Hardware & Technical Second monitor mounting ideas

[Porina]

Since moving to an ultra-wide for playing ED, I do miss having a physical monitor. I can't put one to the side as there is no room, so I want to put one over the existing monitor. But how? I would add I'm not really DIY skilled!

My desk backs against a wall, so I could wall mount, but I'm unsure what would be safe. I believe the wall is plasterboard. The location is roughly midway between to support bits. The monitor I want to use is 9kg shipping weight according to amazon, so maybe a little less once I have the stand removed. Would a normal monitor wall mounting bracket straight onto plasterboard be safe with that?

The other idea I had was to fix a shelf to the wall and put a monitor on that. The shelf could be wide enough to reach the supports either side of the target location.

Final possibility I was looking at desk mounts. The ones that might go high enough seem to cost a bit though, starting around £100 and I'm not sure if they really go high enough!

Any other ideas for suggestions?

 

[Surfinjo]

Wall mounts for monitors are generally of good quality these days. Basic engineering will tell you that if the mount sticks out by any degree, it will be a lot easier to pull off.

The biggest problem, which I suspect you know, is the wall itself. If the wall is made of plasterboard then it should have struts every so often which are the places to anchor the fixings. The problem is, how old the wall is. In the last 20 or so years, builders have begun using metal struts, made of very light, soft and not very strong aluminium. Prior to that, it tended to be wood. (Initially the bodies overseeing building quality resisted the introduction of metal because it frankly, isn't strong enough. They were finally pushed into it by the ecos who argued that all that wood was fire hazard. One of the last jobs I worked on before I retired was a large, £billion hospital where the internal walls were all supported by these metal struts. It was part of an intention to reduce the flamable materials to below 9% total. The effect is quite sad really.)

I'm sorry to have to tell you that building standards in France are generally pretty poor. The information I have is British Standards. Generally accepted as a gold standard if rather over priced. It has been slipping in recent years sadly, but remains a lot better than any other. Germans and Americans both will disagree, largely because of the reluctance of UK authorities and especially UK industry to adopt new materials and systems, which they engineers usually develop. The UK still uses cast iron for gas supplies for example and it's electrical standards are preposterous.

If the wall do have metal struts then you should think about putting up a 12mm board, MDF would be fine, much larger than the mounting frame and fixed at 200mm intervals to at least 2 to the struts. If the struts are wood, then some 100mm planks between the struts should be more than enough.

A shelf is a matter of your design. If you are not good with your hands then you need to be careful.

 

[Porina]

I am in the UK. House is early 80's build. No idea if it is metal, wood, or unobtainium behind it. I can make holes. I can use a screwdriver. Much beyond that gets messy fast. I don't really want to go the route of MDF between two struts because it would look really ugly as it wont be covered by the monitor. I was thinking, the old shelf units, with the L shaped brackets could go on the struts. Does that sound like a plan?

Oh, there is a slight but visible discontinuity in the plasterboard at about 90cm spacing. I believe that is a standard size of plasterboard, so would the strut be behind that join? I guess then I would just have to use long enough screws to make sure I go through the plasterboard into the strut.

If it makes a difference, the wall is the one joining a neighbouring property. I understand it has sound insulation behind it before the structural wall itself, with the plasterboard to give a finish. Does that sound about right?

 

[Surfinjo]

I am in the UK. House is early 80's build. No idea if it is metal, wood, or unobtainium behind it. I can make holes. I can use a screwdriver. Much beyond that gets messy fast. I don't really want to go the route of MDF between two struts because it would look really ugly as it wont be covered by the monitor. I was thinking, the old shelf units, with the L shaped brackets could go on the struts. Does that sound like a plan?

Oh, there is a slight but visible discontinuity in the plasterboard at about 90cm spacing. I believe that is a standard size of plasterboard, so would the strut be behind that join? I guess then I would just have to use long enough screws to make sure I go through the plasterboard into the strut.

If it makes a difference, the wall is the one joining a neighbouring property. I understand it has sound insulation behind it before the structural wall itself, with the plasterboard to give a finish. Does that sound about right?

Apologies. Not sure how I came to think of you as a right hand driver.

The indents sound like what you're after. The 900mm suggests they were constructed on the cheap I'm afraid, the British Standard spacing is generally about 600 mm. But it's no big deal. It was the owner who got shafted by the builder. Being a party wall suggests it will have fairly strong studs though, which is good news for you.

In any case, you would need to check. Each stud will be about 40mm wide and should be vertical. The usual way to check is to gently tap the wall where you think the stud will be. If you have a rubber hammer or even a soft screwdriver handle, then use that. You may also try a thin piece of wood on the wall and tap the wood. Compare the sound with an area about 400mm away. The stud will sound more dull. Carefully mark where you think the stud is, using a small pencil mark. Then push a braddle or something similar through to make sure. The stud will have some resistance.

You could use a shelf, but what I'm more thinking of is the monitor sliding off it. Walls are rarely straight. If you think in terms of a piece of wood, you could attach a number of small shelfs to it. Even some Loud Speakers.

One thought that occurs is a couple of slot strips screwed vertically into each stud.. With those you could put in shelfs where you wanted them, move them around and even arrange something to ensure the monitor is held securely.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/rb-uk-twin-slot-uprights-white-1400-x-25mm-pack-of-2/56901

 

[Porina]

House was from 80's, building regs different then? I know in the report I got when I bough this place it suggested the roof wasn't to current code, but it's not like anyone will ever do anything to it unless it really needs it.

I was looking at exactly that type of shelving system on ebay earlier, but haven't decided anything yet.

 

[Surfinjo]

House was from 80's, building regs different then? I know in the report I got when I bough this place it suggested the roof wasn't to current code, but it's not like anyone will ever do anything to it unless it really needs it.

I was looking at exactly that type of shelving system on ebay earlier, but haven't decided anything yet.

Not that different as far as stud walls are concerned. But my house was built in 1900 and the dodges of those terrible Victorian builders have to be seen to be believed! Still, it's standing after 115 years, which is more than will probably be said for me.

Anyway, the shelving is possibly a good way to proceed really. I have loads of those in my front room. It was an office while I was working. Now it is a good place to get away from TV and relax, surrounded by books and bits of junk which have been slung onto a spare corner of one of the shelves.

Also, remember, those strips are not just for shelves. With some imagination, there's a load you can achieve.

Could be used to hang a towel, a plant, slide a small plank in and get a slim-line shelf.

 

[Porina]

...or a 3rd monitor above the 2nd. Imagine a 3 monitor vertical setup! So crazy I might have to do it just for that reason alone. Might get some neck ache though.