Get That TV Off The Floor

It's flat-out true: with the right tools, installing a flat-screen TV may be easier than you think!

Say goodbye to the 600-pound gorilla on your living room floor — the TV. With prices dropping as much as 30 percent, flat panel televisions are flooding into homes across the country. Why not take the opportunity to free up living space by using your walls.

Identify a location that's a natural focal point to facilitate furniture placement. Often that's a fireplace, which is fine as long as the surface temperature stays below 90 degrees when the fireplace is operational.

Choose the mounting kit that's right for your situation. Options include:

• Flat — the least expensive option and biggest space saver.
• Tilt — lets you place the TV above eye level, yet still view it comfortably.
• Ceiling — tilt capability makes it perfect when you don't want to take up wall space.
• Articulating — the most flexible option with swiveling arms that can turn up to 120 degrees and tilt as well.

Installation isn't difficult and while the kit will come with instructions, here are some helpful guidelines:

1. Assemble the necessary tools including a tape measure, stud finder, level, cordless drill, screwdrivers and socket set.
2. Anchoring to studs is the most crucial part, so use a stud finder to determine horizontal placement. One excellent choice is the StudSensor™ i20 OneStep® stud finder because it finds stud centers with just one pass, making the process virtually mistake proof. For large TVs, you'll want to anchor to two studs for maximum stability.
3. Attach the rails to the back of the TV to see how it will sit in relation to the wall mount. Then place the mounting frame against the wall and mark the anchor bolt positions, making sure it's level. A laser level, like Zircon's LaserBall 360™ laser level ensures accuracy and the red laser line makes positioning a breeze.
4. Pre-drill a pilot hole into the studs, install the anchor bolts, and tighten securely.
5. Get a family member to help hang the TV in the mount, move the safety tabs into position, and enjoy!

Once last cosmetic thing — you may want to consider covering that big, gray screen with a large piece of art or a mirror. Add hinges to the frame or install a track system to move the piece out of the way for TV viewing.

The Zircon® tools mentioned are widely available at mass merchandisers, hardware and home centers. For more information about these and other cutting-edge, electronic hand tools, check out the website at www.zircon.com or call 800-245-9265.