Mounting a TV. Studs are only 2" deep. Problem?

[PHANofPHUNK]

I want to Mount my tv in the rec room of the basement. Like most finished basements the studs are only 2x2's. Its on a outside wall so there is no way of adding a 2x4 for support.

The TV weighs 49 pounds and the mount I'm looking at would cover 3 studs. So it would be secured by 6 bolts. Is this a stupid idea?

Thanks for your input.
Michael

 

[majorloser]

Is it concrete behind the 2x2's?

 

[PHANofPHUNK]

yes. solid poured wall. not cinder block.

 

[Rickster71]

Is it concrete behind the 2x2's?

I think I see where you're going with this...

If the 2x2's are also glued and screwed to the concrete wall. I'd use something like Tapcons.
http://www.tapcon.com/
You can get them cheaper at Home depot, they come in a kit with the bit.
Go right through the 2x2 and into the concrete.

If they aren't attached. You mentioned the mount spans 3 studs.
I'm willing to bet three 2x2's will hold the TV without a problem.
If the mount is one of those articulating are types, and the 2x2 aren't attached to the concrete....
You're going to be better off cutting out a section of dry wall and adding a few wooden braces.

 

[ImcLoud]

What I did with my old office {it had just fairing 1" x 2" strapping over the cement then sheet rock over that) is cut out the sheet rock where the mount was going to be, then added a single piece of wood {it was something like 32x11 and 2" thick, I bought it at my local lumber yard all cut and ready to go for $20 and it was oak} I glued and screwed that to the cement wall and then mounted the tv bracket to that} even when I left that building and moved to the new office I rented it to another company and they used the same spot for their tv, but if they didn't it actually didn't look too bad with the wood there, looked like it belonged there...

You can always just cut out the sheetrock, add some pieces of 2x6 flat on the wall between the 2x2 studs, glue and screw them to the cement with tapcons or if you have a powder actuated fastener that will work too... then put the piece of sheetrock you cut out rite back on the wall, tape and mud the joint and you are done, a nice strong surface to mount to...

 

[sawzalot]

If you are not ready to cut through and add extra wood to the concrete then another way would be to cut a piece of 3/4 inch plywood about an inch bigger than the wall mount in each direction , you can paint the edges black, use a better grade tube of adhesive pl 4000 or which ever works best for you and than glue and lag screw that to the three studs as you mentioned ,exactly where you want the wall mount, after the glue sets hang the wall mount centered on the ply and run your lags through the ply and the 2 x 2 's , I am sure that would be sufficient to hold up to 75 lbs no problem.The edge would hardly be visible unless you placed your head against the wall. I have done this before in a friends basement and there has never been an issue.

 

[ImcLoud]

If you are not ready to cut through and add extra wood to the concrete then another way would be to cut a piece of 3/4 inch plywood about an inch bigger than the wall mount in each direction , you can paint the edges black, use a better grade tube of adhesive pl 4000 or which ever works best for you and than glue and lag screw that to the three studs as you mentioned ,exactly where you want the wall mount, after the glue sets hang the wall mount centered on the ply and run your lags through the ply and the 2 x 2 's , I am sure that would be sufficient to hold up to 75 lbs no problem.The edge would hardly be visible unless you placed your head against the wall. I have done this before in a friends basement and there has never been an issue.

this was my first thought when I was going through this, BUT then I wanted the tv as close to the wall as possible... I ended up with it just inside the sheet rock...

 

[PHANofPHUNK]

I think I see where you're going with this...

If the 2x2's are also glued and screwed to the concrete wall. I'd use something like Tapcons.
Buildex Tapcon®
You can get them cheaper at Home depot, they come in a kit with the bit.
Go right through the 2x2 and into the concrete.

If they aren't attached. You mentioned the mount spans 3 studs.
I'm willing to bet three 2x2's will hold the TV without a problem.
If the mount is one of those articulating are types, and the 2x2 aren't attached to the concrete....
You're going to be better off cutting out a section of dry wall and adding a few wooden braces.

I should mention the wall is that shitty wood paneling that was popular in the 70's. The wall itself seems very solid though. Its not an articulating mount. I guess my concern is the fact that I would be using a shorter then recommended screw to hold the mount. A 2" as opposed to a 3.5". However I think I more than make up for the difference by mounting to a third 2x2.

 

[majorloser]

Rick knew where I was headed. Just get some 3 1/2" or 4" by 1/4" Tapcons. Drill right through the 2x2's into the concrete and drive the Tapcons home. The same thing is done with block walls that have drywall firred out with 1x2's. You could hang a truck with Tapcons.

 

[PHANofPHUNK]

The following items have been ordered from monoprice:

Ultra-Slim Adjustable Tilting Wall Mount Bracket for LCD LED Plasma (Max 165 lbs, 37~63 inch), BLACK, UL Certified - Monoprice.com

1-Gang Recessed Low Voltage Cable Wall Plate - White - Monoprice.com

1-Gang Low Voltage Mounting Bracket - Monoprice.com

HDMI® Port Saver (Male to Female) - 90 Degree - Monoprice.com

I also ordered 2 20 foot high speed 1.4 hdmi cables from a ebay dealer. I will post before/during and after pictures as time permits.

 

[Dean Thole]

Rick knew where I was headed. Just get some 3 1/2" or 4" by 1/4" Tapcons. Drill right through the 2x2's into the concrete and drive the Tapcons home. The same thing is done with block walls that have drywall firred out with 1x2's. You could hang a truck with Tapcons.

If I have 2x2's that are attached to a concrete block wall, then covered with sheet rock would this be acceptable to use tapcons? I will only cover two studs as they are 16" apart. I'm mounting a 60 inch plasma (about 60 lbs) with a low profile rocketfish mount. The only difference in my situation is that my concrete is block. Thanks in advance for any advice!!

 

[lsiberian]

If I have 2x2's that are attached to a concrete block wall, then covered with sheet rock would this be acceptable to use tapcons? I will only cover two studs as they are 16" apart. I'm mounting a 60 inch plasma (about 60 lbs) with a low profile rocketfish mount. The only difference in my situation is that my concrete is block. Thanks in advance for any advice!!

I don't see any issues just screwing the mount into the studs. You aren't breaking a 2x2 with 60lbs of force.

 

[Rickster71]

If I have 2x2's that are attached to a concrete block wall, then covered with sheet rock would this be acceptable to use tapcons? I will only cover two studs as they are 16" apart. I'm mounting a 60 inch plasma (about 60 lbs) with a low profile rocketfish mount. The only difference in my situation is that my concrete is block. Thanks in advance for any advice!!

If you know the studs are glued or otherwise attached to the block, use the Tapcons as mentioned earlier.

 

[Dean Thole]

I don't see any issues just screwing the mount into the studs. You aren't breaking a 2x2 with 60lbs of force.

Thanks!! They are true 2x2's also, should be even better! And the the studs are nailed with
A redhead type expanding nail mount and glued

 

[Rickster71]

Thanks!! They are true 2x2's also, should be even better! And the the studs are nailed with
A redhead type expanding nail mount and glued

Just to be sure we're on the same page.
Use the Tapcons with the intention of using them long enough to go through the 2x2 and into the block.
Follow the directions on the kit if you haven't used them before.