In this article
In South Florida we mount on concrete more often than on wood. Almost every house in Miami-Dade and Broward is concrete block (CBS) behind the drywall, and every condo tower is poured concrete. The good news: concrete holds a TV better than any stud. The catch: it needs different drill bits, different anchors and a little more patience.
Which kind of masonry do you have?
- Poured concrete — high-rises, garage walls, newer foundations. Uniform, very hard, drills slowly with gray dust.
- Concrete block (CMU/CBS) — most Florida houses. Hollow cells with thin walls; the bit breaks through into a void.
- Solid brick — older homes, fireplaces. Red dust.
- Brick or stone veneer — a thin decorative layer over something else. It is not structural; read brick vs. stone veneer first.
A test hole with a 3/16-inch masonry bit tells you which one you have: steady resistance means solid concrete; resistance, then a sudden drop means you hit a hollow block cell.
The furring-strip trap
Most block walls in Florida are covered with 1x2 wood furring strips and drywall. Stud finders happily "find" those strips every 16 inches. Never lag-bolt a TV into furring — the strips are held to the block by a few masonry nails and will pull out slowly. Drill through the drywall and the strip into the block behind it, and use an anchor long enough to reach at least 1-1/4 inches into the masonry.
Anchors that actually work
| Anchor | Best for | Size we use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tapcon concrete screw | Solid concrete, brick, block webs | 3/16 × 2-3/4 in | Fast, removable, great up to about 75 in |
| Sleeve anchor | Block and concrete | 3/8 × 3 in | Expands along its length; ideal for hollow block |
| Wedge anchor | Poured concrete only | 3/8 × 3-3/4 in | Highest holding power; not for hollow block |
| Toggle bolt | Hollow block cells | 1/4 in | Backup when the hole lands in a void |
Four fasteners are enough for a fixed or tilting mount up to 75 inches. Full-motion arms and screens over 75 inches get six, spread across the plate.
Step by step
- Mark the height. Center of the screen around 42 inches off the floor for a sofa — use the TV height calculator.
- Hold the plate and level it. Mark every hole through the plate onto painter's tape.
- Drill through the drywall first in rotary-only mode, so the drywall paper does not tear.
- Switch on the hammer once you reach masonry. Drill 1/4 inch deeper than the anchor length. Keep the drill straight — an oval hole loses holding power.
- Vacuum the hole. Dust left in the hole can halve an anchor's strength. We use a drill-mounted dust catcher and blow out each hole.
- Set the anchors. Tapcons drive straight in; sleeve anchors go in with a hammer and are tightened until snug — overtightening can crack block.
- Pull-test the plate with your body weight before hanging the TV.
- Hang the TV with two people and lock the safety screws.
Cables on a concrete wall
You cannot run cables inside a solid concrete or block wall the way you can in a framed wall — and you should not cut a channel into a structural wall. The clean option is a slim paintable raceway from the TV down to the outlet, painted the wall color. The wire-hiding tool builds the parts list.
If the drill suddenly stops and sparks, you hit rebar. Stop, move the hole an inch sideways, and patch the first one. Never try to drill through rebar in a structural wall.
Rather have a pro do it?
Exact price in about a minute — TV size, wall type and cables included. Same-day in most areas, 3-year warranty on every install.
When to call us
A rotary hammer, the right anchors and a clean dust-free install is our normal day in Miami. Concrete and block cost the same as drywall with us — installation starts at $119 for a TV up to 60 inches. Get your exact price in the calculator, or see how we handle condo high-rises.
Gear mentioned in this article
Hillman Sleeve Anchors, 3/8in x 3in, 50 Pack, ZincSleeve anchors for brick, block and concrete.Check price →
EZ SPARES Drill Dust Collector Attachment for 32mm 35mm 38mm Vacuums, RedDust collector for drilling masonry indoors.Check price →
PERLESMITH Tilting TV Wall Mount for 23–60 inch TVs up to 115 lbsTilting bracket: angles the screen down when it hangs high.Check price →
Delamu Cord HiderPaintable cable raceway: hides the run without cutting the wall.Check price →
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