I’ve been there – standing in my living room with a brand new telly, a DIY mounting kit, and that sinking feeling that I might be in over my head. After nearly dropping my 55-inch OLED (and nearly giving myself a heart attack in the process), I finally admitted what many of us resist acknowledging: some jobs are best left to the professionals.
TV wall mounting seems deceptively simple. Just drill a few holes and hang the thing up, right? But anyone who’s attempted it knows there’s much more involved. From finding studs to managing cables & ensuring perfect positioning, professional installers bring expertise that’s genuinely worth paying for.
If you’re debating whether to mount your TV yourself or call in the experts, here are seven compelling reasons why the professional route might save you more than just a headache.
Structural Safety Comes First
Let’s be brutally honest – your gorgeous new £1,500 telly crashing to the floor is the stuff of nightmares. Professional installers know EXACTLY what they’re looking for when assessing your walls. They can identify whether you’ve got plasterboard, brick, or concrete and select the appropriate fixings accordingly.
When I tried mounting my own TV years ago, I completely misjudged the wall composition in my Victorian terrace house. What I thought was solid brick turned out to be plasterboard with inconsistent wooden studs behind it. The mounting bracket I purchased wasn’t appropriate, and I nearly created an expensive disaster.
Professionals bring specialized equipment like stud finders, laser levels, and the correct drill bits for different wall types. They also understand weight distribution and can ensure your specific TV model is matched with the right bracket type. This might sound simple, but it’s surprisingly technical – especially with today’s ultra-thin TVs that can weigh anywhere from 15kg to 50kg depending on size and display technology.
Perfect Positioning & Viewing Angles
There’s a science to proper TV placement that most of us don’t consider. Professional installers understand ergonomic viewing angles and can help determine the optimal height and tilt for your specific room layout.
The general rule is that your TV should be mounted so the middle of the screen is at eye level when seated. However, this varies based on your furniture arrangement, ceiling height, and even the specific TV model. Mounting too high causes neck strain (a mistake I see EVERYWHERE in homes), while incorrect angles can create glare issues or poor visibility from certain seating positions.
Professionals also consider factors like natural light sources in your room, distance from seating areas, and even the typical number of viewers. They can recommend tilting or full-motion mounts when appropriate, which might not be solutions you’d consider on your own. This expertise transforms your viewing experience in ways that aren’t immediately obvious but make a significant difference to comfort over time.
Cable Management Expertise
Nothing ruins the sleek look of a wall-mounted TV faster than a tangle of cables dangling underneath. Professional installers offer sophisticated cable management solutions that can make those wires virtually disappear.
Most pros can route cables through walls (where building regulations permit), creating a completely clean installation. Even when in-wall routing isn’t possible, they have access to specialized cable channels, covers, and management systems that keep everything tidy while maintaining access for future changes.
Beyond aesthetics, proper cable management also prevents strain on connections that can lead to premature wear. I’ve seen plenty of DIY installations where HDMI cables are pulled tight or power cords are stressed, creating potential failure points. Professionals understand how to leave appropriate slack while still maintaining a clean appearance, ensuring both functionality & longevity for your setup.
Time & Stress Savings
What might take you an entire frustrating weekend can often be completed by professionals in under two hours. They arrive with all necessary tools, hardware, and expertise to efficiently complete the job without the learning curve or trial-and-error that typically accompanies DIY projects.
My own attempt at mounting a TV involved three separate trips to B&Q for forgotten supplies, an hour of YouTube tutorials, and ultimately a patch job on my wall where I drilled in the wrong location. The process dragged on for days and left me with subpar results.
Professional installers have mounted hundreds or thousands of TVs. They’ve encountered virtually every possible complication & developed efficient solutions for each. This experience translates to a quick, stress-free installation that lets you enjoy your new setup sooner rather than later. Sometimes the most valuable thing you’re paying for isn’t just the physical installation but the peace of mind that comes with it.
Additional Services & Integration
Many professional TV mounting services offer valuable add-ons that extend beyond simply hanging your telly on the wall. These might include connecting & configuring external devices, calibrating picture settings for optimal performance, or integrating your TV with smart home systems.
When I finally hired professionals for my most recent TV, they connected my soundbar, streaming devices, and game consoles while explaining how everything worked together. They even programmed my universal remote — something that would have taken me hours of frustration to figure out on my own.
Some installers can also advise on complementary equipment like sound systems, ambient lighting, or streaming devices that might enhance your setup. Their experience across many different homes gives them insight into what solutions work best for various viewing environments. This expertise can be particularly valuable if you’re creating a comprehensive entertainment system rather than just mounting a standalone TV.
Warranty Protection & Insurance
Most reputable TV mounting services offer guarantees on their work, often covering both the installation itself and any potential damage to your TV or property. This warranty protection provides significant peace of mind compared to DIY efforts.
Professional installers also carry liability insurance, meaning you’re covered if something does go wrong during the installation process. This is particularly valuable when working with expensive electronics & your home’s structural elements.
Additionally, some TV manufacturers’ warranties include clauses about professional installation. Improper DIY mounting that leads to damage could potentially void your warranty — an expensive mistake that professional installation helps you avoid. Always check your telly’s warranty terms before deciding on your installation approach.
Long-Term Value & Future Flexibility
Professional TV mounting often includes considerations for future needs. Installers can recommend brackets that accommodate potential TV upgrades or room rearrangements, saving you from needing a complete reinstallation later.
They might also install access points for additional components you might add later, such as soundbars or gaming consoles. This forward-thinking approach creates an installation that grows with your entertainment needs rather than limiting them.
In my case, the professionals installed a bracket that could accomodate a range of TV sizes, knowing I’d likely upgrade again in a few years. They also left accessible cable paths that made adding a new streaming device simple without needing to remove the TV from the wall. These thoughtful touches have saved me countless headaches as my system has evolved.
The Bottom Line
While the DIY approach might seem more economical initially, the combined benefits of structural safety, perfect positioning, cable management, time savings, additional services, warranty protection, & future flexibility make professional TV mounting an investment rather than an expense.
For something you’ll use daily for years to come, ensuring optimal installation simply makes sense. After learning this lesson the hard way (twice!), I can confidently say that professional mounting is one of those services that delivers value far beyond its cost. Your expensive TV — & your future self — will thank you for making the right choice.
