TV mounting and wardrobe repair

Combining TV mounting with minor furniture repairs, such as wardrobe door adjustments, is a common request for handymen and audio-visual specialists. This approach ensures your living space is both functional and aesthetically pleasing, with all cables tucked away and storage units operating smoothly.

What Does the Work Involve?

• Structural Assessment: Inspecting the wall type (plasterboard, dot-and-dab, or solid masonry) and using a stud finder to locate secure fixing points.
• Bracket Installation: Marking and drilling precise holes, installing the wall plate, and ensuring it is perfectly level before the TV is attached.
• Cable Management: Routing power and HDMI cables through the wall or using decorative trunking for a tidy finish.
• Hardware Calibration: Adjusting the TV tension and tilt, and testing all signal connections and smart features.
• Wardrobe Servicing: Replacing worn hinges, realigning doors, or installing new runners and drawer slides to restore smooth operation.
• Safety Checks: Verifying weight capacities for the wall type and ensuring all furniture fixings are tightened and secure.

Typical Costs

Prices in the UK vary based on your location and the complexity of the wall type. Solid brick walls are generally simpler to mount on than modern "dot-and-dab" plasterboard, which requires specialist heavy-duty fixings.

Note: Always confirm if the quote includes the cost of the TV bracket and replacement wardrobe hardware, or if you are expected to provide them yourself.

How Long Does It Take?

• Standard TV Mount: 1 to 1.5 hours for a basic installation on a solid wall.
• Complex Mount with Cable Chasing: 3 to 5 hours, depending on the wall material and decorative finish required.
• Wardrobe Repairs: 45 minutes to 2 hours for hinge replacements or door realignments.
• Full Room Refresh: 4 to 6 hours for mounting a TV, hiding cables, and servicing a large fitted wardrobe.

DIY or Professional?

While mounting a small TV or tightening a hinge is a viable DIY task, larger projects carry significant risks. Modern TVs are fragile and heavy; using the wrong fixings in a plasterboard wall can lead to the unit pulling away and causing structural damage or injury.

Professional installers carry high-quality wall anchors (like GripIts or Snaptoggles) and have the insurance to cover any accidental damage. If your project involves moving electrical sockets or adding new fused spurs, you must use a tradesperson who complies with Part P Building Regulations.

Choosing the Right Tradesperson

• Check Insurance: Ensure they have Public Liability Insurance (minimum £1 million) to cover your home and equipment.
• Wall Expertise: Ask specifically what fixings they use for your specific wall type (especially if you have modern dry-lined walls).
• Review Portfolios: Look for photos of their cable management—neatness is the hallmark of a professional.
• Questions to Ask:
  • Do you provide the bracket, or should I buy one in advance?
  • Will you check for hidden pipes and electrical cables before drilling?
  • Do you offer a guarantee on the mounting if the wall is plasterboard?
  • Are you able to source matching hardware for my specific wardrobe brand?

UK Regulations

• Part P (Electrical Safety): Mandatory if the work involves installing new electrical circuits or sockets behind the TV.
• Height Restrictions: While there are no legal "height" laws, installers follow health and safety guidelines for working at height if mounting in commercial settings or high-ceilinged period properties.
• Product Standards: Ensure any brackets supplied meet VESA mounting standards and carry the CE or UKCA mark for safety.

Common Problems

• Incorrect Fixings: Using standard rawlplugs in plasterboard is the leading cause of TV falls. Specialist anchors are essential.
• Hidden Hazards: Drilling into water pipes or electrical cables hidden behind the wall. Professionals use multi-detectors to avoid this.
• Poor Levelling: Even a 2mm error at the bracket can look like a massive slant once a 65-inch TV is attached.
• Incompatible Hardware: Wardrobe hinges come in dozens of "offset" sizes; buying the wrong replacement will prevent the door from closing flush.
• Cable Strain: Using cables that are too short, which puts pressure on the TV ports when the unit is tilted or pulled out on an arm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you mount a TV on a hollow plasterboard wall?

Yes, but it requires specialist heavy-duty fixings or mounting directly into the wooden studs. A professional will use a stud finder to ensure the weight is distributed safely.

How high should my TV be mounted?

Generally, the centre of the screen should be at eye level when you are seated. This is usually around 42 inches from the floor to the centre of the TV, though personal preference and room layout may vary.

Do I need to empty my wardrobe before repairs?

For hinge adjustments, it isn't usually necessary. However, if the runners or the internal frame need repairing, you should clear the area to give the tradesperson space to work safely.

What is a VESA pattern?

VESA is the standard distance (in millimetres) between the four mounting holes on the back of your TV. You must ensure your bracket matches your TV's VESA size (e.g., 400x400).

Can cables be hidden inside a solid brick wall?

Yes, this involves "chasing" a channel into the masonry, laying the cables in a conduit, and then plastering over the gap. This is a messier job and will require redecorating once the plaster is dry.

What if my wardrobe doors are sagging?

This is usually caused by loose hinge plates or worn-out screw holes. A tradesperson can often fix this by using oversized screws, wood filler plugs, or realigning the adjustable screws on the hinge arm.