About 80% of Americans watch TV on any given day, making it one of the most popular leisure-time activities in the United States. Over sixty percent of these people own flat-screen TVs that can be mounted on walls. Mounting your TV not only saves you space while improving the look of your living room but also ensures that your appliance does not accidentally get tipped over. This is very important if you have children or pets. According to the Consumer Safety Product Commission's 2019 report on tip-over injuries associated with furniture and appliances, 33% of the fatalities and 20% of the emergency room-treated injuries recorded during this period were caused by televisions. About 12% of these emergency room-treated injuries occurred amongst children that were not more than 19 years old. These injuries and fatalities can be prevented by employing the services of a professional TV mounting contractor near you.
A professional TV mounting contractor is trained to properly and securely mount your TV in a way that optimizes its output and enhances your TV watching leisure time. It also saves you the potential cost of treating tip-over-related injuries. Considering that not everyone that claims to be a TV mounting contractor is capable of doing a proper job, the following questions have been curated to help you choose the most qualified TV mounting contractor near you:
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Are You a Licensed TV Mounting Contractor?
There are generally no specific licenses for TV mounting. However, some states may require TV mounting contractors to obtain either a handyman or a general contractor's license. The requirements for obtaining this license usually depend on the total cost of the job. For example, California does not require a license for jobs that are not up to $500. However, to work on jobs worth more than $500, TV mounting contractors are required to have a general contractor's license.
In Georgia, TV mounting contractors are required to obtain a license for jobs that cost more than $2,500, while in Louisiana, licensing is required for residential or home improvement jobs that cost more than $7,500. Florida and Hawaii both have handyman exemptions that allow TV mounting contractors to work on projects that cost less than $1,000. Some states do not have any handyman or general contractor's licensing requirements. Examples of these states include Missouri, Illinois, and New York. Note that these states may have local-level licensing requirements for TV mounting contractors and handymen.
Given the fact that the requirements for obtaining a professional license are location-dependent, it is always a good idea to contact your local consumer protection agency to verify whether or not your TV mounting contractor needs a license. If a license is required, you can confirm its validity through the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies' licensing information website.
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Are You a Bonded and Insured TV Mounting Contractor?
When you want to hire a TV mounting contractor near you, it is important to make sure that this contractor is properly bonded and insured. TVs can be quite expensive, and having an insured TV mounting contractor ensures that you are duly compensated if your TV or other properties are damaged during the mounting. There is also the likelihood of your TV mounting contractor getting injured on the job. In 2019, the Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded more than 800 fatal occupational injuries caused by falls, slips, and trips. During this period, over 888,200 private industry workers missed at least one day of work due to nonfatal injuries and illnesses like sprains, strains, tears, bruises, cuts, lacerations, and soreness. Hiring an insured TV mounting contractor protects you from any potential lawsuits that may arise because of these fatal and nonfatal injuries. Hiring a TV mounting contractor who is also bonded in addition to the insurance ensures that you are properly compensated if there is any contractor-related job default.
Make sure that any TV mounting contractor you intend to hire provides you with adequate proof of insurance and bonding. This is usually in the form of certificates. Ensure that these certificates are authentic by contacting the organizations that issued them, and that the insurance includes general liability and workers' compensation coverage. If your state requires licensing for TV mounting contractors, then you should contact your local consumer protection agency to find out whether there are any mandatory bonding and insurance requirements for these contractors.
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What Kind of Work Are You Specialized In?
TV mounting typically requires the use of a TV mount bracket to anchor the TV to the wall. The most common types of TV mount brackets are:
- Fixed TV Mount Brackets: these types of mount brackets are typically strong, sturdy, and easy to install. However, they do not offer any screen movement
- Tilting TV Mount Brackets: these types of mount brackets offer limited TV screen adjustment. With tilting TV mount brackets, you can adjust your TV vertically anywhere between 5 degrees to 15 degrees, but you cannot adjust it horizontally.
- Full Motion TV Mount Brackets: these types of mount brackets offer both horizontal and vertical TV screen adjustment, as well as wider viewing angles than the other types of TV mount brackets. Full motion TV mount brackets are typically harder to install
Always make sure that your TV mounting contractor is capable of installing your preferred TV mount bracket. Note that mounting a TV is not just simply hanging it up on a wall. Several factors have to be considered to ensure a proper mounting and optimal viewing pleasure. These factors include:
- The location of the mounted TV
- The type and strength of the wall
- The height of the mounted TV
- Proximity to electrical outlets
A professional TV mounting contractor near you would generally consider all these, and this is one more reason why you should always hire a qualified technician.
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Who Will Do the Work?
Mounting a TV does not usually require the involvement of more than one worker. However, sometimes you may retain the services of a contracting firm or business that has several employees. In situations like this, make sure that you find out the number of workers that will be assigned to mount your TV and request details of these workers. This should include their names, and their licensing, insurance, and bonding status, per your state of residence's requirements. Note that you should always verify this information.
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Do You Offer a Warranty?
When you buy a product or pay for a service, you are usually given a guarantee that the product or service will serve its intended purpose. This guarantee is known as a warranty, and it can be offered in writing, orally, or it can be implied.
Always hire a TV mounting contractor that offers warranties. A professional TV mounting contractor near you would not hesitate to offer materials warranties that cover any defects in the TV mount bracket used for the job and workmanship warranties that cover the actual mounting. Ask for written copies of these warranties and make sure you understand their terms and conditions so that you do not void them.
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Will This Job Require a Permit?
TV mounting does not generally require a permit because it does not result in a major structural change to your home. However, because local governments are responsible for coming up with the requirements for obtaining permits within their jurisdiction, it is always a good idea to contact the local building department office near you to confirm that a permit is not needed for TV mounting.
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Will You Provide References?
Always request a list of references from the TV mounting contractor that you intend to hire. Based on the Federal Trade Commission's recommendations, this list should contain no less than three names. These references should give you an idea of the TV mounting contractor's level of expertise and professionalism. If your contractor cannot provide you with references for previous jobs, then you should consider hiring a different one. You can also independently get reviews from clients near you online through websites like Better Business Bureau and Google Review.
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Do You Have a Business License?
TV mounting contractors generally need to obtain a business license that authorizes them to operate in a particular geographical area. The difference between a professional license and a business license is that a professional license is issued to an individual to certify their ability in a particular trade, while a business license is issued to a business entity to allow it to officially conduct business. According to the Small Business Administration, approximately 30.7 million small businesses are currently operating in the United States.
Make sure that your TV mounting contractor is authorized to conduct business in your area. You can do this by requesting a copy of the contractor's business license and verifying it through your state of residence's Office of the Secretary of State.
What Are Common TV Mounting Problems?
Some common TV mounting problems that can be avoided by hiring a professional TV mounting contractor near you are:
- Mounting the TV too high or too low
- Using a wrong TV mount bracket
- Improperly securing the TV to the wall
- Difficulty locating a wall stud
- Mounting the TV too far from an electrical outlet
- Messy cables and wires
- Un-level TV and TV mount bracket
- Mounting the TV above a fireplace
- Using the wrong VESA size
How Much Does TV Mounting Cost?
Professional TV mounting contractors typically charge an average of $150 - $300 for their services. This price depends on the size of the TV, the type of TV wall mount used, and the complexity of the job. As such, you can end up paying as little as $100 or as much as $600. Some common TV mounting cost estimates are:
TV mount bracket cost estimates by type:
TV mount bracket cost estimates by TV size:
TV mount bracket cost estimates by TV weight:
What Are the Factors That Affect the Cost of Hiring a TV Mounting Contractor?
The cost of TV mounting is affected by the following factors:
- The type of TV mount used: Fixed TV mounts generally cost less than other types of TV mounts.
- The size of the TV: Bigger TVs require bigger TV wall mounts which invariably cost more
- The complexity of the job: The complexity of the job determines the amount of time and labor your TV mounting contractor will expend on the job. For example, mounting a TV on drywall involves less labor than mounting a TV on brick or concrete walls, and will therefore cost you less, excluding the cost of the TV mount. Likewise, hiding your TV wires in the wall will cost you more than using cable covers to conceal the wires.
What Qualifications Should TV Mounting Contractors Have?
There are no mandatory educational requirements for becoming a TV mounting contractor and they typically learn their trade by working with more experienced contractors and through employer-provided training. However, many TV mounting contractors have a high school diploma or its educational equivalent and some attend vocational schools and community colleges where they take courses in electricity, woodworking, drywall repair, and other relevant subjects.
Do You Need a Professional TV Mounting Contractor or Should You Do It Yourself?
You should always consider hiring a professional TV mounting contractor instead of attempting to mount your TV by yourself. Several things can go wrong during a DIY TV mounting, ranging from having an un-level TV to your TV either falling and slipping from your hands or the wall because it was not way mounted securely. Hiring a professional TV mounting contractor near you that is also insured and bonded spares you the cost of any of these potential damages. A professional TV mounting contractor also ensures that your TV is mounted properly and in a way that allows you to fully enjoy your TV leisure time.
What Are Common Post TV Mounting Expenses?
After your TV has been successfully mounted, you may need to purchase certain accessories and appliances to optimize your TV's functionality. These usually include HDMI cables and A/V cables, surround sound speakers, and Wi-Fi devices. These accessories and appliances can cost you anywhere between $5 and $1,500, depending on your preferred brands.
Does Homeowner Insurance Cover TV Mounting Expenses?
Your homeowner's insurance policy will probably not cover the cost of mounting a new TV. However, if your reason for mounting a new TV is because your old one was destroyed by a peril listed in your policy, then your homeowner's insurance may pay for this expense. Homeowner's insurance generally pays for losses to your home and any property in or on it that is caused by sudden and unexpected damages. These usually include damages caused by fires, theft, lightning, wind, hail, and water. It is estimated that 98.1% of all homeowners' insurance claims made in 2018 were caused by these types of property damages.
Note that the exact types of perils covered and the extent of coverage provided by a homeowner's insurance policy differ. Therefore, you should always find out the specifics of any homeowner's insurance policy that you intend to purchase before paying for it.
Can I Use Digital Payment to Pay My TV Mounting Contractor?
Many small businesses in the US, including professional TV mounting contractors near you do accept digital payments these days. Digital payments are generally faster, more secure, and more convenient than other types of payments. Digital payments also provide instantaneous receipts, which make them better for record-keeping purposes. Nevertheless, you should never assume that your TV mounting contractor will be ok with digital payments. Always inform your contractor that you intend to make payments digitally before any work is done. Also, if you have to make any cash payments, make sure that you collect a receipt for record-keeping purposes.