How to Mount a TV on Brick Wall – This Old House

Mounting a TV on a brick wall feels a little like a trust fall with gravity. You’re about to drill into rock-hard masonry, hang an expensive rectangle on it, and then sit on the couch hoping it stays put. The good news? With the right hardware, tools, and a bit of planning, mounting a TV on brick is absolutely doable for a careful DIYer.

This guide walks you through step-by-step how to mount a TV on a brick wall safely, using techniques professional installers and home-improvement experts recommend. We’ll cover everything from choosing the right mount and fasteners to drilling into masonry, plus special cases like fireplaces and old brick. Then we’ll wrap up with real-world tips and “wish I’d known” lessons from DIYers who’ve done it the hard way.

Before You Start: Safety, Tools, and Smart Planning

Know your wall and your TV

Brick walls are strong, but they’re not all created equal. Some are solid structural brick, some are brick veneer over wood framing, and some are old and crumbly. Before you shop for hardware:

• Check the TV’s weight and size. Look at the manual or the manufacturer’s site for weight and VESA pattern (the bolt hole spacing on the back of the TV).
• Inspect the brick. Look for cracks, spalled (chipped) surfaces, or soft, sandy brick. Very damaged brick may not hold anchors safely.
• Identify what’s behind the brick. In some homes, you may have a thin brick veneer over studs. In others, it’s full masonry. This impacts the type and length of anchors you’ll use.

Choose the right wall mount for a brick wall

TV mounts generally come in three main flavors:

• Fixed mounts – Slim, simple, and great if the TV is already at ideal eye level.
• Tilting mounts – Allow you to angle the TV down, very helpful if you’re mounting it higher or above a fireplace.
• Full-motion (articulating) mounts – Extend, swivel, and tilt. Amazing flexibility, but they put more leverage on the anchors, so you need very strong, masonry-rated hardware.

When you shop, look for:

• A weight rating higher than your TV’s weight
• Compatibility with your TV’s VESA pattern
• Included masonry hardware (anchors and screws), or clear specs for which masonry anchors to buy if they’re not included

Gather the right tools and hardware

Here’s the basic toolkit most pros and DIY guides recommend for mounting on brick:​

• Hammer drill (or at least a powerful drill) with masonry bits
• Level (a 24-inch level is ideal)
• Measuring tape and pencil or permanent marker
• Masonry anchors (sleeve anchors, shield anchors, wedge anchors, or concrete screws rated for the TV’s weight)
• Socket wrench or driver for the anchor bolts
• Vacuum or compressed air to remove brick dust from holes
• Safety gear: eye protection, hearing protection, and a dust mask
• Optional but smart: stud/pipe/cable detector if you’re not sure what’s behind the wall

Step-by-Step: How to Mount a TV on a Brick Wall

Step 1: Choose the right spot

Before you plug in the drill, decide where the TV should live:

• Viewing height: Many installers aim for the center of the screen to be around eye level when seated, often roughly 40–42 inches from the floor, depending on your furniture.
• Distance: Check your TV’s size guidelines; larger screens are more comfortable at slightly greater distances.
• Glare: Avoid placing the TV directly opposite big windows where sunlight will wash out the picture.
• Power and inputs: The closer you are to outlets and cable/data ports (or a place to hide a power bridge), the fewer visible cables you’ll have.

If you’re mounting above a fireplace, pay extra attention to heat. Run the fireplace as you normally would and tape a thermometer where the TV’s bottom edge would go. If temps exceed what your TV’s manual allows, pick a different spot.

Step 2: Attach the mounting brackets to the TV

Working on a soft, flat surface (like a blanket on the floor), attach the vertical brackets from your wall-mount kit to the back of the TV:

• Align the slots with the VESA holes.
• Use the provided machine screws and spacers as instructed.
• Snug the screws firmly, but don’t crank them so hard you risk cracking the TV’s housing.

Set the TV aside somewhere safeyou’ll bring it back once the wall plate is installed.

Step 3: Mark and level your drill holes on the brick

Now it’s time to get precise. This is where many This Old House–style guides insist you slow down and measure twice:​

1. Measure from the bottom of the TV to the bottom of the wall plate on your mount.
2. Decide how high you want the bottom of the TV off the floor, then add that first measurement. That total tells you where the bottom of the wall plate should sit.
3. Hold the wall plate on the brick at that height and use a level to get it perfectly horizontal.
4. Mark each screw hole with a permanent marker.

Important detail: Aim for solid brick, not mortar joints. Mortar is softer and can deteriorate over time, which means anchors can loosen. Try to keep your holes at least about 1/2 inch from the edges of each brick to avoid cracking.

Step 4: Drill the holes with a masonry bit

Once the holes are marked, it’s drilling time:

1. Attach the correct-size masonry bit specified by your anchor or concrete screw manufacturer.
2. Mark the desired depth on the bit using painter’s tape slightly deeper than the anchor length.
3. If you have a hammer drill, switch to hammer mode; otherwise, use a high-speed setting and go slowly.
4. Drill straight into the brick at each mark. Let the drill do the workdon’t force it.

After drilling each hole, vacuum or blow out the dust. Clean holes are crucial; leftover dust can keep anchors from gripping properly and reduce their holding power.

Step 5: Insert anchors or install masonry screws

Your exact hardware may differ, but the basic options for brick are:

• Plastic or nylon masonry anchors with lag screws (good for moderate loads on solid brick).
• Sleeve or shield anchors that expand as you tighten the bolt, excellent for heavier loads.
• Concrete screws (often blue-coated), installed directly into the drilled hole without separate anchors.
• Chemical/epoxy anchors (used with threaded rod) for compromised or very old brick, typically more advanced or professional-level.

General steps:

1. If using plug-style anchors, gently tap them into each hole until they’re flush with the brick.
2. Align the wall plate over the anchors and insert the bolts or screws through the plate into the anchors.
3. Tighten in a star pattern (top left, bottom right, top right, bottom left) so the plate pulls in evenly.
4. Stop when the plate is snug and doesn’t wobble. Over-tightening can strip anchors or crack brick.

Step 6: Hang and secure the TV

This is absolutely a two-person job. Even if the TV isn’t very heavy, its size and fragility make it awkward to lift solo. Most TV-mounting tutorials and pro installers agree: get a helper.

1. With one person on each side, lift the TV and hook the brackets on the back of the TV onto the wall plate.
2. Engage any safety catches, bars, or locking screws at the bottom of the brackets.
3. Stand back and visually confirm the TV is level and centered.
4. Connect power, HDMI, and other cables. Use cord covers or surface raceways to hide wires if you can’t run them inside the wall.

Special Cases: Fireplaces, Old Brick, and Hollow Walls

Mounting a TV on brick above a fireplace

Brick fireplaces are popular places to mount TVs, but they add two extra concerns: heat and viewing angle.

• Heat: As mentioned earlier, check the temperature at the planned TV location while the fireplace is in normal use. If it exceeds the TV manufacturer’s specs, don’t risk it.
• Neck strain: Mounting too high can be uncomfortable. Consider a tilting or drop-down mount designed specifically for over-fireplace installations.

Mounting on older or fragile brick

For very old, soft, or crumbly brick (like 100-year-old walls), standard expansion anchors might not hold safely. Experienced DIYers and pros often recommend:​

• Using chemical anchors (epoxy in the holes plus threaded rod).
• Spanning a larger area with a steel or wood ledger board bolted into multiple bricks, then attaching the TV mount to that board.
• When in doubt about the wall’s strength, calling a professional installer or structural expert before proceeding.

Brick veneer and hollow block walls

If your wall is a thin brick veneer over stud framing or hollow concrete block:

• For veneer, you may be able to anchor through the brick and into the studs behind, combining masonry anchors or long lag bolts with stud locations.
• For hollow block, toggle-style masonry anchors or special flip-toggle bolts can be used, following the manufacturer’s load ratings closely.

When You Should Call a Pro Instead

There’s no shame in phoning a professional if:

• Your TV is very large (think 75 inches and up) or especially heavy.
• The brick is cracked, crumbling, or part of a structural chimney you’re nervous about drilling.
• You need to run new electrical or low-voltage wiring inside the wall.
• You’re mounting above a gas or wood-burning fireplace and aren’t sure about heat levels and clearances.

A pro installer will bring specialized bits, anchors, and lots of experience with tricky masonry situations. The cost is usually far less than the price of replacing a shattered TVor patching a disaster in your brick.

Quick Troubleshooting & FAQs

What if my pilot holes ended up in the mortar?

If you accidentally drilled into mortar joints instead of brick, most masonry experts recommend not trusting those holes for a full TV mount. Instead:

• Fill the holes with mortar or epoxy repair products.
• Reposition the wall plate slightly so that new holes land squarely in brick.

My anchors feel loose. What now?

If an anchor spins freely or feels mushy when tightening:

• Stop tightening; forcing it may crack the brick.
• Remove the anchor if possible.
• Consider upsizing to a larger anchor, switching to a different style (like a sleeve anchor), or using a chemical anchor system.

Can I remove the mount later without ruining the wall?

You can’t erase the holes, but you can make them less noticeable:

• Remove the anchors (if possible) and fill holes with matching mortar or brick repair caulk.
• Touch up with a color-matching masonry stain if needed.

Real-World Experiences Mounting TVs on Brick (What DIYers Wish They’d Known First)

Beyond clean diagrams and perfect how-to photos, real brick-wall TV installs come with surprises. Here are some common themes from DIY stories, forum threads, and professional advice that can save you from learning the hard way.

1. “The brick was harder (or softer) than I expected”

Many people assume brick is just “hard.” In reality, some modern brick is surprisingly soft, and older masonry can be downright crumbly. That affects how your drill behaves:

• If the drill barely makes progress and the bit overheats quickly, your brick is very densetake breaks and let the bit cool.
• If dust comes out like sand and the hole seems to widen too easily, your brick may be weak and you’ll need a stronger anchoring method (like sleeve or chemical anchors) and possibly more anchor points.

Many DIYers say they wish they’d drilled a couple of “test holes” in an inconspicuous area first to get a feel for how the masonry behaves.

2. Layout and cable planning matter more than you think

It’s tempting to focus on the anchors and ignore the little details like where the cable box will sit or how that soundbar will hang. After mounting, people often discover:

• The TV ended up perfectly centered on the wall… but off-center relative to the furniture.
• The only accessible outlet is several feet away, so there’s a visible power cord drooping across the wall.
• The soundbar blocks the bottom of the screen because nobody measured their combined height.

The fix? Use painter’s tape on the wall to outline the approximate footprint of the TV, soundbar, and even media console before drilling. Step back and look at the full composition, not just the mount.

3. Using the wrong anchors is the #1 regret

On DIY forums, a recurring theme is underestimating the forces on a wall mountespecially full-motion arms. When the arm is fully extended, the leverage on each anchor is far greater than the TV’s basic weight.

People who tried to “get by” with generic plastic anchors or light-duty hardware often report:

• Mounts that slowly sag over time.
• Bolts that work loose and need periodic re-tightening.
• Hairline cracks radiating from anchor points in the brick face.

Conversely, those who started with heavy-duty masonry anchors designed specifically for brick rarely regret it. It’s one of the few places where “overbuilding” is smart.

4. A second set of hands is non-negotiable

Nearly every real-world story includes a moment of “I’m glad I had help” (or “I should’ve had help”):

• Aligning a wide wall plate, holding it level, and starting bolts all at once is tough solo.
• Lifting a big TV onto the mount without bumping the wall or scratching the screen is awkward for one person, even if the weight seems manageable.

Many DIYers say they underestimated how much precision is needed when dropping the TV onto the wall plate hooks. A helper can steady the set while you guide the brackets into place and secure safety locks.

5. Dust management makes the job feel more “pro”

Drilling into brick throws dust everywhere. A common post-project complaint is the fine red or gray powder in every corner of the room. Simple tricks that people swear by include:

• Holding a running shop vacuum under the drill bit while drilling.
• Taping a folded piece of cardboard or a paper “dust pocket” under the drill site to catch falling debris.
• Covering nearby furniture or electronics with old sheets or plastic drop cloths.

These little habits don’t just make cleanup easierthey also help keep dust from getting into the TV or your other electronics.

6. Take your time on measurements, save time on fixes

Perhaps the most universal piece of wisdom: being fussy up front saves you from patching brick later. People who rushed measuring height, skipped the level “just this once,” or eyeballed center often ended up drilling extra holes and doing cosmetic repairs afterward.

The brick wall will outlive your TV and probably you, so it’s worth getting those holes exactly where they belong the first time. A few extra minutes with your tape measure and level will pay off every time you sit down to watch.

When you combine smart planning, suitable masonry hardware, and patient drilling, mounting a TV on a brick wall stops being intimidating and starts feeling like a satisfying, professional-level DIY project. Once you’re done, you’ll have a rock-solid setup with a clean, uncluttered lookand you’ll know exactly what’s holding that big screen up there.

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