Most people spend a lot of time researching which TV to buy but don’t give much thought to the mount that will hold it on the wall. There are just as many options and differences in quality when it comes to TV mounts as there are with TVs.
Big box and Amazon mounts are typically made with lighter materials and limited adjustability. Many come in multiple pieces that have to be assembled, which creates weak points. A lot of them aren’t wide enough to accommodate stud spacing beyond 16 inches, and many don’t include post level adjustment, which becomes especially important on larger TVs.
Professional mounts are built with stronger materials and use a single solid wall bracket instead of multiple pieces. They offer smoother movement, more flexibility for real installations, and post level adjustments to get everything properly aligned.
At Mount It ATX, we typically use pro grade MSTR mounts for most TV mounting jobs in Austin. These mounts are designed by professionals for professional installation and are built for a better fit and long term performance. In certain situations, we may use other pro grade mounts depending on the setup.
Fixed mounts keep your TV tight to the wall and create a clean, minimalist look where the TV can almost appear like it is floating. The downside is that they don’t allow you to adjust the viewing angle, and the tight clearance behind the TV can make accessing cables and running them through brush plates more difficult.
Tilt mounts allow your TV to angle downward slightly. They’re ideal for TVs mounted above eye level and help reduce glare from windows or lighting. Some tilt mounts also allow the TV to pull away from the wall slightly, making it easier to access cables and ports. This becomes especially important when a soundbar is attached, since you’ll have additional power and HDMI connections to manage. We cover that in more detail in our guide on how to mount a soundbar.
Full motion mounts allow the TV to extend, swivel, and tilt, making them useful for corner installs or rooms where the viewing angle needs to change. They also make accessing cables easier since the TV can be pulled away from the wall. This is often why people choose full motion mounts when adding a soundbar, although it’s not always necessary depending on the setup.
However, most people rarely use the movement once installed. Even high quality mounts require occasional adjustment to stay level, and the more they’re moved, the more they can shift over time. Unless you need the TV to face different directions, a tilting mount that pulls away from the wall is usually a simpler and more cost effective option.
Mounting a TV above a fireplace can create a poor viewing angle if it’s not planned properly. A MantelMount is a specialty mount that allows you to bring the TV down to eye level when you’re watching and push it back up when you’re done.
This improves comfort and viewing experience and is a great option for fireplace TV mounting. It can also be a more complex and expensive setup, so it’s important to understand what’s involved before going this route. We have extensive experience installing MantelMount systems here in Austin and can walk you through the process before you purchase. We can also provide the MantelMount so everything is handled on one invoice.
Outdoor TV installations require mounts designed for the elements, including weather resistant coatings, rust protection, and stronger hardware. Using an indoor mount outside may not fail immediately, but it can lead to corrosion and wear over time, especially in the Texas climate.
Ultra slim mounts are designed to keep the TV as close to the wall as possible and are best for minimalist setups. However, they require more planning since there’s very little clearance behind the TV.
A recessed outlet or in wall media box is often needed. If the outlet isn’t properly positioned, the mounting brackets can interfere and force the TV off center. Some ultra slim mounts offer slight tilt, but options are limited.
Art TVs like the Samsung Frame, LG Gallery Series, and Hisense Canvas come with their own ultra slim mounts that are designed specifically for those TVs. The ultra slim mounts we’re referring to here are for standard VESA mounted TVs, which are different and require more planning. These setups leave very little room for adjustment after installation.
No two homes are the same, and not every wall is straightforward. We regularly perform TV installation in Austin on brick, stone, concrete, and metal studs, where consumer grade mounts often fall short.
Many consumer grade TV mounts are too narrow or come in multiple pieces, which prevents proper alignment. If studs aren’t positioned exactly where they’re needed, or are spaced wider than 16 inches, you may have to shift the TV away from your ideal location. This becomes even more complicated with full motion mounts.
Professional mounts use wider, one piece wall plates that allow for more flexibility in where they’re placed, resulting in a stronger, safer, and more accurate installation.
Just because a mount says it supports your TV’s weight doesn’t mean it will perform well. Weight limits are more of a safety threshold than a guarantee of stability. This is especially true with full motion mounts, where movement can make any flex more noticeable.
Larger TVs make these issues easier to see. Pro mounts are built with better support, stronger materials, and less movement over time.
VESA refers to the mounting pattern on the back of your TV, which is the spacing between the screw holes both horizontally and vertically. This is where the TV bracket attaches before it’s hung on the wall plate.
Professional mounts support a wider range of VESA patterns, so you aren’t limited in your mounting options.
Cheaper mounts often make it difficult to access ports once the TV is installed. This is especially true with full motion mounts that use multiple bracket pieces, which can block ports.
Some mounts also have wall plates that are too small to fit around outlets, forcing the TV to be installed higher or lower than planned.
Pro mounts provide better spacing, a single solid wall plate, and built in cable management. They’re also better suited for in wall cable concealment, resulting in a cleaner setup.
Even with a perfectly level wall plate, small tolerances in the mount or TV can cause the screen to sit slightly off level.
Cheaper mounts often lack proper post level adjustment or make it difficult to use. This may not be noticeable on smaller TVs, but on larger screens even a slight tilt stands out.
Professional mounts allow for fine tuning after installation so everything sits perfectly level.
Choosing the right TV mount isn’t just about picking between fixed, tilt, or full motion. It’s about safety, long term stability, clean installation, and how the TV performs once it’s on the wall.
If you have questions about which mount is right for your setup, we’re happy to help. Mount It ATX provides professional TV mounting, TV mounts, and TV sales right here in Austin, Texas.
Call or text (737) 707 5561 or request a quote, and we’ll follow up with you.
The best type of TV mount depends on your setup. Fixed mounts are best for a clean low profile look. Tilt mounts are a great choice when the TV is mounted above eye level or when you want easier cable access. Full motion mounts work best for corner installs or situations where the viewing angle needs to change.
Some may work for basic setups, but many consumer grade mounts use lighter materials, come in multiple pieces, and offer limited adjustability. Professional mounts are typically built stronger, use one solid wall bracket, and offer better post level adjustment and flexibility for real installations.
Not always. Full motion mounts are helpful for corner installs or situations where the TV needs to face different directions. However, many people rarely use the movement once the TV is installed. In many cases, a tilt mount that can pull away from the wall is a simpler and more cost effective option.
A fixed mount keeps the TV close to the wall and does not allow any adjustment to the viewing angle. A tilt mount allows the TV to angle downward slightly, which is helpful for TVs mounted above eye level and can also make it easier to access cables and ports.
Yes. Even high quality full motion mounts may need occasional adjustment to stay level. The more they are moved, the more likely they are to shift slightly over time.
Yes, but it needs to be planned carefully. Mounting a TV above a fireplace can create a poor viewing angle if it is not done properly. A MantelMount is one option that allows the TV to be pulled down closer to eye level for a more comfortable viewing experience.
Yes. We have extensive experience installing MantelMount systems in Austin and can walk you through the process before you purchase. We can also provide the MantelMount so everything is handled on one invoice.
It may not fail immediately, but it can lead to corrosion and wear over time, especially in the Texas climate. Outdoor TV installations should use mounts designed for the elements with weather resistant coatings, rust protection, and stronger hardware.
An ultra slim TV mount is designed to keep the TV as close to the wall as possible. These mounts work well for minimalist setups, but they require more planning because there is very little clearance behind the TV.
No. Art TVs like the Samsung Frame, LG Gallery Series, and Hisense Canvas come with their own ultra slim mounts that are designed specifically for those TVs. These are different from standard VESA mounted ultra slim options.
Stud spacing matters because many consumer grade mounts are not wide enough to accommodate studs spaced beyond 16 inches. If the studs are not in the right location, the TV may have to be shifted away from the ideal position. Professional mounts often use wider one piece wall plates that allow for more flexibility.
Post level adjustment allows the TV to be fine tuned after the wall plate is installed. This is especially important on larger TVs where even a slight tilt can be noticeable.
Yes. We provide professional TV mounts for many installations in Austin, including pro grade MSTR mounts and other specialty mounts depending on the setup.
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