Mounting a TV above your fireplace
Above the fireplace is often the natural focal point of the room. It's also the install that benefits most from planning. Height, heat, the mantel, what the fireplace is built from, and where the wires will go all shape how the finished TV looks and how comfortable it is to watch.
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At a glance
- Viewing height planned around your mantel and seating
- Brick, stone, tile and drywall fireplace surrounds
- Tilting and pull-down mount options to bring the screen lower
Getting the height right
A TV above a fireplace almost always sits higher than the ideal eye-level position, so the goal is to keep it as comfortable as possible. We'll mount as low as the mantel and any heat clearance allow, and talk through options that help:
- A tilting mount angles the screen down toward your seating and reduces glare.
- A pull-down (drop-down) mount lets you bring the TV down to eye level while you watch, then push it back up. These are specialty mounts that need a sturdy wall and room above the mantel.
- If the mantel is deep or high, we'll measure clearances so the TV and mount don't interfere with it.
Heat and your TV
Electronics don't like heat. Check your TV manufacturer's guidance on mounting above a heat source, and pay attention to how warm the wall gets when the fireplace is running. A common rule of thumb: if the wall where the TV will go is too hot to keep your hand on comfortably, it's too hot for the TV.
A mantel helps deflect heat away from the wall. Decorative or non-working fireplaces aren't a concern. If you're unsure, tell us what kind of fireplace you have in the quote form and we'll factor it in.
Brick, stone and drywall surrounds
Brick
Anchored into solid brick with masonry hardware. We place holes based on the brick's condition and the load.
Stone and stone veneer
Natural stone and thin veneer behave differently. We check what's behind the surface before choosing anchors.
Tile
Drilled carefully with the right bits to avoid cracking the tile around the mount.
Drywall
Many fireplaces have a framed drywall chase above them. We anchor into the framing, not the drywall alone.
Brick and stone installs are covered in more detail on our brick, stone and concrete page.
Where the wires go
Cables are the hardest part of a fireplace install to make disappear. The right option depends on how the fireplace is built:
- A paintable cord cover run down the side of the surround or tucked along the mantel.
- In-wall concealment where the space behind the wall allows it, using kits designed for in-wall use.
- Positioning the TV so cables drop straight to a cabinet or console below.
If there's no outlet near where the TV will go, adding one is licensed electrical work. We'll tell you exactly where it needs to be so a licensed electrician can add it.
Common questions
Can you mount a TV above a fireplace?
Yes. Fireplace installs need extra planning for viewing height, heat, mantel clearance and where the wires will go, and the approach depends on whether the surround is brick, stone, tile or drywall.
How high should my TV be mounted?
In most living rooms, the center of the screen should sit close to your eye level when you're seated, often around 40 to 45 inches from the floor, depending on your seating and screen size. Above a fireplace it will sit higher, which is where a tilting or pull-down mount helps. We mark the position and confirm it with you before drilling.
Can you hide the wires?
Yes. Options range from bundling cables neatly behind the TV, to a slim paintable cord cover on the wall, to in-wall concealment on suitable walls using kits rated for in-wall use. We never run standard power cords inside a wall, because they aren't rated for it.
Can you mount a TV on brick, stone or tile?
Yes. Masonry and tile use different drill bits and anchors than drywall, and we choose hole locations around the material's condition. Holes in masonry can be patched but won't vanish, so we confirm placement with you first.
Can you add an outlet behind the TV?
Adding or moving an outlet is electrical work that requires a licensed electrician in Texas, and we don't perform licensed electrical work. We'll tell you exactly where an outlet should go so an electrician can add it, and plan the TV install around it.
Why do you ask for photos?
Photos of the wall, your TV's model label and any mount you already have show us the details that change a job: wall material, outlet locations, fireplace clearances and whether a mount fits your TV. That lets us quote accurately before we arrive. Your photos stay private and are only used for your request.
Send us a photo of your fireplace wall
Answer a few questions and add photos of the wall. We'll get back to you with a quote.