Altering a Media Unit help needed

1arda1 · Post by **1arda1** » Thu Feb 10, 2022 9:55 pm

Hi All,

I have attached a picture of a media unit recently built.

The dimensions of the TV cut out needs to be made bigger: Width: 5mm each side and Height: 12mm higher.

The wood used for this is chipboard.

I am not a carpenter myself, I am trying to ask some for options but currently struggling. The media unit cannot be taken down, what would be the best way to cut it and maintain a good finish.

Thank you

arco_iris · Post by **arco_iris** » Thu Feb 10, 2022 10:32 pm

1arda1!

1, Buy a smaller TV, or thoroughly check the dimensions of the chosen TV before building the unit.

2, What is that grey mottled surface, is it a laminate surface? That has to be cut by a blade going downwards to prevent chipping. More suggestions later.

3, Does your question involve modifying the reveals? Looks like they may be the quoted size. Ho hum.

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Thu Feb 10, 2022 11:25 pm

did you build this unit or is it bought in ??
is this a fitting picture with the traders saw in the picture, or is it yours ??

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Sun Feb 13, 2022 9:57 am

I've just built one of these for a customer. It's my first but i would assume the construction would be similar , a timber frame covered in my case with plasterboard and tiles or in this case some sort of decorative sheet material. I would assume the first thing to do would be to remove the sheet of grey material , there appears to be vertical joints either side of the tv aperture, and then adjust the underlying framework.

Argyll · Post by **Argyll** » Sun Feb 13, 2022 10:45 am

Grendel wrote: ↑Sun Feb 13, 2022 9:57 am I've just built one of these for a customer. It's my first but I would assume the construction would be similar , a timber frame covered in my case with plasterboard and tiles or in this case some sort of decorative sheet material. I would assume the first thing to do would be to remove the sheet of grey material , there appears to be vertical joints on either side of the tv aperture, and then adjust the underlying framework.

Agreed, I'm in the process of building one. She wants no gaps around the TV. I explained the recess dictates what size of TV she can get in the future but she's made her mind up. I'll need to build the recess around the TV and attach it by TV mount and then assemble it to the framing which is going to be a PITA.

She's only changed her mind about 10 times

: JPG Framing.jpg (55.98 KiB) Viewed 1448 times

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Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Sun Feb 13, 2022 12:01 pm

One consideration is how much the tv needs to lift to be able to get it on and off the bracket and then to have that same gap all around the tv . Seems to look better with an even gap imho. When I started the one I've just built the measurements I was given were a bit vague but it has turned out decent enough.
Personally just to add I'm not really sure about them . I suppose they look nice but are expensive for what is essentially a tv stand and a few shelves

Argyll · Post by **Argyll** » Mon Feb 14, 2022 10:35 pm

Grendel wrote: ↑Sun Feb 13, 2022 12:01 pm One consideration is how much the tv needs to lift to be able to get it on and off the bracket and then to have that same gap all around the tv . Seems to look better with an even gap imho. When I started the one I've just built the measurements I was given were a bit vague but it has turned out decent enough.
Personally just to add I'm not really sure about them . I suppose they look nice but are expensive for what is essentially a <a href="http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?&_nkw=tv+stand" class="skimwords-link" target="_blank" data-skimwords-id="815221" data-skimwords-word="tv%20stand" data-group-id="0" data-skim-creative="300003" title="Shopping Link Added by SkimWords" occurrence="1" data-skim-node-id="151:PersonallyjusttoaddI_1" style="">tv stand</a><span style="position: absolute;"></span><span style="position: absolute;"></span> and a few shelves

I'm going to give it about 30mm all round. That should give enough space to lift it on the TV mount. I also raised the question of if she ever needs to get to the back of the TV to attach other items like firesticks etc. Plus these mounts normally have a screw at the bottom to secure it to the mount. I won't have enough room to do this.

Having it enclosed looks good but they also don't consider ventilation.

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Mon Feb 14, 2022 11:14 pm

general comments

a tv in an enclosed space needs ventilation and iff thats around the perimeter on the front face it should be perhaps 20-25mm all round
or it has to be via large vents /slots/gaps on at least opposite sides or top or bottom to allow air flow

if it has to appear to cover all the recess why not have it on the face off the recess sticking out perhaps 20mm but appearing almost flush then this will accomodate a perhaps 10" bigger tv at a later date

Argyll · Post by **Argyll** » Tue Feb 15, 2022 10:22 am

big-all wrote: ↑Mon Feb 14, 2022 11:14 pm general comments

a tv in an enclosed space needs ventilation and iff thats around the perimeter on the front face it should be perhaps 20-25mm all round
or it has to be via large vents /slots/gaps on at least opposite sides or top or bottom to allow air flow

if it has to appear to cover all the recess why not have it on the face off the recess sticking out perhaps 20mm but appearing almost flush then this will accomodate a perhaps 10" bigger tv at a later date

Me or the poster Al? Typically my customer only thought about aesthetics rather than practicality. I had to explain to her about having to lift up the TV to the mount and ventilation. I did suggest there is no recess for the TV and I mount it on the media wall flush but she doesn't want that. She keeps on going on about her pal who has it enclosed entirely. Of course, they'll be snookered when they need to take the TV off the wall.

I've spent most of the time explaining why she can't do things a certain way. There's also the suggestion of heat when the fire is on and it's too close to the TV but she's insistent I just plough on.

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Tue Feb 15, 2022 10:34 am

A had an idea about making the surround in top and bottom units that look as one when mounted. Fixing for the top would be non permanent in that it would allow the whole top part to demount making it easy to fit and remove the telly. You would fit cleats inside and screw through the frame box to hold in place. Some plastic screw covers to finish and paint over. Okay, a two man job to mount and demount possibly but it would be a way of having a tight fit look on the TV. Possibly tight scribes to the wall and a coving type join at the ceiling. It worked perfectly in my minds eye.

DWD

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Fri Feb 18, 2022 8:54 pm

On the same job I've been fitting a new kitchen and the wall units have those push to open doors and while fitting them I thought of your idea . Would work in such a situation and using those push fittings could make access easy or give storage. Well it would work if it wasn't covered in tiles.