Do you know how to mount your tv on drywall without studs? Currently, most people are opting for tv mounting to help them do away with bigger entertainment consoles. Mounting a tv enables you to have more space in small rooms. It also helps you have a neater and organized house since you’ll not have wires and cables spread all over the room.
Most TV mounts for drywall require studs, which is part of the frame that supports the wall. However, not all homes are designed with walls that can work with studs. But if you don’t have the studs, you can still mount your TV on drywall using anchors, molly bolts, or ceiling mounts.
In this guide, we’ll help you understand how to mount your TV on drywall without using studs. Let’s get started.
Alternative to Install Tv on A Drywall Without Studs
Use Anchors to Mount Your Tv
One of the easiest ways to mount your tv on the wall without studs is using anchors. The anchors will help you hold the screws in place, keeping your walls in good shape. It’s the best option for those with flat-screen TVs.
To have it hold your tv in shape, make a hole on the wall, then fix the sleeve. After that, put in the anchor. To enable the anchor to hold well and prevent it from getting loose as you insert the screw, pull it near the wall. Use a disposable pull tool to get it in the right position.
Molly Bolts
Alternatively, you can use molly bolts to mount your tv on walls without studs. Molly bolts are stronger and best suit large or medium loads. However, unlike anchors, they’re challenging to use. The pointed molly bolts require you to hammer its sharp tip with soft but strong taps on the wall. The non-pointed molly bolts are ideal for plaster walls. But you have to cut the mounting opening.
If you leave molly bolts untightened on the wall, they’ll be thinner. But after properly installing it on your wall, the sleeves will expand, giving an anchor behind the drywall just as toggle anchors do. After you’re done fixing the molly bolts, you can remove the screw and fix the screws for tv mounting.
Consider Installing the Tv with Toggle Anchors
Another option of mounting your tv on drywall without studs is using toggle anchors. The toggle anchors resemble the standard screws, you know but have a butterfly toggle at the edge. If you put them on the wall, they’ll attach to the back of the drywall.
However, when you pull or apply some force on the screws, there will be little effect. This is because the toggle anchor will make the whole drywall respond and not the crumbly center only. It will help you from having your wall come down as you’ll be able to remove individual screws. The screw-like anchor shouldn’t be used with a full-motion mount.
Ceiling Mounts
Mounting your tv from the ceiling is also possible if you’ve walls without studs. Remember, most ceilings have beams that can work as studs. But you’ll need longer screws to reach the beams, which largely depends on the layout of your house. However, this is not a common method, and it’s complex to do.
Opt For Mounting Plates
Mounting plates (metal or plywood) can enable you to mount your tv without using studs. All you need to do is place the mounting plates in the right position behind your tv, then bolt them into the wall. You can use either toggle anchor or molly bolts to do this.
After that, you can mount your tv on the mounting board and enjoy watching. You should consider using mounting plates because they will offer additional support to your tv and the weight of the brace.
If you don’t want your mounting plate to be visible, make it smaller than your tv so that the screen hides the metallic or plywood. You can also paint the mounting plate or add other details that will make it invisible.
How to Mount Your Tv on A Drywall Without Studs?
After you’ve decided on what you’ll use to mount your tv without studs, it’s time to take action into your hands. Follow the below process to achieve this:
1. Attach The Tv on The Brackets
The first thing you need to do is to connect the back of your tv with the brackets. Note that not all tv mounts have the right hardware to connect to all TVs.
2. Install The Wall Plate
After that, nail the wall plate to have additional support for your tv. Doing this won’t take you much time, and it’s fun. You’ll likely have a straight-mounted tv without much struggle as it’s not hard installing the wall plate. Some are also inbuilt, so the chances of messing are minimal.
3. Mount the TV
Finally, you can mount your tv from the wall plate and lock it into place. This whole process will enable you to have a tv on the drywall without studs.
Factors To Consider : When Mounting Tv on Drywall Without Studs
Even though using molly bolts or anchors to mount your tv on drywall without studs will keep it in place, you need to factor in several things. They include;
The Weight of Your TV
Before you buy an anchor screw for your tv, ensure you know its carrying weight. Every anchor screw is designed to bear a certain tv weight. So, check on the weight of your tv first, which depends on its model. For example, most tv models of 32-inch weigh between 25lbs and 30lbs. Of course, a bigger tv set will weigh more.
Knowing the anchor screw’s load capacity and your tv’s weight will help you avoid destroying your wall if it doesn’t have studs. But if you bought your anchor screw without considering the load capacity and realize its bending, take it as a warning. Then, remove your tv and buy the right load capacity anchor screw.
The Type of Mount for Your TV
Another thing you need to consider is the kind of mount you want to use on your tv. Every mount is designed to hold a certain weight and size of tv. So, you shouldn’t use a tv mount meant for 32-inch tv with a 40-inch tv. This will weigh down your mount, causing your tv to fall or get destroyed.
Also, note that every anchor for a studless wall works best with a specific tv mount. For example, a molly bolt should be used on a fixed tv mount. This is because they can’t bear regular movements while adjusting your tv angle, which increases the stress on the anchor points and the wall.
State of Your Wall
If you’ve got an old wall, even if you use a high-quality anchor, you’ll not mount your tv and have it in position for longer. An old, weak wall will not hold your anchor into position and then bend because of the weight of your tv. Then, of course, it will come down crumbling and destroy your tv.
Bottom Line
Don’t worry if your walls don’t have studs or your landlord doesn’t allow you to drill their walls to fix them. Instead, use this guide and know the type of anchors that will enable you to mount your tv on drywall without studs. But ensure you know the anchor’s load capacity and use the right type of tv mount.
