A crooked TV mount or a TV that falls off the wall is not just aesthetically embarrassing — a 65" television falling from its mount can destroy itself, damage floors, and injure anyone nearby. Austin homes present some specific mounting challenges beyond what the average YouTube tutorial covers. Here is what our techs want you to know before you pick up a drill.
Step 1: Find the Studs (and Know What You're Up Against)
Every TV over 32" should be anchored to wall studs, not just drywall. The average Austin home has wood studs 16" apart. Do not trust a stud finder blindly — they miss studs behind extra-thick paint, plaster walls, and corner framing. Always confirm with a small test screw before committing the mount bolts.
Austin-specific wall challenges our techs encounter regularly:
- Old lath and plaster (Hyde Park, South Congress corridor, Bouldin Creek) — harder to penetrate, requires different anchors, and stud finders often misread through plaster
- Concrete block walls — common in condos downtown and some 1960s ranch homes. Standard mount bolts won't work — you need masonry anchors and a hammer drill
- Brick walls and fireplaces — popular mounting surface in living rooms. Beautiful on Instagram, but requires masonry bits, sleeve anchors, and careful planning to avoid hitting mortar joints
- Metal stud framing — common in newer condos and apartments in East Austin. Standard wood screws will pull through. Use toggle bolts rated for your TV weight instead
Choosing the Right Mount Type
- Fixed flat mount — Cheapest, lowest profile, best picture quality (zero glare distortion from angled viewing). Best for TVs directly across from seating at eye level.
- Tilting mount — Lets you angle the screen 5–15° downward. Ideal for mounting above a fireplace or high on a wall. Adds $20–40 to the price of the mount.
- Full-motion (articulating) mount — Swings left/right and tilts. Best for corner mounting or rooms where viewing angles change. Heaviest, most installation-intensive option. Requires very solid stud anchoring — do not attempt on plaster or drywall only.
Getting the Height Right
The most common mistake in TV mounting is mounting too high. This is especially common above fireplaces where homeowners assume "higher is better." The correct placement is with the center of the screen at seated eye level — approximately 42–48" from the floor for most adults. Above a fireplace, this often means the TV is lower than you'd expect. A tilting mount helps compensate if studs force the TV higher than ideal.
Cord Concealment Options
Nothing ruins a clean wall mount like a bundle of visible cords. There are three approaches:
- Cord cover raceway — A plastic channel glued or screwed to the wall that hides cords. Takes about 20 minutes, looks decent, renters can use it without damaging walls. Cost: $30–60 in materials.
- In-wall power kit — A licensed add-on that runs a power cable inside the wall with an outlet behind the TV and one hidden near the baseboard. Completely invisible. Requires cutting drywall. Cost: $85 labor + roughly $60 in materials.
- Full cord conceal in wall — Running all HDMI, power, and AV cables through the wall with surface plates at each end. Cleanest possible result. Only recommended for technically skilled installs — involves fishing through wall cavities and dealing with insulation.
5 TV Mounting Mistakes That Cost You Money
- Using drywall anchors alone for a 50"+ TV — anchors pull out under load
- Mounting into a single stud with a full-motion arm — the leverage exponentially increases the load
- Not checking for electrical boxes, pipes, or duct work in the wall before drilling
- Ignoring VESA pattern compatibility between the TV and mount (most new TVs use 400x400, but always verify)
- Forgetting to route cables before the mount is fully tight — you'll have to back out and start over
Want it done perfectly the first time?
Book a professional TV mount in Austin. Starts at $55. We bring the hardware, mount, and make it look like it was always there.