I'm trying to mount a TV above my fireplace in a house built in 1930, and I've come across a few challenges. The TV mount I have is from MantelMount, which allows me to pull the TV down in front of the fireplace. The total weight I need to support is a hefty 114 lbs (the TV itself is 74 lbs and the mount adds another 40 lbs). I can't seem to find any studs in the wall, which appears to be directly attached to the chimney block. After drilling into the wall, I discovered that the plaster is about 2 inches thick. I bought 4-inch masonry sleeve anchors to secure the mount, hoping they would go 2 inches into the plaster and the remaining 2 inches into the brick. I drilled holes measuring 1/2 inch in diameter, but I'm not entirely sure if there's solid block beneath the plaster since I can't see a clear transition. It looks like there could be voids from the mortar in some holes. Could someone help me determine if it's safe to mount the TV with these anchors? I've included some links to videos for reference: [Video 1](https://imgur.com/a/tv-mount-LZNQXdI), [Video 2](https://imgur.com/a/hole-1-s6jpLCH), [Video 3](https://imgur.com/a/hole-2-W4P69I8), and [Video 4](https://imgur.com/QzreDwC).
1 Answer
Before proceeding, try inserting a bolt into one of the holes you drilled. If it feels stable when you push up and down, that’s a good sign! You might consider using construction adhesive in the hole and then pushing the bolts in, letting them dry for added strength.
Based on the footage, it looks solid enough down the hole. What the previous commenter mentioned refers to using chemical anchors, which are basically threaded rods that are glued in place. These can handle a lot of weight if installed correctly. Check out this link to see more about them: [Hilti Chemical Anchors](https://www.hilti.ca/c/CLS_FASTENER_7135/CLS_CHEMICAL_ANCHORS_7135/r21666391).