Tag Archives: Creating

Projector Screen Mounting on Textured Walls: A Comprehensive Guide Mounting a projector screen is a critical step in creating a high-quality home theater or presentation space

December 02, 2025   Matt

While the process is generally straightforward on smooth, drywall surfaces, textured walls—such as those with orange peel, knockdown, or popcorn finishes—present unique challenges. This guide provides professional techniques to ensure a secure, level, and aesthetically pleasing installation on textured walls.

Understanding the Challenge

Textured walls are designed to hide imperfections and add visual interest, but their uneven surface can interfere with mounting hardware. The primary issues include:

  • 1. Poor Surface Contact::

    • Mounting brackets may only contact the high points of the texture, leading to instability.

  • 2. Difficulty Achieving Level::

    • An uneven base can cause the screen to hang crooked.

  • 3. Risk of Damage::

    • Excessive force can cause the textured layer to crack or break away from the wallboard underneath.

  • 4. Unsightly Gaps::

    • The mount may not sit flush, leaving visible spaces.

    Pre-Installation:

    Planning and Tools

    1. Choose the Right Screen and Mount:
    * Fixed-Frame vs. Pull-Down: Heavier fixed-frame screens require more robust anchoring. Ensure your chosen mount is rated for the screen’s weight and size.
    * Mount Type: Low-profile brackets, ceiling mounts, or wall-mounted arms should all be compatible with the strategies below.

    2. Gather Essential Tools & Materials:
    * Stud finder (a deep-scanning model is best for textured walls)
    * Level (a 4-foot level is ideal)
    * Drill with assorted bits
    * Pencil and masking tape
    * Key for Textured Walls: Wallboard anchors rated for heavy loads (e.g., toggle bolts, snap toggles, or heavy-duty plastic anchors). Wood screws for studs.
    * Optional but Recommended: Painter’s caulk, sandpaper (medium grit), a small putty knife, and spackle.

    Step-by-Step Installation Process

    Step 1:

    Locate and Mark Studs
    Use a stud finder to locate the wall studs. Studs provide the strongest anchoring points. Mark the edges of each stud with small pieces of masking tape. If studs are not ideally positioned for your screen’s width, you will rely heavily on high-quality wall anchors.

    Step 2:

    Prepare the Mounting Surface
    This is the most crucial step for textured walls.
    * Create a Flush Surface: Hold the mounting bracket against the wall and identify its footprint. Use a putty knife to carefully scrape away the texture within this area. You only need to remove enough texture so the bracket sits flat against the underlying drywall. Be gentle to avoid gouging the wallboard.
    * Sand Smooth: Lightly sand the scraped area to create an even, flat surface.
    * Clean: Wipe away all dust with a damp cloth.

    Step 3:

    Dry-Fit and Mark Drill Holes
    * Hold the bracket firmly against the prepared flat spot.
    * Use a level to ensure it is perfectly horizontal. Mark the drill hole locations with a pencil through the bracket’s holes.

    Step 4:

    Drill and Install Anchors
    * For Stud Mounting: If your mark hits a stud, drill a pilot hole slightly smaller than your wood screw’s diameter. Proceed to secure the bracket directly into the stud.
    * For Anchor Mounting (Most Common): Drill holes at your marks according to the specifications of your chosen wall anchor.
    * Toggle Bolts/Snap Toggles: These are often the best choice for heavy screens. They spread the load behind the drywall. Insert the toggle through the bracket hole, place the bracket against the wall, and tighten until secure.
    * Heavy-Duty Plastic Anchors: Ensure they are designed for the weight. Tap them into the pre-drilled holes until flush.

    Step 5:

    Secure the Bracket and Attach the Screen
    * Fasten the bracket to the wall using the provided hardware or your chosen anchors. Do not overtighten, as this can crush the drywall.
    * Once the bracket is firmly installed, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to attach the projector screen.

    Step 6:

    Final Adjustments and Finishing
    * Hang the screen and use a level to check it from multiple points. Many brackets allow for micro-adjustments; use them to achieve perfect alignment.
    * Cosmetic Repair (Optional): If desired, you can apply a small amount of paintable latex caulk around the edge of the bracket where it meets the wall to hide any minor gaps. For the scraped texture areas not covered by the bracket, a thin layer of spackle, textured paint, or a texture patch spray (matched to your wall) can blend the spot after the bracket is installed.

    Professional Tips and Alternatives

    * The Plywood Backing Plate Solution: For ultimate security, especially for very large screens, cut a piece of ¾-inch plywood to size. Mount the plywood securely into multiple wall studs using long wood screws. Then, mount your screen bracket to the smooth, solid plywood surface. This distributes weight across several studs and provides a perfect mounting base. The plywood can be painted to match the wall.
    * Ceiling Mount: If wall texture is severe or stud placement is problematic, consider a ceiling-mounted solution, which may offer easier access to joists.
    * Freestanding Screen: For renters or those unwilling to modify walls, a high-quality tensioned floor-standing screen is an excellent alternative.

    Conclusion

    Mounting a projector screen on a textured wall requires more preparation than a standard installation, but it is entirely achievable with the right approach. The key is to create a stable, flat mounting surface by carefully modifying the texture and using hardware appropriate for both the screen’s weight and the wall’s composition. By taking your time during the preparation and anchoring phases, you can enjoy a perfectly aligned, secure, and professional-looking projector screen installation that will provide years of immersive viewing pleasure.

    Read More

    Floating shelves offer a sleek, modern look, creating the illusion that they are magically attached to the wall without visible brackets. However, the conventional wisdom for hanging anything substantial is to “find a stud.” But what do you do when your shelf needs to be positioned precisely where there isn’t one? Fortunately, with modern hardware and the right technique, you can securely and confidently build floating shelves without studs. Understanding the Challenge and the Solution

    November 02, 2025   Shane

    The primary challenge of skipping studs is that you’re relying solely on the drywall or plaster to hold the weight. Standard wall anchors are insufficient for the significant leverage forces exerted on a floating shelf. The solution lies in specialized hardware designed to distribute weight across a wide area of the wall’s surface, providing a secure hold far beyond the capabilities of a simple toggle bolt.

    Essential Hardware for Stud-Free Installation

    Your success hinges on choosing the right hardware. The two most effective options are:

    • Toggle Bolts or Snap Toggles: These are excellent for medium-duty applications. A toggle bolt features spring-loaded wings that open up behind the drywall, creating a large anchor point. Snap toggles are a more modern, often sturdier, version that locks into place. They are ideal for shelves holding books, decorative items, or small-to-medium electronics.
    • Drywall Shelf Brackets (The Best Choice): This is the professional’s choice for a true stud-free floating shelf. These are metal rods or brackets specifically designed for this purpose. They install deep into the drywall and use a mechanism that grips a very large area of the wall from behind. Brands like OOK, E-Z ANCOR, and others offer models with weight capacities often exceeding 100 lbs per bracket.

    A Step-by-Step Guide to Installation

    Materials and Tools You’ll Need:

    • Floating shelf (purchased or custom-built with a hollow channel)
    • Drywall shelf brackets or heavy-duty toggle bolts
    • Stud finder (to confirm the absence of studs)
    • Pencil
    • Level (a 2-4 foot level is ideal)
    • Power drill
    • Appropriate drill bits (including a spade bit or hole saw if needed)
    • Measuring tape
    • Screwdriver
    • Hammer (for some bracket types)

    The Installation Process:

    Step 1: Plan and Mark
    Use a stud finder to map out your wall and confirm your desired location is stud-free. Decide on the height and spacing of your shelf brackets. Using a level and a pencil, draw a perfectly horizontal line on the wall to indicate the top or bottom edge of where the shelf will sit.

    Step 2: Mark the Bracket Locations
    Following the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific hardware, mark the exact points on the wall where you need to drill holes for the brackets. Ensure these marks are level and spaced correctly for your shelf.

    Step 3: Drill the Holes
    Using the correct size drill bit as specified for your anchors or brackets, drill straight into the wall at your marked points. Be careful not to apply excessive pressure, and be aware of potential wiring or plumbing behind the wall.

    Step 4: Install the Wall Anchors or Brackets

    • For Toggle Bolts: Insert the toggle through the shelf’s mounting bracket (if applicable), fold the wings back, and insert it into the hole. Once the wings snap open behind the drywall, tighten the bolt firmly until the shelf bracket is snug against the wall.
    • For Drywall Shelf Brackets: These typically require you to insert the bracket into the hole and then activate a locking mechanism (often by turning a screw) that expands a metal plate or arms behind the drywall. Follow the package instructions meticulously.

    Step 5: Slide the Shelf Onto the Brackets
    Once all brackets are securely installed and level, carefully slide your floating shelf onto them. You may need to gently tap it into place with a rubber mallet. Some systems include a set-screw to lock the shelf in place permanently.

    Critical Considerations for Safety and Success

    • Respect Weight Limits: Always check the weight rating of your anchors or brackets and be conservative in your estimates. The weight capacity is for a perfectly installed anchor in good drywall.
    • Drywall Condition Matters: This method works best on sturdy, undamaged drywall. If your wall is brittle, has existing holes, or is made of plaster, the holding power will be significantly reduced.
    • When to Call a Professional: If you are planning to store very heavy items (e.g., large collections of books, heavy pottery, or electronics) or are unsure about the wall’s integrity, it is always safer to consult a professional. They can install a backing board between studs to which you can securely mount your shelf.

    By selecting the appropriate heavy-duty hardware and following a meticulous installation process, you can successfully and safely build beautiful floating shelves exactly where you want them, studs or no studs.

    Read More

    Creating a beautiful home is something all of us strive to do

    March 18, 2024   Matt

    Creating a beautiful home is something all of us strive to do

    Trees, shrubs and bushes are all an essential part of the look of your landscaping. Not all greenery grows well in all climates so it’s wise to use the research tool on many of the landscape design software programs to choose which plants will thrive in your area. Once you’ve made that determination you are ready to get started.

    Mapping out the area that you are actually working with is the best idea. You can do that to scale with the software and this will allow you the opportunity to then plan exactly where you want everything to be. If you are working on both a front and back yard space do one at a time. It’s easy to get carried away in the ease of the landscape design software but you want to ensure you create the most inviting environment in both spaces.

    Decks and pools should be planned for before you set your mind on where greenery will go. The reason is that most shrubs and trees will fill out over time and if you plant them to close to a structure they may actually need to be removed. Young trees and plants should be placed in areas where they have room to spread, so first place the structure and then add any additional elements. Some of the best landscaping ideas involve creating a small garden in one area of the yard that is situated far from the pool or sitting area.

    Some homeowners enjoy the vibrancy of flowers in their yards. Brightly colored blossoms can transform a dull space and make it inviting and warm. Many of the popular brands of landscape design software allow you to place flowers, including colors on your plans. This really affords the user the opportunity to visualize how certain colors will mesh with the other elements of the landscaping. You can even choose the flowers by name so you know what to look for when you go to the garden center in the spring.

    If you’ve ever looked at a neighbor’s perfectly planned yard and wished you could do the same, you really can. Just purchase landscape design software and spend some time creating a beautiful outdoor space that you and your family can enjoy for years to come.

    Read More

    Points To Do When Your Computer System Begins Creating Issues

    November 24, 2019   Matt

    Things To Do When Your Computer Begins Developing Issues

    The introduction of the lap top has made computers portable and you can find them on airplanes, trains, buses as well as in cars and trucks. Computers are the current technique of communicating with almost every person, everywhere. That is till they start to create troubles. They are infamous for damaging down a couple of hrs before you have to kip down your paper or make your workplace discussion.

    Most computers have service warranties covering solution. There is normally possibly a service where computer system owners can obtain help over the phone or online. This service is important to computer system owners. If you have actually attempted every little thing you know to settle a computer system problem and also absolutely nothing is working, you can browse the web, at the computer system supplier’s site, as well as do some basic diagnostic tests. Usually the site includes inquiries that generally emerge when computer systems stop working. Easy options, from connecting in the equipment to restarting a program, are available online.

    If the online tips do not work, you can call a solution over the phone. The wire or phone company carrier has this service readily available when you first are hooked-up to the Net. A computer system specialist will listen to your grievance and after that use a selection of options. An enjoyable, experienced voice on the various other end of the line can soothe you down when you prepare to draw your hair out or dedicate violent acts versus your computer.

    Occasionally, the phone specialist can’t fix your trouble. After that you need to call a repair work service. There are companies that will send off computer service technicians who will come to your residence and also, for a rate, solution whatever is ailing your computer system. Nerd Team is one such service. It will, on a 24/7 basis, give upgrades, repair services as well as protection from spyware as well as viruses. If you believe the problem is something you did as a result of not being acquainted with a computer system, Geek Squad uses one- and also two-hour personal guideline training courses.

    After it has been developed that you do not have a software issue, you currently face the difficulty of remedying an equipment problem. After that you have no choice however to open up the computer and do the repair work yourself. While many of us would pass on this alternative, it is not as hard as it appears. There are less than 12 components, consisting of keyboard and mouse, in the majority of computers. The number one cause of computer malfunctions is the Air Conditioning power supply. Typically, particularly in cheaper versions, replacing it fixes all the problems.

    There are some problems that you can not fix without proper training, such as repairing the motherboard or the CPU or fixing video components as well as faulty tough drives. After that you need to take your computer to a fixing facility. There they can take your computer system apart, run a diagnostic check-up as well as change what requires to be changed. They can mount brand-new hard drives, new components and also programs, and also change any kind of mechanical parts that are not functioning properly. They will also clean up the within your computer system, where dirt as well as various other wise fragments have accumulated. If your computer is under warranty, you will possibly get these solutions completely free. If you have not purchased an extensive warranty, you will have to pay for whatever is done.

    If there is an equipment issue with your computer system, you may not need to take it to the shop where you got it or a repair center. There are facilities that involve you and also, like Geek Team, fix the malfunctioning tools in your house.

    Read More

    Creating Your Media Space

    May 18, 2019   Matt

    Producing Your Media Area

    Media areas are a wonderful event space for household flick night, for some warm competitors in the best video gaming experience, or simply someplace to settle back, pay attention to music and surf the Internet. Here are some hints concerning setting up your ideal Songs and House Movie theater atmosphere.
    What you’ll require
    You can have a completely budget-friendly House Movie theater with a setup as simple as a TELEVISION collection, a set of stereo audio speakers, as well as a DVD player. But usually a Residence Movie theater is a little much more sophisticated if your goal is to duplicate– on a smaller sized scale, of program– the integration of picture, drama, and sound that you experience in a theater.

    Surprisingly, also a basic residence movie theater system can deliver incredibly boosted playback of DVDs, videos, and also TELEVISION programs like “CSI” or “Smallville” that are taped and also broadcast in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Noise.

    A standard residence movie theater system includes a pair of front speakers on either side of the TELEVISION, a center-channel audio speaker ahead (or beneath) the Television Set to secure the stars’ dialogue at the TELEVISION screen, a set of smaller border speakers to either side of your seating that lug all the impacts and ambient noise of a film or TV show, as well as the motion picture rating. A lot of house cinema systems include a subwoofer for the deep bass sounds. That’s 6 speakers in all, however they don’t need to be huge. You need to add a Dolby Digital Surround Sound Audio/Video receiver, which contains all the required wiring.

    Electronic devices shops more than happy to assist you determine what will function best in your home.
    The Big Inquiry: What type of TELEVISION?
    CRT “direct-view”: The initial TV technology collection has actually been refined over the past half-century to an impressive and budget friendly degree. Nonetheless, the US Federal Communications Compensation (FCC) has actually ruled that all TELEVISION broadcasters in the US have to convert to electronic broadcasts and also switch off their analog transmitters by 2009. Your old CRT TV set will certainly not obtain those digital broadcasts without a special set-top adaptor. Digital CRT establishes deliver stunning high-def photos, although maximum screen dimension is restricted to regarding 40 inches. Most digital wire boxes and also little recipe satellite tuners have the alternative of HDTV reception (with an upgraded dish). Big-screen CRT sets utilize rear-projection (RPTV), which looks ideal in poorly lit or darkened rooms, although brand-new RPTVs are extremely intense.

    Plasma panels: Three to 5 inches thick as well as from 42-60 inches in angled display size, level plasma panels are so brilliant you can watch them in a well-illuminated space, and they remain clear and also intense over a vast seeing angle. However, they use a great deal of power, run fairly cozy and undergo burn-in if you’re not mindful (a photo completely inscribed on the display).

    LCD flat-panel display: An LCD level panel resembles your computer screen, with an optimum display dimension of concerning 37 inches. LCD flat panels can very precise color and HDTV resolution, but LCDs still have problem generating a true black, and they aren’t viewable over as large an angle.

    DLP back- and also front-projection TELEVISION: The extremely most recent. DLP is remarkably small and with the ability of brilliant photos with blacks that are the equal of plasma and also far better than LCD-based screens. DLP is still an arising modern technology and some photos can be based on a “rainbow results”.

    Pick the Right Display Size for your Room
    Where you sit determines the quality of the image on the TV. If all you see are real HDTV images, after that you can rest as close as two times the diagonal screen dimension– regarding 8 feet away for a 46-inch or a bit more for a 50-inch angled display. Nevertheless, till the last conversion to all-HDTV broadcasting is full, a great deal of your TV viewing may well be standard analog TELEVISION, and those images might look dreadful up close.

    If you view routine non-HD TELEVISION sitting as well near a cinema, you’ll see all the imperfections. Number on 3 times the diagonal display dimension as a minimum viewing distance from typical Televisions. So if you desire a 60-inch angled display, you ought to be 15 feet away to enjoy routine TELEVISION and also still be pleased with the photo. For HDTV or DVDs, the image will be wonderful at that distance.
    Comfy seating
    Of utmost significance in your media area is the high quality of seating. You know you’ll be resting there for at the very least the length of the video game or film. As well as it’s typically the location you will pertain to unwind, so see to it sofas or devoted cinema seats permit you to see the screen in the manner in which’s most comfy for you.
    A note of caution with media room furnishings:
    When you put a tower speaker (or a bookshelf design) inside a wall surface system, credenza, or enjoyment facility, the way the sound jumps off the surface areas in the wall surface system’s dental caries might generate some audio abnormalities and unmusical pigmentations. Of course, if your partner loathes seeing huge audio speakers as well as wants them concealed away, you’ll probably never also see the slight distinction in the audio.
    Have a good time.
    I have a close friend with a true house cinema, full with gold turned cable at the entranceway as well as a red velvet curtain that swishes away to reveal the significant display. It’s genuinely an experience relaxing on those deluxe sofas as well as viewing “Lost”… and the snacks is complimentary!

    Read More

    • Subscribe

    Support us!

    If you like this site please subscribe