ry) Handy Get That TV Off Your Floor Mounting Flat-Panel TVs On The Wall Means More Living Space (NAPSA)—Say good-bye to the 600-pound gorilla on your living room floor—the TV. With prices dropping as much as 30 percent, flat-panel televisions are flooding into homes across the country. Why not take the opportunity to free up living space by using your walls? Identify a location that’s a natural focal point to facilitate furniture placement. Often that’s a fireplace, which is fine as long as the surface temperature stays below 90 degrees when thefireplace is operational. Choose the mounting kit that’s right for your situation. Options include: Flat—the least expensive option andbiggest space saver. Tilt—lets you place the TV above eye level, yet still view it comfortably. Ceiling—tilt capability makes it perfect when you don’t want to take up wall space. e Articulating—the most flexible option with swiveling arms that can turn up to 120 degrees andtilt as well. Installation isn’t difficult, and while the kit will come with instructions, here are some helpful guidelines: 1. Assemble the necessary tools including a tape measure, stud finder, level, cordless drill, screwdrivers and socketset. 2. Anchoring to studs is the most crucial part, so use a stud finder to determine horizontal placement. One excellent choice is the StudSensor™ i20 OneStep because it finds stud centers with just one pass, making the process virtually mistakeproof. For large It’s flat-out true: g tools, installing a flat-screen TV may be easierthan youthink. TVs, you'll want to anchor to two studs for maximum stability. 3. Attach the rails to the back of the TV to see howit will sit in relation to the wall mount. Then place the mounting frame against the wall and mark the anchorbolt positions, making sureit’s level. A laser level, such as Zircon’s LaserBall 360", ensures accuracy and the red laser line makes positioning a breeze. 4. Predrill a pilot hole into the studs, install the anchor bolts and tighten securely. 5. Get a family memberto help hang the TV in the mount, move the safety tabs into position and enjoy. One last cosmetic thing—you may want to consider covering that big, gray screen with a large piece of art or a mirror. Add hinges to the frameor install a track system to movethe piece out of the way for TV viewing. The Zircon tools mentioned are widely available at mass merchandisers, hardware and homecenters. For more information about these and other cutting-edge, electronic hand tools, check out the Web site at www.zircon.com or call (800) 245-9265.
