Step 1: Figure out the heat
Some fireplaces throw enough heat above the mantle to damage modern OLEDs. Test before you mount: light a normal fire and feel the area where the bottom of the TV will sit. If it's hot to touch after 20 minutes, you need a tilting mount that angles the TV away from the heat, or a fireplace heat shield (a small metal deflector mounted to the mantle).
Step 2: Drill into brick correctly
You need a hammer drill and masonry bits (carbide-tipped). Drill into the brick itself, NOT the mortar between bricks — mortar is softer and won't hold anchor weight. Use heavy-duty sleeve anchors or wedge anchors rated for the TV weight + mount weight + 50% safety margin. Stop drilling the moment you feel the bit break through the brick — beyond that you may hit the chimney flue.
Step 3: Set the right height
The center of the TV should be about 4 inches above eye level when seated on the couch. Most people mount too high above a fireplace because the mantle pushes them up, but a tilting mount lets you angle the screen down and still avoid neck strain.
Step 4: Hide the cables
The classic fireplace install runs an in-wall power kit and HDMI cable from behind the TV down to behind the entertainment center beside the fireplace. Cutting into brick for cables is hard — most installs run the cables down through the wall NEXT TO the brick, then over to the TV behind the mantle.
