TV Mounting in Fort Collins
A television on the wall is only as safe as what it is screwed into. I mount into studs, not into drywall and hope, and the cables go out of sight rather than hanging down the wall.
TV mounting is the job where the difference between doing it properly and doing it quickly is completely invisible until the day it is not.
The failure mode is always the same. The mount goes into drywall with plastic anchors, or into one stud and one anchor, and it holds fine for a year or two. Then it does not. A large television hanging off a wall is a constant downward and outward pull, and drywall is not a structural material.
How I do it
Find the studs and confirm them. A stud finder gets you close; a small pilot hole tells you the truth. On the rare wall where the studs will not work for the position you want, I will say so and give you the honest options rather than fitting a mount I would not put my own set on.
Then level it, hang it, and run the full range of tilt and swivel before the cables go in so there are no surprises later.
Cables
This is what separates a decent job from a good one. Inside the wall is neatest and works in most Fort Collins builds. Where it does not, a paintable surface channel is a genuinely good second option and takes minutes.
If you also want power behind the set rather than cable dropping to a low outlet, that is a new outlet and it needs an electrician. It is worth booking them the same week and doing both.
What is included
- Finding and confirming the studs, not guessing from a magnet.
- Mounting the bracket level and rated for the weight of your set.
- Hanging the TV and checking tilt and swivel through their full range.
- Concealing the cables, either in a channel or fished inside the wall where the construction allows.
- Tidying the old bracket or stand away if you want it gone.
What it costs
| Job | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TV up to 55 inch, drywall over studs | $125 | Minimum call-out covers most of these |
| TV 56 to 85 inch | $150 to $225 | Heavier bracket, two-person lift on the largest |
| Cable concealment inside the wall | +$60 | Where the wall construction allows it |
| Brick, stone or tile wall | quoted | Different anchors and a slower job |
Full rates, block pricing and the minimum call-out are on the pricing page.
What I do not do here
- New power outlets behind the TV. That is a new circuit and goes to an electrician.
- Mounting on a surface I do not trust, for example thin panelling with nothing solid behind it.
- Running cable through a firebreak or between floors where it would need a licensed trade.
- Configuring your streaming boxes or sound system beyond plugging them in.
Who to call instead: a licensed electrician for a new outlet behind the set. It is a common pairing and worth doing at the same time.
The full list is on what I do not do.
How it works
- Send a photo. Text or email a picture. Most jobs get priced without a site visit.
- Get a flat price. Written and fixed before I start.
- I show up and finish. On the day I said, parts in the truck, swept up after.
Why a solo operator
The same person quotes the job, does the job and cleans up after it. There is no call centre, no dispatcher and no rotating crew who have not seen your house. The price you were given is the price, because the person who quoted it is the person holding the tools.
Related work
TV mounting questions
Can you mount a TV without hitting a stud?
For anything but the smallest set, I would rather not. Toggle anchors are rated for real weight on paper, but a television is a lever that pulls down and out all day. If the studs do not land where you want the TV, I will tell you the options rather than talking you into a mount I do not trust.
Will the cables be hidden?
Yes, one way or another. Inside the wall where the construction allows it, or in a paintable channel where it does not. Either way you are not looking at a bundle of cable hanging down.
Can you mount above a fireplace?
Usually, but it is worth a conversation first. Heat and viewing angle are both real considerations, and on a stone or brick chimney breast it is a slower job with different anchors. Send a photo and I will price it properly.
Do you supply the mount?
You can, or I can at cost plus 25%. Tell me the size and weight of the set and whether you want fixed, tilting or full-motion, and I will tell you what to buy.
How long does it take?
A straightforward mount is under an hour. Add cable concealment and it is closer to two. Brick or stone takes longer.