TV Wall Mounting Glossary

VESA

A standard hole pattern on the back of a TV that the bracket bolts into.

VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) defines the mounting hole spacing — written as width×height in millimetres, e.g. VESA 400×300. A bracket and TV must have a compatible VESA pattern (or the bracket must support a range that includes the TV's pattern).

→ VESA compatibility guide→ TV bracket installation

Plasterboard

Sheet wall material made of gypsum sandwiched between paper. Common interior wall in UK homes.

Also called drywall. Plasterboard on its own cannot hold a TV with ordinary screws — specialist cavity fixings (grip-it anchors, toggle bolts) or a bracket fixed into the timber/metal studs behind the board are required.

→ TV mounting on plasterboard→ Mount TV without studs

Stud

The vertical timber or metal upright behind plasterboard that the wall is fixed to.

Studs are spaced roughly every 400–600 mm. A bracket fixed into a stud is the strongest fixing on a plasterboard wall. Studs are located with a stud finder before drilling.

→ Mount TV without studs

Cavity Anchor

A specialist fixing for plasterboard that expands behind the board when tightened.

Examples: grip-it anchors (rated 50–80 kg in shear) and toggle bolts. They distribute load across a wider area of plasterboard and are the correct fixing where no stud is available.

Grip-It Anchor

A heavy-duty branded cavity anchor commonly used for TV mounting on plasterboard.

Inserted through a small hole in the plasterboard, then expanded behind the board by tightening the bolt. Available in sizes from 9 mm to 25 mm cavity depth.

Toggle Bolt

A spring-loaded fixing that opens behind plasterboard for a strong load-bearing anchor.

The toggle wings fold flat for insertion through a hole then spring open behind the plasterboard wall. Provides excellent shear strength when correctly sized.

Chimney Breast

The protruding wall above a fireplace, often where homeowners want to mount a TV.

Most chimney breasts are brick or block behind plaster, which gives a strong fixing surface. Cable hiding is straightforward because the void either side of the breast can be used. Heat from a working fireplace is the main consideration.

→ TV mounting on chimney breast→ TV mounting above fireplace

Brick Wall

A solid masonry wall — one of the strongest and easiest substrates for TV mounting.

Requires hammer-drilling and proper masonry anchors (Fischer or similar). Cable hiding inside the wall is typically not possible — surface trunking or routing through floor/ceiling void is used instead.

→ Mount TV on brick wall

Concrete Wall

A solid poured-concrete wall — extremely strong but harder to drill into.

Common in modern apartment blocks and 1960s-70s buildings. Requires a SDS hammer drill and concrete anchors. Cable hiding inside the wall is impossible; trunking is the standard solution.

→ Mount TV on concrete wall

Dot-and-Dab

A wall-finishing method where plasterboard is glued to brick or block with adhesive dabs, leaving an air gap.

Common in UK new-builds. Behind the plasterboard is a 10–25 mm air gap then solid brick/block. Standard plasterboard fixings can fail because the board flexes; long screws or dot-and-dab-specific anchors that reach the brick give a far stronger fixing.

→ New-build TV mounting

Lath and Plaster

Pre-1940s wall construction — thin timber laths covered in lime plaster.

Found in Victorian and Edwardian properties. Brittle and prone to cracking; requires careful drilling and often a stud-fixed bracket. Inspection of the wall before fixing is essential.

→ TV mounting in Victorian house

Flat Bracket

A bracket that holds the TV flush against the wall, with no tilt or swivel.

Lowest profile (~20–30 mm gap), cheapest, and the most secure since it has the fewest moving parts. Best when the TV is at eye level and viewed straight-on.

Tilt Bracket

A bracket that lets the TV angle downward (and sometimes up).

Useful when the TV is mounted higher than eye level — above a fireplace, in a bedroom, or in a commercial setting. Typical tilt range is 10–15°.

→ Swivel vs tilt vs fixed bracket

Full-Motion Bracket

A bracket on an articulated arm that lets the TV swing out, tilt and swivel.

Also called swing-arm or cantilever bracket. Best for corner mounting, kitchens where the TV is viewed from multiple positions, or rooms with off-axis seating. Heavier and requires a strong fixing point.

→ Full-motion TV bracket guide

No-Gap Mount

A specialised flush bracket designed for the Samsung Frame TV.

Holds the Samsung Frame perfectly flush against the wall (~5 mm gap) so the TV looks like a framed picture. Not interchangeable with standard VESA brackets.

→ Samsung Frame TV installation

Cable Hiding (In-Wall)

Routing TV cables inside the wall cavity so nothing is visible behind the TV.

Possible in plasterboard walls (using wall plates and a cable rod) and chimney breasts (down the void). Not possible in solid brick/concrete walls. The cleanest finish but requires more time and skill.

→ Cable hiding service

Trunking

A surface-mounted plastic channel that hides cables on top of the wall.

Used where in-wall cable hiding is not possible (solid walls) or not desired (rented properties). White PVC, paints over cleanly to match the wall.

Power Outlet Behind TV

A new mains socket installed behind the TV so power cables stay hidden.

Requires a qualified electrician — we work with Part-P certified electricians where mains work is needed. Lets the TV power cable run inside the wall rather than to a floor-level outlet.

HDMI ARC / eARC

A feature on modern HDMI ports that lets a soundbar or AV receiver output the TV's sound.

eARC (enhanced) supports lossless audio formats (Dolby Atmos, DTS:X). The HDMI cable runs both directions: TV picture in, audio out to soundbar.

Soundbar

A wide speaker bar mounted below or above the TV.

Connects via HDMI ARC/eARC or optical cable. Wall-mountable on its own bracket (often included). Power and HDMI cable can be hidden the same way as the TV cables.

→ Soundbar installation

Apple TV / Sky Box / Set-top Box

A small device that plugs into the TV's HDMI to deliver streaming or pay-TV content.

Can be hidden behind the TV (on a shelf or shelf-bracket) so it is invisible from the front while still receiving its remote signal. Mount TV will pair the remote and configure HDMI-CEC.

Stud Finder

A handheld electronic tool that detects timber, metal, or live wires behind plasterboard.

Professional models (e.g. Bosch, Mirage) detect studs at 38 mm depth, metal up to 100 mm, and live wires. Used before every fixing on a plasterboard wall.

SDS Drill

A heavy-duty hammer drill designed for masonry — brick, concrete, stone.

Far more powerful than a standard combi drill. Required for clean, accurate holes in concrete and reinforced masonry.

Fully Insured

Public liability insurance that covers accidental damage during installation.

Mount TV holds public liability insurance. Accidental damage to a wall, floor, or TV during the install itself is covered under our policy, subject to the claim terms.

Richer Sounds Approved

A vetting and certification programme run by Richer Sounds for trusted independent installers.

Mount TV is on the Richer Sounds approved-installer list — meaning Richer Sounds customers in our service area are referred to us for professional TV installation.

→ Richer Sounds approved page

Common Questions