Unused Classified wrote:
Hello,
I have a new plasma TV and a bought wall mounting hardware. I used the
stud finder on the wall and found that the studs are 24 inches apart.
I drilled several small holes into the sheet rock in the area but it
seems like after I clear the sheet rock there is a half inch of dead
space before the studs. I haven't checked the whole wall but it seems
this is the case in the relevant area. Is this common? I bought
longer screws but I'm still hesitant to hang it on top of empty space.
One idea is to use 1/2 inch metal washers, if there is such a thing,
to fortify the screws.
Any other ideas?
Thanks

I suspect that your drywall is screwed to either 1x(something) furring
strips or hat channel or something like that. I too would be very
hesitant to mount your TV any other way than directly to a stud.

If you don't mind taking a section of the wall down, could you screw
some 2x4s horizontally between two studs where you want to mount the TV,
but space them forward so that they are even with the back of the
drywall? Either that or take a sheet of plywood the same thickness as
the furring strips and attach that to the studs where you want to mount
the TV, and mount the mount to the plywood with big heavy toggle bolts?
Obviously you'll have to re-drywall and repaint that wall but you were
going to knock a hole in it anyway to put a receptacle behind the TV and
conceal the wiring to your A/V rack, right? (right?)

good luck

nate

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