Mounting a TV on an exterior wall

The wall that faces the couch is often an outside wall. Mounting the bracket there is no different from any other stud wall. Hiding the wires inside it is where things change.

The bracket: same as always

Exterior walls are usually framed with 2×4 or 2×6 studs at 16 inches — if anything, stronger than interior partitions. Find the studs, confirm them, lag-bolt the bracket. Nothing special.

What's inside the wall

• Insulation. Fibreglass batts fill the cavity. Wires can be pushed through, but it takes more effort and the right tools, and the insulation should be left in place, not pulled out.
• A vapour barrier or house wrap. In some homes there's a plastic or kraft-paper layer behind the drywall. Every cut-out makes a hole in it; in-wall boxes rated for this, sealed around the edges, keep drafts and moisture out.
• Fire blocks. Horizontal boards between studs, common in taller walls. A wire can't pass one without drilling through it, which may mean a second small access hole.
• Wind bracing in corners, running diagonally.

So can wires go in an exterior wall?

Usually yes, with a proper in-wall power and cable kit — it just isn't the 30-minute job it is on an empty interior wall. On our price list the in-wall option is $119; if we open the wall and find a fire block or something unexpected, we show you and agree on the plan before going further.

When it isn't practical, a paintable cord cover ($39) gives a tidy result without cutting the wall.

Brick outside, drywall inside

In much of the South the exterior is brick veneer over a wood frame. From the inside it's a normal stud wall — the brick doesn't change the mount. Just don't use bolts so long that they pass through the sheathing.

Windows nearby

Exterior walls have windows, and the framing around a window is doubled and irregular. That's good for strength and confusing for stud finders. It also means glare; our notes on height in the mounting height guide help you choose a spot that works in daylight.

Cold and condensation

A TV on an insulated exterior wall is fine. The only real concern is an uninsulated wall in a garage or sunroom, where big temperature swings can cause condensation — treat those more like outdoor spaces.

Mounting on an exterior wall costs the same as any stud wall: labor from $94.