| Mounting TV on brick fireplace - what screws and where? I'm looking to mount a LCD above a brick fireplace. I've looked online and found conflicting information. My main questions at this point are:
1) What screws should I use (and how long should they be)? Some people say use Tapcon, some say don't.
2) Where in the brick should I drill the holes? I was thinking into the brick, not near the edges but I saw that some people say drill in the masonry between bricks.
3) Do I *have* to use a hammer drill or can I use a normal power drill with a masonry bit and be careful?
Thanks! |
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 ArthurSWatch Those Blinking LightsPremium
join:2000-10-28
Hamilton, ON | JMHO, but TV's don't belong above a fire place, especially if you continue to use the fireplace. Heat does not fare well with electronics.
How do you plan to get the cables to the TV? |
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 djrobx
join:2000-05-31
Valencia, CA
kudos:2
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| said by ArthurS:JMHO, but TV's don't belong above a fire place, especially if you continue to use the fireplace. Heat does not fare well with electronics.
I've seen good and bad. It really depends on the fireplace. If it's low enough, or people are sitting far enough back, it can work. Often it does ends up being uncomfortably high though. Same goes for the heat - if it's a natural gas fireplace, they don't generally put out enough heat to cause concern.
It's pretty common for people to have wax candles on their mantle. If it really got THAT hot up there, they'd melt. My wax candles actually melt more in the summer if I leave the house with the AC off. 
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robbinPremium,MVM
join:2000-09-21
Leander, TX
kudos:1 | reply to KevinSac1
That is going to be a hard place to get a solid mount. Could you post a couple of pics of your fireplace? What TV are you wanting to mount (please include model number)? What mount are you planning on using? |
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 jack bGone FishingPremium,MVM
join:2000-09-08
Cape Cod
kudos:1 | reply to KevinSac1
Don't drill the mortar joint, that's the weakest place to install any masonry mounting.
I would use vinyl screw anchors and at least 5/16 x 1-1/2" lag bolts. Drill a 3/8 hole into the center of the face of the brick and tap in the anchor.
You can use a regular drill it just takes a little longer to do the job compared to a hammer drill.
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 Jack_in_VAPremium
join:2007-11-26
Mathews, VA
kudos:1 | reply to KevinSac1
IMHO TV's don't belong above a fireplace and to drill a brick fireplace to mount one is well.........But then it's your neck that will take the beating watching it. |
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| said by Jack_in_VA:IMHO TV's don't belong above a fireplace and to drill a brick fireplace to mount one is well.........But then it's your neck that will take the beating watching it.
+1 i just don't understand WHY people want to put them there. A fireplace is something you may need to use for survival during an emergency with a fire going for days. One day the TV will need replacing as well and replacement may use a different mount. Then figure wires and cables you need to run to the TV. And how about blu-ray players,cable box DVRS and whatever else ? Save yourself trouble now hang nice pictures over the fireplace and set TV up elsewhere. |
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| reply to jack b
@jack b: Thanks.
@ everyone else: I'm aware of the other issues with mounting a tv above a fireplace (heat, height, neck strain, cable management, etc.) . If you want to debate those things, I suggest you start a new thread. This one is not about those those things.
Thanks! |
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| reply to KevinSac1
People always forget about all the wiring. The mount is sometimes nothing compared to getting the darn wiring into the right place without being visible and looking like crap. I would mount on a normal wall. |
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 bryank
join:2000-03-23
Plainfield, IL
·Comcast Formerl..
1 edit | reply to KevinSac1
As a professional installer for the past 8 years, I have done hundreds of mountings on brick fireplaces. You would want to drill into the mortar using a concrete anchor and a standard lag bolt. Most of the mounts we use come with these anchors but I guess it depends on which mount you get.
The anchors that come the mounts are like these:
»www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R···fLIa4mGc
The reason for mounting into the mortar is when you insert the concrete anchor and use the lag, it will expand and push and hold against the adjacent bricks. A hammer drill will work the best and go the quickest, but I guess work with what you got.
Using this method, I have never had any problems wall a TV falling or coming loose and I have mount some pretty big and heavy TV's on brick. When it comes to really heavy TV's, I sometimes turn to RedHeads.
»www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R···lzIa4mGc |
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 jjoshuaPremium
join:2001-06-01
Scotch Plains, NJ
kudos:3 | reply to KevinSac1
You are required to post a picture.
Is this a full brick fireplace or just a brick facade? |
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Jack_in_VAPremium
join:2007-11-26
Mathews, VA
kudos:1 | said by jjoshua:You are required to post a picture.
Is this a full brick fireplace or just a brick facade?
+1 |
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 cdruGo ColtsPremium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN
kudos:7 | reply to jack b
said by jack b:Don't drill the mortar joint, that's the weakest place to install any masonry mounting.
said by bryank:You would want to drill into the mortar using a concrete anchor and a standard lag bolt. This is why I love this forum. |
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 nunyaWho is John Galt?Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-23
O Fallon, MO
kudos:8
·Charter
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| reply to KevinSac1
I'm not going to start a new thread. Hanging a TV above a fireplace isn't the best location as already explained.
That being said:
Avoid Tapcon like the plague. Use properly sized (for weight) screws and anchors.
Just an example: If your TV and mount weigh 100#, and you have 4 screws rated at 40# each (160# total), you are golden.
DO NOT use the mortar joint. Drill into the brick. I've been mounting heavy expensive stuff onto brick for decades. Trust me.
A hammer drill will make for quicker work.
A regular carbide masonry bit will work if it is sharp (still has it's edges) and you have a lot of time.
I used to drill the shit with a star drill and hammer - now that was time consuming.
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 mityfowlPremium
join:2000-11-06
Dallas, TX | reply to KevinSac1
said by KevinSac1 :@jack b: Thanks.
@ everyone else: I'm aware of the other issues with mounting a tv above a fireplace (heat, height, neck strain, cable management, etc.) . If you want to debate those things, I suggest you start a new thread. This one is not about those those things.
Thanks!
I have soft Mexican bricks. I wouldn't do that at my house. |
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| reply to KevinSac1
said by KevinSac1 :@ everyone else: I'm aware of the other issues with mounting a tv above a fireplace (heat, height, neck strain, cable management, etc.) . If you want to debate those things, I suggest you start a new thread. This one is not about those those things.
Thanks!
sorry bud but you came in here and asked for advise from registered members...
everybody gave their own piece of their mind, whether you like the answer or not is for you to choose...
in my situation, I have a TV niche above a venteless fireplace which I've never used. if I could go back to when the house was being built, I would have them build a wall for the tv to be mounted properly. |
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| reply to jjoshua
@Jack_in_VA: Full red brick, wood burning fireplace built 25 years ago. I'm not sure a picture would be of much help unless you don't know what bricks or mortar look like in which case you won't be much help in this thread anyway.
Thanks! |
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| said by KevinSac1 :@Jack_in_VA: Full red brick, wood burning fireplace built 25 years ago. I'm not sure a picture would be of much help unless you don't know what bricks or mortar look like in which case you won't be much help in this thread anyway.
Thanks!
are you still using the fireplace? |
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 leiboldPremium,MVM
join:2002-07-09
Sunnyvale, CA
kudos:6
 ·SONIC.NET
| reply to cdru
Re: Mounting TV on brick fireplace - what screws and where? said by cdru:said by jack b:Don't drill the mortar joint, that's the weakest place to install any masonry mounting.
said by bryank:You would want to drill into the mortar using a concrete anchor and a standard lag bolt. This is why I love this forum. Both answers are correct. It depends on the bricks and mortar and how the fireplace was build. The original poster doesn't seem to understand that by providing a picture he would get a better answer specific to his situation instead of generic responses.
With brittle bricks (common clay bricks) or engineered bricks with cavities in them and a wide band of good mortar between layers of brick I would put the anchors into the mortar. In most cases (good solid bricks or thin layer of mortar) I would drill the bricks instead.
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