Thinking about hanging that new telly on the wall? You’re not alone. Wall-mounted TVs have become something of a standard in modern homes across the UK. They look brilliant, save valuable space, and give any room that polished, contemporary feel. But here’s the thing – while those DIY YouTube tutorials make it look dead simple, there’s more to mounting a TV than drilling a few holes and hoping for the best.

I’ve gone both routes myself. First attempted the DIY approach (with less-than-stellar results involving a slightly crooked 55-inch that gave everyone a sore neck), then wisely called in the professionals for my living room centrepiece. The difference was night & day. Trust me on this one.

1. Proper Equipment & Expertise

Professional TV mounting services come armed with specialized tools most homeowners simply don’t have lying about in the garden shed. They’ll arrive with stud finders that actually work (unlike that cheap one collecting dust in your drawer), proper drill bits for different wall types, and mounting brackets specifically suited to your TV model and size.

What really struck me was how quickly they assessed my wall. The chap who mounted mine tapped a few spots, made some measurements, and immediately knew exactly what we were dealing with. Apparently, my “solid-looking” wall had some quirks that would’ve completely escaped my notice — potentially leading to a catastrophic TV tumble.

These specialists have mounted hundreds, perhaps thousands of TVs. They’ve encountered virtually every possible wall type, from standard plasterboard to concrete, brick, and those tricky period property walls with surprises lurking behind them. This experience is simply impossible to match as a weekend warrior with a drill and optimism.

2. Safety First – Protecting Your Investment

Let’s be brutally honest — TVs aren’t cheap! The last thing you want is your £1,200 OLED masterpiece crashing to the floor because of mounting failures. PROFESSIONAL installers understand weight distribution and load-bearing requirements for different TV sizes.

They’ll ensure your mount is properly secured into studs or using appropriate anchors for your specific wall type. This isn’t guesswork for them — it’s standard procedure. And they’ll double-check everything before they leave.

I still remember my installer testing my mount by actually hanging from it briefly (which nearly gave me heart failure) before declaring it solid enough to “support a person, let alone your telly.” Excessive? Perhaps. Reassuring? Absolutely.

3. Cable Management That Doesn’t Look Like Spaghetti Junction

One of the BIGGEST advantages of wall-mounting is achieving that clean, minimalist look. But that beautiful vision quickly evaporates when you’ve got a tangled mess of HDMI cables, power cords, and speaker wires dangling from your TV like some electronic ivy.

Professional installers are wizards at cable management. They can route cables through the wall for a completely hidden installation (where building regulations permit). Alternatively, they’ll use discreet cable trunking or channeling systems that blend with your décor.

My installer actually suggested a solution I hadn’t even considered — a small shelf beneath the TV that houses the cable box and game console, with a clever system for hiding the cables within a matching column. Brilliant stuff that I would’ve never thought of myself!

4. Perfect Positioning & Viewing Angles

There’s a science to TV placement that most of us aren’t aware of. Professional installers understand optimal viewing angles based on room dimensions, seating arrangements, and TV size. They’ll help determine the ideal height and position to prevent neck strain and maximise viewing experience.

I thought I wanted my TV quite high on the wall (“like in hotels”) until my installer gently explained why that’s actually terrible for home viewing. He measured my seating distance, considered the TV size, and recommended a height that initially seemed too low to me. After living with it for a few weeks, I realised he was spot-on — no more neck craning during movie nights!

Many professional services also offer tilting or full-motion mounts, allowing you to adjust your TV for different seating arrangements or to reduce glare from windows. They’ll walk you through these options based on your specific room layout.

5. Additional Services & Upgrades

Beyond just hanging your telly, most professional services offer additional services that add tremendous value. They can install soundbars, set up surround sound systems, connect all your devices, and even programme universal remotes.

My installer noticed I had several gaming consoles and streaming devices and suggested a clever HDMI switching system that simplified everything. He even took the time to show me how to use it properly — something no instruction manual has ever succeeded at!

Many services also provide guidance on complementary products like cable concealment systems, bias lighting (which reduces eye strain during night viewing), or even acoustic treatments if you’re creating a proper home cinema environment.

6. Time & Frustration Savings

What might take you an entire weekend of frustration, multiple trips to B&Q, and possibly some choice language can often be completed by professionals in under 2 hours. They arrive with everything needed, work efficiently, and leave you with a perfectly mounted TV.

I still laugh thinking about my DIY attempt that involved three separate hardware store trips, a borrowed drill that wasn’t powerful enough, and eventually giving up after creating several “exploratory holes” that needed patching later. The professional installation was completed in 90 minutes flat, including cleaning up afterward!

For most of us with busy lives, the time saving alone justifies the cost of professional installation. Plus, there’s something to be said for preserving your weekend for more enjoyable activities than arguing with wall studs that seem to deliberately move when you’re not looking.

7. Warranty & Peace of Mind

Reputable TV mounting services stand behind their work with warranties. If anything goes wrong with the mounting (brackets loosening, unexpected issues), they’ll come back and fix it at no additional cost.

This peace of mind is worth its weight in gold. I sleep better knowing my TV isn’t going to mysteriously crash to the floor at 3am. Plus, many installers will advise you on whether your existing wall is suitable in the first place — potentially saving you from a doomed project.

Some services even offer accomodation for future needs, like if you upgrade to a larger TV or need to relocate the current one. These relationship-based services can become invaluable over time.

8. Insurance Compliance & Rental Property Considerations

If you’re in a rental property, professional installation ensures that modifications are done properly and can often be reversed when you move out. They understand how to mount TVs with minimal wall damage — an important consideration for getting your deposit back!

From an insurance perspective, some home policies may not cover damage resulting from improperly mounted fixtures. If a DIY mounting job fails and damages your TV, flooring, or injures someone, you might find yourself without coverage. Professional installation documentation can provide evidence of proper installation should issues arise.

My neighbour learned this lesson the hard way when his self-mounted TV fell and damaged not just the telly but also his expensive console table beneath it. His insurance declined the claim citing “improper installation” — an expensive lesson indeed.

The Bottom Line

Wall-mounting your TV might seem like a simple weekend project, but the reality involves more complexity than most people realise. Professional installation typically costs between £50-150 depending on your TV size and mounting requirements — a small price to pay for proper installation of what’s likely one of the most expensive & frequently used items in your home.

If you’re like me, you’ll find that the combination of expertise, proper equipment, safety assurance, and sheer convenience makes professional TV mounting one of those services that’s absolutely worth every penny. Sometimes the smartest DIY decision is knowing when NOT to DIY!

Published by HOLR Magazine.