Expert Mounts Shop at VideoMountStore.com

How to Install a Ceiling TV Mount

Installing a ceiling TV mount takes five steps: locate the joist or beam, fasten the ceiling plate to it, insert the mast and set it to the drop the room needs, attach the head and the screen rails, then hang the screen and lock it. The ceiling structure must support four times the combined weight of the mount and the screen. The sequence below matches the instruction sheet shipped with each mount; always follow the sheet supplied with your model.

SAFETY

Severe personal injury and property damage can result from improper installation. The ceiling structure must support 4 times the total load (mount plus screen); if it cannot, reinforce it first. The standard plates are designed for wood beams and joists 2 x 4 inches and larger - for steel beams, concrete, or an unknown ceiling type, use the matching structural plate or a qualified installer. Do not install if any part is damaged or missing, and never exceed the rated weight capacity. Professional installation is recommended for all ceiling-mounted products.

What tools and hardware are needed?

  • Stud finder (or access to locate joists), pencil, tape measure
  • Drill, bits, and sockets for the lag hardware that matches your structure
  • Level, ladder rated for the work, and a second person to lift the screen
  • The instruction sheet and hardware supplied with your mount

Mounting the plate and mast

  1. Find the structure. Locate the joist or beam and mark the edge and center lines. The plate must land on structure, not drywall alone.
  2. Mark the location. Hold the ceiling plate in position and mark the mounting holes.
  3. Mount the ceiling plate. Fasten the plate to the structure with hardware appropriate for the material. Lag bolts must seat in the center of the joist.
  4. Insert the mast. Slide the ceiling mast (pipe) into the ceiling plate and tighten the set screw.
  5. Set the height. Adjust the mast to the drop you need and insert the set bolt.

Attaching the TV

  1. Assemble the head. Attach the mount plate to the adapter bracket with the supplied screws and nylon lock nuts.
  2. Install the bracket on the mast. Slide the mast through the large holes in the U-shaped adapter bracket.
  3. Lock it. Secure the bracket with the supplied threaded collar and tighten the set screws.
  4. Mount the rails on the TV. Attach the upright rails to the back of the screen at equal heights, tilt levers to the outside. Use the nylon spacers if the back of the TV is recessed or obstructed. Do not overtighten, and do not let screws bottom out.
  5. Hang the TV. With a helper, hook the rails over the top of the mount plate, slide the locking tabs up, and secure the screws.

How do you choose the drop length?

The drop is the distance from the ceiling to the top of the screen. Work it out before ordering: measure the ceiling height, decide where the center of the screen should sit (seated eye level is roughly 40 to 45 inches from the floor; standing viewing in a commercial space usually puts the screen center at 60 to 70 inches or higher), and subtract. The adjustable mast shipped with each mount covers roughly 18 to 63 inches depending on model; fixed 1.5" NPT pipe runs to 48 inches and telescoping extensions adjust from 8 to 72 inches when the room needs more. Worked examples are in the drop-length guide.

Angled ceilings, beams, and Unistrut

A sloped ceiling needs an angled plate (11AC005, 11CP006, or the ANGLE-CEILING adapter) so the mast hangs plumb. Exposed structure has its own attachments: Unistrut adapter, I-beam clamp, and truss clamps. All of them accept the same 1.5" NPT mast - see ceiling plates.

After installation

  • Confirm every set screw, set bolt, and locking tab is tight.
  • Check the screen is level and tilt is locked at the angle you set.
  • Leave service slack in the cables so tilt and rotation do not strain them.
  • Re-check fasteners after the first week of service.

Documents and models

The instruction sheet for the Expert Mounts ceiling mount family is available as a PDF: ceiling mount installation instructions (PDF). Sheets for every model are in the manuals library. Full specifications for each mount are on the ceiling TV mounts page, and every model is sold factory-direct at VideoMountStore.com. Questions: call 855-566-8687.

Common questions

Can a ceiling TV mount be installed into drywall alone?

No. The ceiling plate has to land on a joist or beam. The structure must support four times the combined weight of the mount and the screen, and drywall carries none of it.

What size joist do the standard ceiling plates fit?

The standard plates are designed for wood beams and joists 2 x 4 inches and larger. Steel beams, concrete, and unknown ceiling types need the matching structural plate, or a qualified installer.

Does installing a ceiling TV mount take two people?

The plate and mast can be set by one person. Hanging the screen should not be: the rails have to hook over the mount plate and the locking tabs have to seat while the screen is held level. Use a helper for that step.

How do you install a ceiling TV mount on a sloped ceiling?

Use an angled ceiling plate, 11AC005 or 11CP006, or the ANGLE-CEILING adapter. The plate compensates for the pitch so the mast still hangs plumb. Size the drop from the plate's mounting point rather than from the peak of the ceiling.

What needs checking after a ceiling mount is installed?

Confirm every set screw, set bolt, and locking tab is tight, that the screen is level, and that tilt is locked at the angle it was set to. Leave service slack in the cables so tilt and rotation do not strain them, then re-check the fasteners after the first week of service.