What a TV mounting visit includes
A wall-mounted TV looks great until it sags, tilts, or pulls out of the drywall. The job is mostly about what you can't see: finding the studs, using the right hardware for your wall, and getting the height right before the first hole goes in. Here's what's included:
- Choosing the height and position with you before drilling, usually with the middle of the screen near seated eye level
- Locating studs and fastening the mount into solid framing, or using anchors rated for the wall type when studs aren't where you need them
- Levelling the mount, hanging the TV, and checking the tilt or swing
- Tidying the cables with a paintable cord cover, or routing low-voltage cables (HDMI, coax, ethernet) through the wall where that's possible
- Mounting the soundbar, streaming box, or a floating shelf while you're at it
- Cleaning up the dust and taking the packaging away from the room
Every wall type in Ottawa homes
Ottawa has every kind of wall, from 1950s plaster and lath in Westboro and Alta Vista to newer drywall builds in Kanata Lakes, Barrhaven and Orleans. Each one needs a different approach:
- Drywall over wood studs: the most common case. The mount goes into the studs.
- Plaster and lath: plaster cracks easily, so it's drilled carefully and fastened into the framing behind.
- Brick, stone and concrete: masonry anchors and a hammer drill. Common on fireplaces and basement walls.
- Over a fireplace: possible, but check your TV manual for heat limits and think about viewing height. A full-motion or pull-down mount helps.
Hiding the wires safely
Most people want the wires gone. Low-voltage cables like HDMI can go inside the wall. A regular TV power cord shouldn't be run inside a wall. The safe option Sal offers is a paintable surface cord cover. If you want power run inside the wall, that's electrical work for a licensed electrician. Either way, you'll know the options and the price before anything starts.
What TV mounting costs in Ottawa
Most single-TV installs on drywall take about an hour, so they come in at the $150 minimum. That minimum covers two hours, so many customers add a second TV, a shelf, or a few pictures to use the time. Masonry, in-wall cable runs, and over-fireplace mounts take longer. Text a photo of the wall and the TV size and you'll get a number back.
You can supply your own mount, or Sal can pick one up and add it to the invoice. If you buy your own, check that it's rated for your TV's weight and VESA pattern (the bolt spacing on the back of the TV).
Before Sal arrives
- Decide which wall, and roughly where you'll sit.
- Have the mount, the TV's screws bag, and any soundbar or box ready.
- Clear about a metre in front of the wall.
Three mounting mistakes to avoid
- Mounting too high. Above-the-fireplace height looks good in photos, but it strains your neck every night. If it has to go high, use a tilting mount.
- Plastic anchors in drywall. They hold at first, then slowly pull out under a 25–40 kg TV. Studs, or anchors rated for the load, are the only safe option.
- Ignoring the mount's rating. Every mount lists a maximum weight and screen size. Check both, especially for full-motion arms that put extra leverage on the wall.
What customers say
★★★★★ “Great experience, showed up on time, the price was fair and the quality was great! Would definitely recommend!”
— Ebaa K., Google review
★★★★★ “Excellent service! Very professional, reliable, and friendly. He did an amazing job, paid great attention to detail, and made sure everything was done properly. Highly recommended!”
— Bilal A., Google review
Read all of Sal's Google reviews (5.0 stars).
Sal works across Ottawa: Kanata & Stittsville, Barrhaven & Nepean, Orleans & Gloucester, and central Ottawa. If you're just outside those areas, call and ask.