[clueless123]

Sorry to double post but I got no responses in the home theater section.
So I have a tv cubby hole that is located under a staircase. It was perfect for my DLP but I just bought a 64" plasma and it seems like a sin to stick it into the "hole". I was thinking of building a wall for the top 2/3 to hang up the plasma and leave the bottom open to stick a component rack. The hole is framed with wooden studs so I was going to frame the inside maybe an inch recessed with 2x4's(nailed to the 2x4's inside the wall) and then fill the top part of the cubby hole with a 3/4" thick board to the new frame.
Obviously I'm no engineer, anybody with the slightest experience have an opinion whether this would work? My main concern is that the wall will be "floating" and the 2x4's wont be screwed in together at the center. The fact that it's under a staircase, does that change the integrity of the studs? FYI, the plasma is about 75 lbs.

 

[josall]

Just build your wall out of 2x4 the size you need to fill the hole, recess it 1/2" so you can apply 1/2" drywall to come out flush with the current wall. Tape it, mud it, sand it, paint it. you can finish the back if you want but I don't think you need to, you will need to finish the bottom edge. The buy a nice mounting bracket. Is your new tv going to overlap your speakers?

 

[ScottR]

Nice looking setup the way you have it, BTW.

You won't run into any structural issues regarding the staircase, so long as you don't remove any structure in the process.

I like your idea of sticking some 3/4" ply on top of your new structure because it would stiffen things up. Otherwise if you just stick framed a little wall section and screwed the end studs into the existing structure, you might get some sag in the middle. But like josall said, don't forget some extra recessing for drywall.

 

[AllanJ]

A single horizontal 1x6 or 2x4 will support the (approx. 5' wide) plasma TV. This could be attached either to the sides of the cubbyhole or to new framing around the inside of the cubbyhole.

Add a second horizontal member, mounted lower and at least 2x2 or 1x3, to keep the TV from tilting in and out.

You don't want to mount the TV too high because looking up at it could make your neck sore.

 

[DaneHitchins]

Sorry if I don't understand your explanation correctly, but it sounds like youre planning on making a stick framed panel and nailing it into the inside of your cubbyhole, but you're worried it might sag in the center because it will be "floating"?? If you're going to nail the two ends to the sides of the hole, why don't you nail the top plate of your new wall to the top of the cubbyhole to keep it from sagging down? A few spikes into the plate along the top of the hole will hold the new wall nicely in place.

 

[clueless123]

Thanks for all the replies. I just received the new TV and it doesn't look too bad in the hole so I may keep the setup for awhile. But if I do decide to hang it up, thanks for the reassurance.