DIY How To Mount Tv On Brick Fireplace And Hide Wires

Putting a TV over a brick fireplace can make a room look great. It gives you a main spot for watching movies or shows. This guide will show you exactly how to do it yourself, including how to put the mount on the brick and hide all the messy wires. Yes, you can put a TV on most brick fireplaces, but you need to check for heat and make sure the brick is strong. You can hide the wires inside or outside the wall, depending on your fireplace setup.

Mounting a TV on brick is different from hanging it on a regular wall. Brick is hard and needs special tools and steps. Hiding wires is also tricky with brick, as you can’t just cut a hole easily. But don’t worry, this guide breaks it all down.

How To Mount Tv On Brick Fireplace And Hide Wires
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Comprehending the Process

Putting a TV on a brick fireplace and hiding the wires is a big job. It takes time and care. You need the right tools and a good plan.

Here are the main steps:

Checking your fireplace and the brick.
Picking the best TV mount for brick.
Getting all your tools and parts.
Putting the TV mount on the brick.
Handling the heat from the fireplace.
Making the wires disappear.
Putting the TV on the mount.

Let’s look at each step.

Why Put a TV Over a Brick Fireplace?

Many people like putting a TV over their fireplace. It’s often the center of the room.

Good Points:

Looks nice: It creates one main spot in the room.
Saves space: The TV is out of the way.
Good view: The TV is often high enough for people to see from different spots.

Things to Think About:

Heat: Fireplaces make heat. Too much heat can hurt your TV.
Height: Putting the TV too high can make watching uncomfortable (you have to look up).
Glare: Lights or windows might cause glare on the screen.
Wires: Hiding wires on brick is harder than on a normal wall.
Drilling: You need special tools to drill into brick.

Checking Your Fireplace and Brick

Before you do anything, look closely at your fireplace. This is a very important step in Fireplace chimney TV mounting guide.

Checking for Heat

This is the most important thing. TV screens and parts don’t like high heat.

Turn on the fireplace: Make a normal fire you would have.
Let it burn: Let the fire go for a few hours.
Check the spot: Use a thermometer to check the temperature on the brick where the top of the TV would be.
How hot is too hot? Most TV makers say their TVs should not get hotter than 100°F (38°C) when working. If the brick gets hotter than this with the fireplace on, you have a heat problem.
What if it’s too hot?
- You might need a special mount that pulls the TV far out from the wall or lets you tilt it away when the fire is on.
- Maybe don’t use the fireplace while the TV is on.
- In some cases, it might be too hot, and you can’t safely put the TV there.

Checking the Brick and Chimney

Look at the brick itself.

Is it real brick? Sometimes, it’s just thin brick veneer or stone veneer over wood frame. Mounting on fake brick needs a different plan. This guide is for real, solid brick.
Is the brick strong? Look for cracks or loose parts. If the brick is old and falling apart, it might not hold the TV mount safely.
Is it load-bearing? Usually, a fireplace is strong, but extreme cases might need a professional check.

Stone Fireplace Considerations

If you have a Stone fireplace TV mounting, the steps are similar to brick, but stone can be harder or softer than brick.

You might need special drill bits made for stone.
Finding a flat spot for the mount can be harder with rough stone. You might need shims (small pieces) to make the mount sit flat.
Drilling into stone might take longer.

Picking the Best TV Mount for Brick Walls

You need a strong mount made for brick. A regular mount for drywall won’t work. The Best mount bracket for brick wall is usually made of heavy metal and comes with strong fasteners (like lag bolts and wall anchors) made for masonry (brick or concrete).

Types of Mounts

Fixed Mount: Holds the TV flat against the wall. Simple and sturdy. Good if the height is right and glare isn’t an issue.
Tilting Mount: Lets you tilt the TV screen down. Good if the TV is high, as it helps you see better and can reduce glare. Can also help slightly with heat by directing the screen down.
Full-Motion Mount (Articulating): Lets you pull the TV out, tilt it, and turn it side to side. Best for dealing with heat as you can pull the TV far away from the fireplace. Also great for watching from different spots in the room. These mounts are heavier and need a very strong connection to the brick.

What to Look For:

Weight Capacity: Make sure the mount can hold your TV’s weight.
VESA Pattern: This is the pattern of holes on the back of your TV. The mount’s holes must match your TV’s holes. (Like 200x200mm, 400x400mm).
Mounting Hardware: Does it come with strong lag bolts and special anchors for brick or concrete? Make sure they are good quality.
Reach (for full-motion): How far does it pull out? This is key for heat and viewing angles.

Look for a mount that says it works for brick, concrete, or masonry walls. This confirms it includes the right parts for a TV mount on brick wall installation.

Getting Your Tools and Parts

You need specific tools for drilling into brick and dealing with wires.

Tools Needed:

Heavy-Duty Hammer Drill: A regular drill won’t work well on brick. A hammer drill spins and punches at the same time, breaking up the masonry. This is essential for TV mount on brick wall installation.
Masonry Drill Bits: You need bits made for drilling into brick or concrete. Get a few in the size needed for your mount’s wall anchors. Masonry bits have a special tip.
Tape Measure: To mark where the mount goes.
Level: To make sure the mount is straight.
Stud Finder (Maybe): If you suspect it’s not solid brick, a stud finder can help locate wood studs behind veneer, but be careful, this guide is for solid brick.
Pencil or Marker: To mark drill spots.
Wrench or Socket Set: To tighten the lag bolts.
Hammer: To gently tap in wall anchors.
Vacuum Cleaner: To clean up dust from drilling. Lots of dust!
Safety Glasses: MUST wear these when drilling.
Work Gloves: Protect your hands.
Dust Mask: Protect your lungs from brick dust.

Materials Needed:

TV Mount Kit: Should include lag bolts and masonry anchors.
Extra Masonry Anchors/Bolts (Optional): Good to have spares, or if the included ones look weak.
Cable Concealment Kit (Optional): For hiding wires outside the wall.
In-Wall Rated Power Kit (Optional): If running power inside the wall.
Low Voltage Cables: HDMI, audio cables, etc.
Wire Ties or Sleeves: To bundle wires.
Fish Tape or Wire Pulling Kit: Helpful for running wires inside walls.
Electrical Box, Outlet, Wire (If installing new outlet): For Installing power outlet behind fireplace TV. Make sure materials are code-approved. Consider hiring an electrician for this.
Masonry Chisel and Hammer (Maybe): If you need to chip out mortar for hiding wires inside the brick.
Masonry Patch/Mortar (Maybe): To repair any chipping.

Putting the TV Mount on the Brick

This is the main physical part of the TV mount on brick wall installation. Take your time and be careful.

Step 1: Mark Where the Mount Goes

Find the center: Decide where the center of your TV should be. Mark this on the brick wall.
Use the template: Your TV mount likely came with a paper template or you’ll use the mount’s wall plate itself. Hold it against the wall.
Use the level: Make sure the template or wall plate is perfectly straight and centered where you want the TV.
Mark the holes: Use your pencil or marker to carefully mark through the holes on the template or mount plate onto the brick. These are your drill spots. Double-check they are level and in the right spot.

Step 2: Drill the Pilot Holes

This is where the hammer drill comes in.

Pick the right bit: Choose a masonry drill bit that matches the size needed for your wall anchors. The anchor instructions will tell you the size.
Start drilling: Put the drill bit on a mark. Start the drill slowly without the hammer action to make a small dent.
Turn on hammer action: Once the bit won’t move, turn on the hammer function on your drill.
Drill straight: Hold the drill straight and apply firm, steady pressure. Let the drill do the work. Don’t force it too much.
Drill deep enough: Drill each hole to the depth required by your wall anchors. Wrap a piece of tape around your drill bit to mark the correct depth.
Clean the holes: Pull the drill bit out often to clear dust. Use your vacuum cleaner nozzle right next to the hole while drilling to catch dust. Once the hole is done, vacuum inside the hole to clear all dust. The anchors need a clean hole to grip properly.

Step 3: Insert Wall Anchors

Check the size: Make sure the anchors fit snugly in the holes you drilled.
Tap them in: Gently tap the masonry anchors into the holes with a hammer until they are flush (even) with the brick surface. Do not force them if they don’t fit – you might need to drill slightly larger or cleaner holes.

Step 4: Attach the Wall Plate

Line it up: Hold the mount’s wall plate back against the brick, lining up its holes with the anchors you just put in.
Insert bolts: Put the lag bolts (the big screws) that came with your mount through the plate holes and into the anchors.
Tighten the bolts: Use your wrench or socket set to tighten the lag bolts. Tighten them firmly, but don’t overtighten, which can damage the anchors or the brick. Tighten them evenly, working your way around.
Check it’s secure: Give the mount plate a good tug. It should feel very solid and not move at all. This is holding your TV, so it must be secure.

Dealing with Heat When Mounting TV Over Fireplace

As noted before, heat is a major issue. Dealing with heat when mounting TV over fireplace needs thought.

Heat Shield: You can buy or build a simple shelf or shield just below the TV. This can block some of the rising heat. It needs to stick out far enough and be made of a material that doesn’t get too hot.
Full-Motion Mount: As mentioned, a full-motion mount lets you pull the TV out. Pulling the TV 6-12 inches away from the brick when the fireplace is on can greatly reduce the heat hitting it.
Mantle: If your fireplace has a deep mantle, it acts as a natural heat shield. A deeper mantle gives better protection.
Fan: Some people put a small fan near the fireplace opening to push heat away from the TV area.
Check Temperature Again: Once the mount is up, run the fireplace and check the temperature at the mount location and where the TV screen would be. If it still gets too hot, rethink putting the TV there or how you use the fireplace.

Hiding the Wires (Hide TV Cables Brick Fireplace)

This is often the hardest part of a DIY TV wiring concealment brick project. Brick walls don’t have hollow spaces like drywall.

You have a few main options for Wiring solutions for TV over fireplace:

Run wires outside the wall (Surface Mount): The easiest way, but the wires are visible.
Run wires inside the wall (Cut into brick/mortar): Harder, messier, might need mortar repair, often requires hiring a professional for power.
Run wires around the fireplace: Go up the side, over, and then down, using covers.

Option 1: Hiding Wires Outside the Wall

This is the most common DIY method for Hide TV cables brick fireplace.

Use Cable Concealment Kits: These are plastic channels you stick or screw to the brick. You put the wires inside the channels, and the channels hide the wires.
Color Match: You can buy channels in different colors or paint them to match your brick or wall color.
How to attach: You’ll likely need a strong adhesive made for masonry, or you might need to drill small holes and use screws with anchors to attach the channels to the brick.
Plan the path: Map out the shortest or least visible path from the TV down to where your power outlet and devices are (like a cable box or streaming device).
Gather all wires: Power cable (if needed), HDMI cables, audio cables, Ethernet cable.

Option 2: Hiding Wires Inside the Brick Wall

This is much more difficult and less common for DIYers on solid brick.

Low Voltage Wires (HDMI, etc.): Running low voltage wires fireplace inside solid brick means cutting a channel into the brick or mortar from the TV spot down to where the wires need to go.
- You would need a masonry chisel and hammer or maybe a special tool like an angle grinder with a masonry blade (very dusty and dangerous, use extreme caution and protection).
- Chip out a trench.
- Lay the wires in the trench.
- Cover the trench with new mortar or a special filler.
- This is a big, messy job and needs masonry skills.
Power Wires (Installing power outlet behind fireplace TV): Installing power outlet behind fireplace TV means running standard house electrical wire.
- Important Safety Warning: Running new electrical wires inside walls should ideally be done by a qualified electrician. Improper wiring is a fire hazard.
- If you run power inside, it usually involves:
  - Cutting a channel for the wire or finding a path through the chimney structure (very unlikely and dangerous).
  - Cutting a hole for an electrical box behind the TV.
  - Cutting a hole for an electrical box near the floor.
  - Running in-wall rated electrical wire between the boxes.
  - Connecting the wire to power (usually tapping into a nearby existing outlet, which may require opening up walls away from the fireplace).
- This is complex and risky. A safer DIY option for power is using a specific In-Wall Power Kit that uses special cables and boxes that are rated for going inside the wall, often without needing to connect to your main electrical panel directly (they plug into an existing outlet lower down). But even these require cutting holes.
Using Mortar Joints: Sometimes, you can chip out the mortar between bricks more easily than chipping the brick itself. You might be able to run thin wires (like speaker wire or thin HDMI) in the mortar joints and then re-mortar over them. Still requires masonry work.

Option 3: Running Wires Around the Fireplace

If going over or through the brick is too hard or not possible, you can run the wires around the fireplace structure.

Go up from the floor, along the edge of the fireplace (maybe where it meets the drywall), then across above the fireplace, and down to the TV spot.
Use paintable cable channels to hide the wires along this path. This keeps them neat even if the path isn’t hidden inside the wall.

Planning Your Wiring Solution

Locate power: Where is the nearest electrical outlet?
Locate devices: Where will your cable box, game console, etc., sit? On a shelf, in a cabinet?
Measure cable lengths: Figure out how long your HDMI, power, and other cables need to be to reach from the TV to your devices/power source. Buy cables that are long enough.
Choose a hiding method: Surface mount channels, trying to go through mortar, or going around. Inside-the-wall power needs serious thought (electrician recommended).
Get the right gear: Cable channels, in-wall kit, wire ties, etc.

This planning is key for successful DIY TV wiring concealment brick.

Putting the TV on the Mount

Once the mount is solid on the wall and you’ve planned your wiring:

Attach TV brackets: Put the special brackets that came with your mount onto the back of your TV. These connect to the wall plate. Follow the mount’s instructions.
Connect essential wires: Before lifting the TV, connect any wires that will be hard to reach once the TV is on the mount. This is often the power cable and maybe one main HDMI cable.
Get help: TVs are heavy and awkward. Get a friend or family member to help you lift the TV.
Hang the TV: Carefully lift the TV and guide the brackets on the back of the TV onto the wall plate. Most mounts have a way for the brackets to hook onto the plate and then often click into place or have screws to secure them.
Secure the TV: Make sure the TV is locked onto the mount. Read your mount’s instructions carefully. There are usually safety screws or clips.
Connect remaining wires: Connect the rest of your HDMI, audio, and other cables.
Manage wires: Use wire ties or sleeves to bundle the wires together.

Finalizing the Wiring (Running Low Voltage Wires Fireplace)

Now that the TV is up, finish hiding the wires as planned.

Running low voltage wires fireplace: Guide your HDMI, audio, network, etc., cables down from the TV.
Use concealment: If using surface channels, open them, lay the wires neatly inside, and snap the cover on. Cut channels to length with a saw.
Connect to devices: Run the wires to your cable box, soundbar, game console, etc.
Connect power: Plug the TV’s power cord into the nearest outlet or the new outlet you installed (or had installed) behind the TV. If using an in-wall power kit, follow its instructions.

This step completes the Hide TV cables brick fireplace part of the job.

Testing and Checking

Turn on TV: Make sure it powers up.
Check inputs: Test all the devices connected (cable box, streaming stick, etc.) to make sure you get picture and sound.
Check mount stability: Gently try to wiggle the TV (while it’s secured). The mount should not move on the wall.
Check wire hiding: Look at the wire path. Is it neat? Are the covers secure?
Run fireplace: Use the fireplace as you normally would and check the TV temperature again after a while. If it feels hot, use your heat management solutions (like pulling the TV out if you have a full-motion mount) or don’t use the fireplace with the TV on.

Safety Tips

Always wear safety glasses when drilling or chipping brick.
Wear a dust mask when drilling into masonry. The dust is not good to breathe.
Use work gloves.
Unplug the TV before working on it or connecting/disconnecting wires.
Get help lifting the TV. Don’t try to lift a large TV by yourself.
Be careful with electrical work. If you’re not comfortable or sure, hire a qualified electrician for Installing power outlet behind fireplace TV or any in-wall power work.
Make sure fasteners are right for your brick and the mount’s weight.
Don’t overtighten bolts, but make sure they are snug and secure.
Clean up dust as you go. Brick dust gets everywhere.

Keeping Things Nice

Once the TV is up and the wires are hidden:

Regular checks: Every few months, gently check that the TV mount still feels secure on the brick.
Clean carefully: Clean the TV screen and the area around the fireplace carefully.
Manage wires: Keep your visible wires bundled neatly.

Frequently Asked Questions

H5 Is putting a TV over a fireplace safe because of heat?

It can be safe if you check the heat carefully. If the spot where the TV goes gets too hot (over 100°F or 38°C) when the fireplace is on, it’s not safe for the TV long-term. You need to use heat shields, a mount that pulls the TV away, or not use the fireplace when the TV is on. This is a key part of Dealing with heat when mounting TV over fireplace.

H5 Can I hide wires inside the brick wall easily?

No, hiding wires inside solid brick is hard. It usually means cutting into the brick or mortar. Most DIYers use surface-mount cable channels instead for Hide TV cables brick fireplace. Running power inside requires special cable and often needs an electrician for safety.

H5 What kind of mount is best for brick?

You need a mount specifically made for masonry walls (brick, concrete). It will come with heavy-duty lag bolts and special anchors. A full-motion mount is often best for fireplaces as it helps manage heat by letting you pull the TV out. Make sure it’s rated for your TV’s weight and has the correct VESA pattern. Look for the Best mount bracket for brick wall.

H5 Do I need a hammer drill for brick?

Yes, you almost certainly need a hammer drill and masonry bits. A regular drill won’t drill into solid brick well, if at all. This tool is key for TV mount on brick wall installation.

H5 How do I hide the power cord?

You have a few ways. You can run it through surface-mount cable channels along the brick, or use an in-wall power kit (requires cutting holes and is best installed by an electrician) to put an outlet behind the TV. Installing power outlet behind fireplace TV is the cleanest look but the hardest DIY step.

H5 Can I mount a TV on a stone fireplace?

Yes, Stone fireplace TV mounting is similar to brick. You’ll need the same tools (hammer drill, masonry bits) but maybe special bits for stone. Finding a flat spot for the mount and dealing with potentially harder or softer stone are the main differences. You might need shims to make the mount flat.

Mounting a TV on a brick fireplace takes effort, but it gives a great result. By checking for heat, using the right tools and mount, and planning how to hide the wires, you can complete this project safely and make your room look much better. Good luck!