Mounting a TV on a chimney breast is one of the most popular installations in the UK — and one of the most asked-about. The wall is typically solid brick or stone, which makes the fixing itself straightforward. The real considerations are height (above a fireplace pushes the TV higher than ideal), cable routing (brick walls make behind-wall routing harder), and device placement (where do the Sky box, console, and streaming devices go). This guide covers all three.
What type of wall is a chimney breast?
Chimney breasts in UK properties are typically solid brick or stone — the original construction material regardless of how old the property is. Victorian, Edwardian, and 1930s properties all have solid brick chimney breasts. Modern properties with a chimney breast feature may have a hollow internal structure, but these are far less common.
Solid brick is one of the most reliable surfaces for TV mounting. You drill straight into the brick (or occasionally the mortar between bricks), use masonry rawl plugs and bolts, and the result is extremely secure — a solid fixing that will not move.
The thickness of a chimney breast wall is usually 225mm (a standard double brick). This is relevant for cable routing — going through the wall is a significant task, not just a 50mm drill-through.
Above the fireplace or on the chimney breast face?
There are two positions for a TV on a chimney breast: directly above the fireplace opening, or on the upper section of the chimney breast face (above the surround but not necessarily directly above the fire).
The distinction matters because of height. If your fireplace surround is 110cm tall, mounting the TV directly above it means the bottom of the TV is at 110cm — the centre of a 55-inch TV would sit at approximately 145cm. That is significantly above the ideal of 105cm, which means you will be looking upward for every viewing session.
For detailed advice specific to fireplaces, see our TV mounting above fireplace guide.
Cable routing options on a chimney breast
Cable routing is the main challenge with chimney breast TV mounting. Here are the three main options, from simplest to cleanest:
| Method | Appearance | Works in rentals? | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface trunking on chimney breast face | Visible, tidy | Yes | Low |
| Chased into plaster (conduit in wall) | Hidden, requires replastering | No | Medium–High |
| Routed through alcove wall | Completely hidden | Owner only | Medium |
| Dropped behind the surround | Hidden behind surround | Sometimes | Low–Medium |
Option 1: Surface trunking on the chimney breast face
This is a common approach and one we use frequently. Flat cable raceway runs from the back of the TV down the face of the chimney breast to a socket or extension lead at the base. Painted to match the wall, it is barely visible from the sofa. This works on all properties and causes no permanent modification.
Option 2: Chased into plaster
For a property where you want zero visible cables on the chimney breast face, a cable conduit can be chased (cut) into the plaster surface of the chimney breast, fed vertically from the TV to a new socket at the base, and then replastered over. This is a decorating job as well as a technical one — the chase must be filled and finished to match the existing plaster. It produces a permanent, invisible result.
Note: power cables in chased channels must comply with UK wiring regulations (BS 7671). The mains supply to a new socket must be installed by a Part P registered electrician.
Option 3: Through the alcove wall
If your chimney breast has alcoves (typical in Victorian and Edwardian properties), the most elegant solution is routing cables through the alcove wall — a 110mm plasterboard or brick wall on the side of the chimney breast — into the alcove, where media devices live in an alcove unit or floating shelf. The TV cables disappear into the side of the chimney breast and emerge behind the alcove unit. No cables are visible on the chimney breast face at all.
This is a popular installation choice for period properties with alcove space. We cover this in detail in our specialist chimney breast TV mounting service page.
Where to put the media devices
With a chimney breast TV mounting, media devices (Sky box, Apple TV, gaming console, Blu-ray player) need somewhere to live. Common solutions:
- Alcove units or floating shelves — the most popular choice in period properties. Shelves in each alcove store devices tidily, with cables routed through the alcove wall as above.
- Media unit below the fireplace surround — if there is space in front of the hearth, a low media console keeps devices within cable reach.
- TV back storage — some smart TVs have a one-connect box (Samsung Frame, QN series) that keeps all cables at a small separate unit, with only one thin cable running to the TV.
- Remote-controlled cable box — if the only device is a Sky Q or Apple TV, IR extenders allow the box to be stored inside a closed cabinet out of sight, with the remote still working through the cabinet door.
What a professional chimney breast installation looks like
When we mount a TV on a chimney breast, the job typically includes:
- Wall assessment — confirming the wall type and checking for pipes, cables, and flue liner position behind the plaster.
- Bracket positioning — measuring the exact position for the bracket with a spirit level, accounting for the TV size and desired centre height.
- Drilling and fixing — SDS drill into solid brick, masonry plugs and M8 bolts for the bracket. We use fixings rated well above the TV weight.
- Cable routing decision — we agree the cable management approach with you before drilling any additional holes.
- TV mounting and cable management — TV hung on bracket, all cables managed neatly.
- Device positioning — Sky box, streaming devices, and consoles positioned and connected.
- Final tests — picture, sound, and remote control tested before we leave.
The whole job often takes around 1.5–2.5 hours depending on the cable routing approach. See our chimney breast TV mounting service for pricing and what is included.
Period property considerations
Victorian and Edwardian chimney breasts often have original marble or tile surrounds, original coving, and period cornicing. We are careful to avoid drilling near original decorative plasterwork, and we always use a cable detection tool before drilling to avoid anything concealed within the wall. If your property is listed, check with your local authority before any structural work — listed building consent rules vary by property and authority, so confirm in advance even for standard TV mounting on a solid brick chimney breast.
FAQ
Can any TV be mounted on a chimney breast?+
Yes — chimney breasts are solid brick or stone, which are among the strongest possible surfaces for TV mounting. The main considerations are height (above a fireplace pushes the TV high), cable routing (the thick walls make behind-wall routing harder), and alcove devices (if you have alcoves, a shelf or alcove unit usually holds the media devices). We cover all of these on the day.
How do I route cables through a chimney breast wall?+
There are three options. Easiest: surface trunking running from the TV down the face of the chimney breast to a socket or extension lead below. Better: chasing a channel into the plaster and concealing the cables in a conduit within the wall — requires replastering. Best: routing cables down through the flue cavity or through the alcove wall into the alcove — eliminates all visible cabling on the chimney breast face.
How high should a TV be on a chimney breast above a fireplace?+
Above a fireplace, the TV is almost always higher than the ergonomic ideal of 105cm to centre. If the fireplace surround is 100–120cm tall, the centre of the TV will end up at 140–160cm or more. We recommend a full-motion bracket with tilt to compensate. For a lower mounting position, the TV can be placed on the chimney breast face itself (not above the fireplace opening) with the fireplace surround as a media shelf.
Is it safe to mount a TV above a working fireplace?+
It depends on the fireplace type. Electric fires are generally safe — they do not produce significant heat at chimney breast level. Gas fires produce more heat; a TV should be at least 40cm above the top of the gas fire opening. Open fires and log burners produce considerable heat and soot; TVs should not be mounted directly above them without a professional heat assessment. We assess fireplace safety as part of every above-fireplace installation.
Can you mount a TV on the side wall of a chimney breast instead?+
Yes — mounting on the alcove side wall adjacent to the chimney breast is a popular alternative to the chimney breast face. It allows a lower mounting height, easier cable routing to alcove sockets, and keeps the fireplace as a standalone focal point. The alcove walls are usually solid brick (in older properties) or plasterboard over a timber frame.
If you are ready to book or want advice specific to your chimney breast, get a free estimate — we will ask about your wall, your fireplace type, and your cable routing preferences. We cover London and surrounding areas. See our pricing page for full installation costs.