Advise needed would this be secure enough

[Johnny Mensa]

Hi

I am currently renovating/decorating my house and have removed the old fireplace in the living room and thought this would be a good opportunity to mount the new TV on the wall.

The old fireplace has been removed and a 3/4 inch MDF board placed over the hole and screwed into the surrounding brickwork. The overlap is about 3" all the way around.

I would like to mount the tv backet on the MDF board, with the wealth of experience of people on here would you think this would be secure enough.

I have attached a quick sketchup image to show what is there.

Any advise would be really appreciated.

[albriscoe]

I think i`d remove the mdf and screw some 3"x2" batons to the back of it, this will give you something sturdy to grip into.

But then I`d also make sure the mdf is fixed to the wall very sturdily as well.

We don`t want any accidents now do we


Al

[Johnny Mensa]

Thanks good idea about the batons.

Like you say could do without the thing falling off the wall!! A

ny suggestions on what to screw the MDF to the wall with? So far I have used 10cm screws from B&Q.

Also there has been some reference on here to butterfly type fixings for MDF, I have had a google around but not sure what they mean. Any Ideas?

[hornydragon]

Have you capped and vented the chimney? Moisture dripping down will be a problem if not. Also is the recess that high? I would screw into the brick using rawl bolts unless that is too high. IF the MDF is secure on the breast you can fit a TV to the MDF quite easily.

[Johnny Mensa]

Cap is about to go on and I have vented the mdf inside and a vent will go in the bottom on the wall.

The recess is unfortunately that high. when the old fireplace was take out all the bricks between the top of the fireplace the top lintel fell out!

Are the rawl bolts the same as anchor bolts?

[hornydragon]

anchor bolts are a type of Rawl bolts i think or very similar (I am not an expert on fastners)

[jolly]

I think Rawlbolts is a brand name and they are indeed a anchor bolt

they do the same job anyway

[MarkP80]

If the MDF is fixed with 10cm screws through into brick, it ain't gonna move - that's 4". The MDF will tear first. MDF itself isn't great for holding screws though. The idea to put batons behind to screw through to for the bracket is a good idea though.

I'd have said ply would have been a better material to use in the first place though.

MarkP

[jolly]

Originally Posted by MarkP80

If the MDF is fixed with 10cm screws through into brick, it ain't gonna move - that's 4". The MDF will tear first. MDF itself isn't great for holding screws though. The idea to put batons behind to screw through to for the bracket is a good idea though.

I'd have said ply would have been a better material to use in the first place though.

MarkP

Ply would be a lot better choice, will hold a screw a lot better