When this homeowner reached out, I could tell they knew exactly what they wanted. After purchasing the home, the couple had been eager to update the master bedroom. Their sights were set on custom building out a 3D TV wall. So I was eager to deliver their vision.
After some back and forth on design, the client agreed to meet and survey the wall. Text conversations can get a bit muddy. So, it was good to discuss the design face to face. This also gave me a chance to notate the angled ceiling.
Details on the Media Wall Project.
The electric fireplace was 8 inches (“) deep. The TV mount retracted the TV close to the same depth. So, I framed the 3D TV wall 8 1/8″ out. Considering the 1/2″ drywall, the custom build out would be 8 5/8″ deep. This gave plenty of room to ledge the electric fireplace and enclose the 65” flatscreen.
Now, I could shift my attention to the ceiling slant. I decided to angle the vertical studs at the top and anchor them with a 2×4 across the ceiling. I wasn’t really worried about a shifting frame. But it’s always best to be more safe than sorry.
Framing Up a 3D TV Wall.
Once I confirmed the dimensions of everything, I drew the media outlines on the wall. The main thing I I had to keep in mind was the thickness of the drywall. This extended each opening by 1 inch. I also needed to think about the effect of the corner beads.
From here, I was able to determine the placement of the framing lumber.
The Goal Was a Strong Media Wall.
Securing horizontal 2×4’s against the wall gave me an opportunity to screw into the pre-existing wall studs. This gave me a strong frame to build out from. In order to meet the design, I needed to extend the 3d TV wall framing 5 1/8″. The face plate would bring me to 8 1/8″.
I probably went a little overboard with the framing. But I know this 3D TV wall isn’t going anywhere. To be honest, I was a bit of a perfectionist when it came to centering the media spacing.
Sheetrocking the Build Out Wall.
The most difficult part of this project was definitely managing the angled ceiling. I thought it was going to be easier to drywall. But it took a few layers of joint compound and even some caulk the seams of this 3D TV wall.
The left corner also gave me some fits. It was difficult to putty and sand. For the most part, it was a pretty straight forward job. The little things just added some time. I just wanted to do a good job. So, I didn’t care how many layers it took to ensure a smooth finish.
After some corner beading and a few coats of joint compound, the media wall was ready for sanding. Unfortunately, this is actually a very tedious process. Lots of mindfulness and cleanup is involved. By the time I was content and the baseboards were installed, it was time to call it a day.
Mounting the Flatscreen TV.
While this may seem like a simple task, it’s not. The opening of the 3d TV wall was limited. The flatscreen mounting needed to be perfect. There was only 1/2″ leeway on all four sides. I’m happy to say, it only took one try. The TV was mounted exactly where it needed to be to fit.
Note: When building 3D TV walls, it is important to look for the power buttons.
Finish Work on the 3D TV Wall.
The last step was to make sure everything fit. Once confirmed, I had to take everything down to paint. About a gallon later, we were ready to enjoy the entertainment wall. The only issue I had was some minor troubleshooting with the electric fireplace.
The customers couldn’t be happier. They even called me again to mount a TV on their patio.
