Arggh big tv , wall bracket, no studs.....

[Tampon]

Following on from the what bracket thread, I got one, got the tools out and Fnuck it, void, space, air was all that could be found!

The old owners had a tv hung up in the same spot there.



They took the old bracket with them and filled the 14 holes they had drilled for the bracket. I presumed as it is a extention that is detached from the neighboring properties it would be plaster on top of brick. It isn't.

I have had a look for a stud and cannot find one for love nor money anywhere round there. I have dug out the filler from the wall and had a explore, the brick is 4 inches behind the the plasterboard and there is insulation between the two just waiting to wrap itself around my drill bits.

So what is the next step ? genuinely can't find the studs, been over the place with a magnet and nothing, test drilled small holes around old owners ones to see if I can locate stud, nothing.

If I took the backing plate off the articulated bracket that I have bought and bolted that to the wall with big plasterboard fixings ( that seems to be what previous guys did).

The only other thing I can think of is to cut out some of the wall, bolt a frame to the outer wall, replace the plaster, skim, put up bracket, but that seem like a massive ar8e ache.

Any suggestions ?

[Tampon]

andy43 said:

Smaller telly?

I reckon you're spot on - safest way is to build out behind where the bracket will go in 4" timber rawlbolted to the bricks, screw/bolt bracket mouting plate to the timber, then plasterboard around plate. Someone will no doubt say they've hung a 60" plasma off 9mm plasterboard with chewing gum, drawing pins and two red rawlplugs - but playing it safe and trying to do it right/OTT is a better option imho.

The telly funds are depleted with the purchase of our first house. SO have to stick to the old plasma for the moment.

I am thinking, drill a hole in the wall at the four corners, cut between the holes leaveing a square in the wall. bolt stud wood to the wall. Nail plaster back over, fill edges and nail holes, sand, paint ( will be covered by the telly ). I can't see how I would fix bracket to the stud work directly then plaster round it, sounds more complicated.

If I did that I would be using coach screws into wood so no plugs or extra support for the screws would be needed ? just a pilot holes through the plaster and into the wood.

[Tampon]

Cheers Harry, the tv is 30 kgs and I have a articulated bracket ( heavy ) so the tv could be a good couple of feet off the wall at times so I want to make sure I get it right first time. Your idea of inserting some wood is essentially what I will be doing just bolting that piece to the wall behind.

Could you explain your idea a bit, seems to be the same, cut hole bracket sized, insert wood, plasterboard back over, bolt on bracket. That sound like what you are talking about ?

[Tampon]

Cheers guys, the bracket is articulated and the tv is 30kgs and I am worried that fixing it to anything other than the wall or wood will bring the plasterboard down.

The tv will be moved around like this


I just don't think bracing the plasterboard will do it. I could alway take the bracket apart and make a straight wall bracket like this


And I think that would be alright.

[Tampon]

This is what I don't know, seem to be massive gaps between studs. There is a gap of about 4 inches from the brick work behind and the front of the plasterboard with insulation inbetween, so there must be a stud frame there.

Couple of photos
The mess left over from previous owner, looks like they did a sheet of wood over the top and then painted round it.


slightly wider shot of of the area and the tv to go up, the nearest stud I can find to the wall with the curtain on is behind the tv !

[Tampon]

mk1fan said:

Stud finder or try tapping accross the wall there will a slight change in sound where the stud is.

Done all of that, tried may gets on string etc etc, the nearest one seems to be 6ft away!

Hole in the wall time, I will take a few photos of me bashing holes in my new house.

Question, how many fixings should I use to attach the 4 inch thick wood to the brick behind? I am thinking 3 at the top and 3 below, then a pilot hole in the wood and screw the lag screws/ coach screws straight into the wood?

[Tampon]

mk1fan said:

Is the brickwork the external skin of the building?

I would think so yes.