TV over the Fireplace Guys (1 Viewer)

[glvsav37]

Doing some home renovations and looking to add a new gas fireplace. Originally we were thinking of putting the TV (50 inch right now, but prob bigger as time goes on) over the fireplace. Seems to be the norm everywhere we look.

However talking to the fireplace dealer today, they were advising us against it b/c of the clearances you need—you need to add a stone mantel between the FP and TV to deflect the heat, its got to hang higher then normal so comfortable viewing angles may be an issue, etc.

Anyone have their TV over their FP? Like it, hate it? Issues, problems?

I saw a cool mount that lets you swivel the TV downward when you are watching it w/o the FP on, but I'm' not sure if that will be a PTA after a while and I'll just the the GD thing where it is everyday.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Have one mounted about 3' above a gas fireplace and never had issues. Wood mantel in-between that is about 6". Make sure to get a bracket that tilts down enough so you have the proper viewing angle.

 

[culdeus]

No matter what it will look like #### and provide a horrible viewing angle. I get it that people have no options but framing up around a fireplace is an inexpensive option

 

[El Floppo]

No matter what it will look like #### and provide a horrible viewing angle. I get it that people have no options but framing up around a fireplace is an inexpensive option

I'm a residential architect... this is pretty much my take as well. I have to do this a lot, and there are ways of making it look ok- but I feel like the viewing angle is always off.

can the TV go somewhere else?

 

[Courtjester]

Our main room came like this--gas fireplace and then an alcove above where you put the tv--of course our house is 12 years old and this was back when 42 inches was a good sized tv so the alcove is too small to fit our 55. We built a granite mantle to just make it look better and we also built a custom bracket so the tv is actually on the outside of the alcove. However, the viewing angle is tough and this is a great room, so the 22 foot ceilings and tons of windows makes watching tv tough.

I have to tell you fireplaces are overrated . When you turn that thing on, you just see dollar signs go out the chimney. And this is Colorado and I grew up with fireplaces.

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

No matter what it will look like #### and provide a horrible viewing angle. I get it that people have no options but framing up around a fireplace is an inexpensive option

I'm a residential architect... this is pretty much my take as well. I have to do this a lot, and there are ways of making it look ok- but I feel like the viewing angle is always off.

can the TV go somewhere else?

Yep. My brother has his above the fireplace. I hate the angle.

 

[belljr]

No matter what it will look like #### and provide a horrible viewing angle. I get it that people have no options but framing up around a fireplace is an inexpensive option

I'm a residential architect... this is pretty much my take as well. I have to do this a lot, and there are ways of making it look ok- but I feel like the viewing angle is always off.

can the TV go somewhere else?

Yep. My brother has his above the fireplace. I hate the angle.

Same. Sil has it tilted down and I still feel like I'm in the front of a movie theater.

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

There is nothing I hate more than a TV above a fireplace. Ruins the TV and the fireplace. So awful.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

TV over the fire place guy is worse than vanilla latte guy who sends it back because he doesn't like the pour on the cinnamon sprinkle toper.

 

[shadyridr]

My neck hurts just thinking about it

 

[cstu]

My neck hurts just thinking about it

TWSS.

 

[moleculo]

Mines above the fireplace...don't think its a problem. Viewing angle seems fine to me; it is slanted down a bit.

I feel like the TV being a little higher means its easier to watch from across the room. My family room opens into the kitchen -you can see the TV just fine from there. I feel if it was at couch-eye-level, I couldn't see it from there, and would always have problems with the kids standing in front.

 

[RUSF18]

How high are your TVs where the viewing angle is so bad? Maybe because all these apartments were built for TV over the fireplace, this has never been an issue for me.

 

[TLEF316]

Awful. I'm looking at new places now and I immediately dismiss any condo where tv over the fire place looks like the best option.

 

[Fat Nick]

No matter what it will look like #### and provide a horrible viewing angle. I get it that people have no options but framing up around a fireplace is an inexpensive option

I'm a residential architect... this is pretty much my take as well. I have to do this a lot, and there are ways of making it look ok- but I feel like the viewing angle is always off.

can the TV go somewhere else?

Trying not to thread Hijack - I've got a quick question for you re. your profession, but your PM Box is full...Any chance you can clear a few things out?

 

[Fat Nick]

Add me to the list of folks who hate TV's over fireplaces. Not a fan of the aesthetics, or the viewing angle. I think it was "cool" when the flat TV's first came out, but now it's just a no-other-option option.

 

[Brony]

I wish our TV was a little lower, but it's a minor problem. Putting the TV anywhere else in our family room would look tremendously stupid, so it's worth it. I don't even think about it unless some beehole points it out.

Never had a problem with TV getting hot.

 

[culdeus]

How high are your TVs where the viewing angle is so bad? Maybe because all these apartments were built for TV over the fireplace, this has never been an issue for me.

Nobody except isis designs a home where the TV is to be over the fireplace.

 

[Chadstroma]

We bought our house and there was a TV already mounted above the fireplace. We ended up just buying that TV from the sellers too. So, I naturally left it there. I never planned on it being my primary TV as I expected to make the basement my TV watching room but plans changed. I really don't have any gripes about it. The higher elevation actually kinda makes laying down on the couch and watching TV a bit more comfortable since you don't have to crank your neck down. I would not say it is 'ideal' but it is also not 'horrible' either, at least in my experience.

 

[bjabrad]

I've got a 50 over my fireplace in the family room.

Pros:

It fits the space really well.

Cons:

1. It sits about a foot too high for really easy viewing without looking up. Not a huge issue but not ideal.

2. There's no easy access to power or space for source equipment so you'll have to either hide cords or make holes in sheetrock and run cables.

3. If you want to use your mantle for photographs, collectables or other things that make your house look like a home you're out of luck.

All in all it has great utility but lacks charm.

 

[beer 30]

TV over the fire place guy is worse than vanilla latte guy who sends it back because he doesn't like the pour on the cinnamon sprinkle toper.

While watching Madame Secretary on his iPad?

 

[joffer]

awful idea

 

[James Daulton]

So it seems we've finally found the one topic that FBGs unilaterally agree on.

 

[TLEF316]

I feel like anyone supporting this idea is just rationalizing their horrible circumstances.

"It's not that bad".

As someone who watches a lot of tv (especially sports) I could never deal with anything less than a perfect viewing height. Over the fire place is too high. Doesn't matter how you tilt it.

 

[Gamma1210]

I wish our TV was a little lower, but it's a minor problem. Putting the TV anywhere else in our family room would look tremendously stupid, so it's worth it. I don't even think about it unless some beehole points it out.

Never had a problem with TV getting hot.

Same with mine. I don't really have a choice except over the fireplace. About to upgrade the TV too so we'll see how bad the angle is.

 

[Drifter]

Hate the TV over the fireplace. Went with a corner mount in our family room with a L shaped sectional going "around the fireplace" but mostly oriented to the corner mount. Gives the room more visibility too if you want to just have a fire without the TV on.

 

[-fish-]

No other options so that's where mine is. Hate it.

• Viewing angle sucks;
• Cable box/router and game system have no place to go;
• Makes the mantle useless;
• Can't use game system and fireplace at same time.

 

[Fat Nick]

Hate the TV over the fireplace. Went with a corner mount in our family room with a L shaped sectional going "around the fireplace" but mostly oriented to the corner mount. Gives the room more visibility too if you want to just have a fire without the TV on.

This. Our set-up sounds very similar. Fire place is the focal point of the room without furniture. Hanging a TV over it would be very centric, but we went with a corner cabinet with the TV on it. We have two windows on either side of the TV, and even with their close proximity to the corner, we can still fit a 48" TV there with room to spare. That's all I want in a family room anyway. I'm saving the big 80" TV for the basement when we get that finished.

 

[Brony]

I have 100" TV in the basement in glorious HD at a perfect viewing angle and a modest 43" over our fireplace at what-I'm-learning is a horrible, horrible angle. Wanna guess where we watch 99% of stuff?

(still very much agree that TV's are better not above fireplaces, but with our room and window orientation there isn't a better option sadly).

 

[SWC]

yeah hey we get it mr rich pants you have a fire place and a tv you are soooooo awesome well thanks for rubbing it in take that to the bank brohan

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

Guys that put their TV over the fireplace are worse than grown men who are still afraid of spiders.

 

[Don Quixote]

Bought a place with a built-in corner unit with a fireplace and room for TV above it. Tore that **** down.

 

[Chaos Commish]

I hate the layout of my family room. Fireplace in the middle of two windows on the south wall. Pass through kitchen bar counter on the north with two openings to kitchen dining room and living room. Windows and doors to backyard to the west and a wall split by a hall to the bedrooms on the east. One reasonable place for a television - above the fireplace. I caved and mounted a 60" up there and hate hate hate hated it. So currently the room is just a mess but the tv is on a proper stand pushed into the southeast corner and two recliners face it way too close, one using the f-ing hearth as an end table. Disgusting but it works for my football and her games. A third person wants in on the fun and we move it to the living room.

I've been debating building a faux entertainment center over the fireplace so I can have the tv in the right spot at the right height and have a normal family room. I'm in SoCal. What I need a fireplace?

 

[Chaos Commish]

I have to tell you fireplaces are overrated . When you turn that thing on, you just see dollar signs go out the chimney. And this is Colorado and I grew up with fireplaces.

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

I hate the layout of my family room. Fireplace in the middle of two windows on the south wall. Pass through kitchen bar counter on the north with two openings to kitchen dining room and living room. Windows and doors to backyard to the west and a wall split by a hall to the bedrooms on the east. One reasonable place for a television - above the fireplace. I caved and mounted a 60" up there and hate hate hate hated it. So currently the room is just a mess but the tv is on a proper stand pushed into the southeast corner and two recliners face it way too close, one using the f-ing hearth as an end table. Disgusting but it works for my football and her games. A third person wants in on the fun and we move it to the living room.

I've been debating building a faux entertainment center over the fireplace so I can have the tv in the right spot at the right height and have a normal family room. I'm in SoCal. What I need a fireplace?

I bought one of those $8 bundles of firewood from Vons about 2 years ago. It's still sitting there in the stupid log caddy or whatever on the hearth.

 

[SWC]

i just use a burn can bromigos it is a fifty drum that i got from work you just drill some holes in the bottom to let er breath and you can burn damn near anything in it i do not think you would want to mount a tv on that badboy but what in the hell do i know take that to the bank bromigos

 

[DocHolliday]

Guys that put their TV over the fireplace are worse than grown men who are still afraid of spiders.

Thanks for making me feel like a real loser today. I am terrified of spiders and the TV in our family room is mounted over the fireplace.

There is no other place to put the TV in the family room. The TV is mounted as low to the mantle as possible and at a slight downward angle. It actually works pretty well.

Some day, I am going to finish finishing the basement and have a truly awesome set up for watching football and movies. Some day.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

Don't do this unless you live in a Chilis.

 

[Cjw_55106]

I hate the layout of my family room. Fireplace in the middle of two windows on the south wall. Pass through kitchen bar counter on the north with two openings to kitchen dining room and living room. Windows and doors to backyard to the west and a wall split by a hall to the bedrooms on the east. One reasonable place for a television - above the fireplace. I caved and mounted a 60" up there and hate hate hate hated it. So currently the room is just a mess but the tv is on a proper stand pushed into the southeast corner and two recliners face it way too close, one using the f-ing hearth as an end table. Disgusting but it works for my football and her games. A third person wants in on the fun and we move it to the living room.

I've been debating building a faux entertainment center over the fireplace so I can have the tv in the right spot at the right height and have a normal family room. I'm in SoCal. What I need a fireplace?

I bought one of those $8 bundles of firewood from Vons about 2 years ago. It's still sitting there in the stupid log caddy or whatever on the hearth.

Sounds like you got your money's worth. Great buy!

 

[SWC]

hey man i do not know if you invested that eight smackers in the bank you could probably have enough to buy two bundles of wood today so once again you would have been better off taking it to the bank brohan just sayin

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

Guys that put their TV over the fireplace are worse than grown men who are still afraid of spiders.

Thanks for making me feel like a real loser today. I am terrified of spiders and the TV in our family room is mounted over the fireplace.

There is no other place to put the TV in the family room. The TV is mounted as low to the mantle as possible and at a slight downward angle. It actually works pretty well.

Some day, I am going to finish finishing the basement and have a truly awesome set up for watching football and movies. Some day.

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

I hate the layout of my family room. Fireplace in the middle of two windows on the south wall. Pass through kitchen bar counter on the north with two openings to kitchen dining room and living room. Windows and doors to backyard to the west and a wall split by a hall to the bedrooms on the east. One reasonable place for a television - above the fireplace. I caved and mounted a 60" up there and hate hate hate hated it. So currently the room is just a mess but the tv is on a proper stand pushed into the southeast corner and two recliners face it way too close, one using the f-ing hearth as an end table. Disgusting but it works for my football and her games. A third person wants in on the fun and we move it to the living room.

I've been debating building a faux entertainment center over the fireplace so I can have the tv in the right spot at the right height and have a normal family room. I'm in SoCal. What I need a fireplace?

I bought one of those $8 bundles of firewood from Vons about 2 years ago. It's still sitting there in the stupid log caddy or whatever on the hearth.

Sounds like you got your money's worth. Great buy!

The problem is that the air district around here dictates which days you can use your woodburning fireplace. What usually happens is that a nice cold day will come along and I'll "think 'I'll build a fire'". Then I find out it is a "no burn day".

 

[Ignoramus]

My old house had the TV over the fireplace so I burned it down. Then I shot the TV.

 

[Cjw_55106]

I hate the layout of my family room. Fireplace in the middle of two windows on the south wall. Pass through kitchen bar counter on the north with two openings to kitchen dining room and living room. Windows and doors to backyard to the west and a wall split by a hall to the bedrooms on the east. One reasonable place for a television - above the fireplace. I caved and mounted a 60" up there and hate hate hate hated it. So currently the room is just a mess but the tv is on a proper stand pushed into the southeast corner and two recliners face it way too close, one using the f-ing hearth as an end table. Disgusting but it works for my football and her games. A third person wants in on the fun and we move it to the living room.

I've been debating building a faux entertainment center over the fireplace so I can have the tv in the right spot at the right height and have a normal family room. I'm in SoCal. What I need a fireplace?

I bought one of those $8 bundles of firewood from Vons about 2 years ago. It's still sitting there in the stupid log caddy or whatever on the hearth.

Sounds like you got your money's worth. Great buy!

The problem is that the air district around here dictates which days you can use your woodburning fireplace. What usually happens is that a nice cold day will come along and I'll "think 'I'll build a fire'". Then I find out it is a "no burn day".

Oh, burn!

 

[SWC]

My old house had the TV over the fireplace so I burned it down. Then I shot the TV.

i hope you burned up your old house in a burn barrel they are sort of the best take that to the bank

 

[Brony]

yeah hey we get it mr rich pants you have a fire place and a tv you are soooooo awesome well thanks for rubbing it in take that to the bank brohan

Milton Baines > Hi!

 

[Kanil]

Got a buddy with this but he has a raised kitchen right next to his living room. Sitting at the island in the kitchen is more comfortable than sitting on his sofa. Would not recommend.

 

[SWC]

maybe try something wacky and put the fireplace opening up high and the tv underneath it you might start a trend and be bigger than the beatles bromigo take that to the bank

 

[El Floppo]

put the TV in the fireplace.

 

[Copeman]

I'm so glad I don't have a fireplace anymore. Waste of space and nothing but a headache.