Mounting a TV Over Your Fireplace - What to Consider

As a house flipper, you understand that one of your greatest strengths must be your gift of imagination. With your mind’s eye, you must consider the varying tastes of different buyers and envision how they will use each space in a home.

A more recent consideration is the wall-mounting of the household television. As the price of large flat screens has dropped over the years, more people are investing in them and they have become the centerpiece of the living room. The placement of the television has morphed from a furniture concern to a wall space consideration.

As if calculating the proper space for these large and sometimes heavy electronics was not complicated enough, add into the equation the popularity of fireplaces in the main living space. Oftentimes the wall space above the fireplace mantel is the largest area available, so homeowners choose to mount their television in this spot. This can be done, but here are a few things buyers will need to consider before hanging their TV, and therefore you must too.

Not All Fireplaces Are Equal 
If there is an old stone-and-mortar fireplace that is for aesthetic purposes only and it is never used, then there should be absolutely no problem mounting a TV above it—as far as the fireplace is concerned. We will touch on issues with the television placement itself later in this piece.

If there is a functioning wood fireplace, a TV should probably not be mounted above it. The smoke and heat will damage it in no time, and it’s too expensive a piece of electronics to destroy. As a designer, you will need to develop alternate ideas for mounting a TV. (Incidentally, attending a Rules of Renovation workshop is a great resource for these and many more ideas.)

You do not have to worry about smoke damage with modern gas and electric fireplaces, and many of them have ventilation systems that can direct the heat away from the TV, so mounting a television above one of these fireplaces should be fine. It’s a good idea to suggest to your buyer that they have a professional installer do it for them.

Other Design Considerations for Wall-mounted TVs 
When you view a room in its “before” state, look at each wall for wall-mounting options. There must be adequate distance between the TV and the viewing area to maximize the high-definition features of today’s televisions. A television that is too close to seating can also create an awkward angle that not only limits or completely eliminates viewing (sharp angles will create black screen conditions, depending on the technology the TV uses), but can also make it uncomfortable to watch. Angle issues can be remedied with tilting or motorized wall mounts.

As you pan around the room and do your 360 review, you should also be considering furniture placement, wall colors, window treatments, chair rails, and the many other design aspects that can influence the compatibility and comfort of the room and sway a buyer’s decision to purchase.

As a successful house flipper, you understand that a home is a family’s biggest investment, and they will want it to be comfortable and inviting for years to come. Taking the extra time to consider the many design possibilities prior to renovation will save you time and money as construction progresses, and will maximize profit upon sale.

For more Rules of Renovation, register for one of our free Rules of Renovation workshops for the latest innovative ideas and techniques in the world of real estate investment.