Just like many of our other clients this customer located in Westhaven in Franklin, TN purchased a new home where the ideal location for the TV was above the fireplace. The builder placed an AC outlet and a coax cable above the mantel, however didn't plan ahead for other components like a Blu-Ray player, streaming media device or game system. We relocated the coax cable for the cable box down inside the cabinet and ran 4 in wall rated hdmi cables up to the tv allowing us to hide the components inside the cabinet next to the fireplace. We tied it all together with an automation processor and a remote control allowing the cabinet doors to remain closed and giving the customer the ability to upgrade to other Home Automation products in the future. See our Home Automation page for more information.

Mounting a TV on Dry Stacked Rock

A dry stacked stone fireplace in a modern home doesn't use the method of dry sack when assembled. True dry stack masonry is a method used for building a retaining wall or barrier much like the stone walls you see throughout the south built during the civil war and implies that no mortar was used during construction to hold the stones in place. When people refer to a dry stacked stone fireplace they are simply referring to the aesthetics or look of the fireplace. The method of construction in this type fireplace does in fact use mortar to adhere the "stone" to the wall, it's just on the back of the stone where it can’t be seen. The "stone" is more often than not a synthetic veneer and not stone at all. The stone itself is very porous and brittle so caution and the proper tools should be used when drilling or cutting to avoid breaking it. During the building process the veneer is essentially "glued” to a wood backer board using a rough metal product called lathe and mortar. THIS TYPE STONE WILL NOT HOLD UP A TV BY ITSELF!!!! A flat head screwdriver and a few pounds of pressure will pop a stone right off in your hand! You must penetrate all the way through the stone and mount to the wood (preferably a stud) behind it. Save yourself the cost of a new TV, play it safe and call a pro that has done it before. We've mount to this type stone all the time!