From TV Install Chicago
THE BLOG
What's new in TVs, how to buy one, and how to get it on the wall without wrecking it.
August 2026
How Much Does It Cost To Mount A TV? What's Actually Published
We checked fifteen Chicago installers. Ten don't publish a price at all, and every one of the five that does says “starting at.” The real ranges for mounting, wire concealment and outlets — and the five things every quote should price.
August 2026
PowerBridge Kits: When The Box Fights Your TV Mount
The power box and the mount plate compete for the same wall behind your screen. At 65″ and up nobody notices; at 55″ and under a bulky plastic kit gets pushed somewhere odd. Why the Chicago-Style PowerBridge is metal.
August 2026
How To Drill Into Tile Without Cracking It
Hammer mode off, diamond bits for porcelain, slow and wet. The four rules that decide whether a tile survives — and why the real risk isn't the hole, it's that your tile line is probably discontinued.
August 2026
How To Hide TV Wires: Four Options, Honestly Priced
Signal cables and power follow completely different rules — that's the whole thing. Raceway, in-wall kits, our own PowerBridge and a recessed outlet compared on cost, looks and reversibility, plus the shortcut to avoid.
August 2026
How To Mount A TV On Metal Studs Without It Falling Off
Your drill stopped dead and you assumed it was a pipe — it's steel framing, which most high-rises have. Why the lag bolts in the box are how TVs end up on the floor, the anchor that actually holds, and the 1/2″ bit nobody's kit includes.
August 2026
ARC, eARC And HDMI-CEC: What Actually Connects Your Gear
eARC carries the sound, CEC carries the commands, and every brand renamed CEC something else — Anynet+, SimpLink, BRAVIA Sync. The decoder table, and why your remote still won't control the receiver.
August 2026
How High Should A TV Be Mounted? The Height Chart
Middle of the screen at seated eye level — about 42″ off the floor. The exact numbers for 55, 65, 75 and 85 inch screens, how the stand and the soundbar underneath really decide it, and the tape-measure trick we use on every job.
August 2026
Floating TV Stands: How To Pick One That Actually Hides The Cords
Floating consoles make a room look bigger — until the cable box shows. Why the open-shelf ones in the catalog photos hide nothing, and what to look for in a console with drawers and a hidden compartment.
August 2026
When Do New TVs Come Out? The Ultimate TV Release Calendar
A brand-by-brand breakdown of when new TVs get announced, when they hit stores, and the best time of year to buy — whether you want the newest tech or the deepest discount.
July 2026
New TVs Coming in 2026 — What's Actually Worth Knowing
Micro RGB, bigger and cheaper big screens, AI features — what's genuinely new this year, and what it means once that TV needs to get on your wall.