hard statistics for a moment. According to a report by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, hundreds of Britons suffer injuries related to falling furniture each year, with televisions being a common culprit. A 50-inch TV weighs between 12-15kg on average — more than enough to cause significant damage to anything (or anyone) underneath.
Professional installers understand load-bearing requirements and use mounts rated appropriately for your specific television model and wall type. They know the difference between mounting to solid brick, plasterboard with wooden studs, or concrete — each requiring different techniques and hardware.
I learned this lesson almost the hard way. My amateur installation started making ominous creaking sounds within days. The professional who eventually rescued my situation pointed out that I’d used the wrong type of wall anchors for my particular wall construction. He then used bolts that seemed comically large to me at the time, but now represent security.
Moreover, pros carry insurance — meaning if something catastrophic DOES happen during installation, you’re covered. Try claiming that on your home insurance after a DIY disaster!
The Aesthetic Advantage
There’s an art to positioning a television. Professional installers understand viewing angles, room ergonomics, and optimal heights based on your primary seating. The current recommendation is for the middle of the screen to be at eye level when seated — something many DIY mounters get wrong, often placing TVs too high.
Cable management represents another realm where professionals truly shine. They can create that completely clean look where your TV appears to float magically on the wall with no visible connections. Some even offer solutions for dealing with peripheral devices like soundbars, game consoles, or cable boxes.
When my installer finished, the transformation was remarkable. The television looked like it was designed specifically for that wall space — perfectly centered, ideally height-positioned, and with nary a cable in sight. It elevated the entire room’s appearance in a way my haphazard attempt never could have achieved.
The True Cost Calculation
Professional TV mounting in the UK typically costs between £80-150, depending on your location, TV size, and mounting complexity. While this might seem steep compared to a £30 DIY bracket, consider the real equation:
Cost of TV + Cost of professional mounting < Cost of TV + Risk of damage + Time spent + Stress endured + Possible wall repairs
I haven’t even mentioned the value of your time. My DIY adventure consumed an entire Saturday, included a desperate trip to B&Q for “just one more thing” I hadn’t anticipated needing, and culminated in a thoroughly unimpressive result. The professional completed the job in under 90 minutes.
Then there’s the cost of tools. A quality stud finder alone can set you back £30-40. Add speciality drill bits, a decent level, and other necessities, and you’re already approaching the cost of professional installation — for tools you might rarely use again.
What You’re Really Paying For
When you hire a professional TV mounting service, you’re buying more than just labor. You’re purchasing expertise honed through hundreds of installations across different wall types, TV models, and mounting scenarios. They’ve already made all the mistakes and learned from them so you don’t have to.
You’re also buying convenience. Most services offer flexible scheduling, bring all necessary equipment, and clean up after themselves. Some even include additional services like programming remotes or connecting devices to your network.
Perhaps most valuably, you’re buying confidence. The peace of mind that comes from knowing your precious television is secure, optimally positioned, and professionally installed allows you to actually enjoy your investment without that nagging worry: “Did I really tighten that bolt enough?”
Choosing the Right Professional
Not all TV mounting services are created equal. When selecting a professional, look for:
• Insurance and guarantees – Reputable installers should offer some warranty on their work • Reviews and references – Check online feedback or ask for previous client contacts •
Experience with your specific TV model or mounting type • Clear, upfront pricing without surprise fees • Proper credentials and qualifications
Ask detailed questions about their process, what’s included, and how they handle unexpected situations like discovering pipes or electrical wiring behind your chosen spot. A good professional will welcome these questions rather than appearing annoyed by them.
Common Objections Addressed
“But I’m fairly handy!” I hear you. So am I—I built my own garden shed last summer! Yet TV mounting occupies that tricky middle ground: seemingly simple enough for DIY but with consequences significant enough to warrant professional attention. Think of it like cutting your own hair—possible, yes, but rarely advisable for important occasions.
“It seems expensive for such a quick job.” The speed with which professionals complete the installation actually proves their value—they’re efficient precisely because they’ve done this hundreds of times. You’re paying for that accumulated knowledge and skill, not just the minutes on the clock.
“My TV came with a mounting bracket; surely I can use that?” Manufacturer-supplied brackets are often basic models with limited functionality. Professional installers typically use higher-quality, more versatile mounts that offer better adjustability, stronger support, and additional features like tilt or full motion capabilities.
The Bottom Line
After my journey from confident DIYer to humbled professional-hiring realist, I’ve become something of an evangelist for professional TV mounting. It represents one of those rare services where the value received genuinely exceeds the price paid.
Your television is both a significant investment and a centerpiece of your home entertainment. It deserves proper installation that maximizes its performance, protects its integrity, and showcases its beauty. Professional mounting delivers all that—plus the simple joy of knowing the job was done right. Sometimes, the smartest DIY decision is deciding not to DIY at all.