Wondering if anyone has any advice to give on mounting a plasma in a recessed opening, the opening will be cut to fit the plasma, plasma is mounted to static wall mount, my main concern is how to finish between the plasma and the wall, do you use a trim strip of some description if so is there a manufacturer that supplies these or do you just use a standard molding/frame, I have suggested wood surround to match decor in the room but client wants a high tech look, maybe brushed aluminium or similar.

Thanks for any suggestions

Any Carpenter should be able to build a fram for the display...... I have one on staff that has done some pretty impressive built-ins for me. There are plenty of Hi-Tech Veneeers and Laminates out there to dress up the frame so that should not be an issue.

Just keep in mind VENTILATION If you build a plasma into a wall and cut off all circulation, it WILL overheat and shut down. You need to install an ACTIVE fan system of some sort to extract the hot air and blow in cool air. Check out Active Thermal Management for some ideas on ventilation.

http://www.activethermal.com

had a customer who wanted two plasmas, one above the other, in niches that were finished in drywall. It looks pretty good. There is about an inch on every side of the monitor.

They told me what they wanted. I copied sections out of the manual describing mounting distances, ventilation, warranty, etc and asked them to sign a waiver regarding damage or claim related to heat. They wouldn't sign it.

They got a different installation company who took one look at it and went home.

Their general contractor finally hung the darn things using 2" wide metal construction strap (one of the issues was just how the heck to actually hang the thing when there was so little space around and behind it).

They have worked fine. So far.

But ventilation is truly the bugaboo here. You will have to overdo it to make up for not knowing exactly where just how much air movement is needed.

Thanks for the replys guys, I had overlooked the cooling aspect of the install so you probably saved my bacon.

Thanks

Been down that road. Heat/Ventilation is def. very big factor. I have manuf. specs on heat radiation designing. Feel free to e-mail me if you would like the specs.

What we have done to solve the mounting problem is insist on a articulating arm mount. This will allow easy installation and serivce with little space around the screen.

Typically we spec an oversized cavity (upto 6" aside if we can) and then trim to with in an inch. (this was recommended by a manufactuer for air clearance).

Have done the very thing you describe here, using Rob Grabons articulating arm idea...with one variation.

The customer had a recessed shadow box built to within 1/4" all the way around the plasma...

We cut out all the drywall behind the plasma (it was recessed above a fireplace, so there was tons of room there) and got great ventilation...

Not only that, but it looked really trick when the plaster guys put some 45 degree corner wraps on the edges of the recess...when it was all said and donw...it just kinda flowed into this 3 dimensional FOCAL point above the fireplace, and looked great...the articulating arm was what made this install possible, as you can install them with very little clearence....

I have a picture of the before for sure, and possibly the after...e-mail if you're interested.

avdude
www.integrationpros.com

You'd be surprised what you can make a piece of wood trim look like. Find a couple of pieces of wood trim at Home Depot that you think fit the bill go to the paint department and find a few different types of paint (spray paint comes in alot of different crazy colors now aluminum,gold,) paint a few get approval from customer cut a few 45 degree angles.

Another option that looks cool, but is for a select few customers is the metal that they sell at Home Depot, (Looks like the metal boxes that you keep tools in the back of a truck) cut it to length. and on 45 angles Looks pretty sweet but it is an extreme look. Nice thing about the metal is you can bend it into the recess so it flows really well.