Entertainment Center and TV. Uh Oh...?

Question

I bought an entertainment center and a tv 2 1/2 years ago. I noticed about 10 months ago a small piece of wood with support screws on the one inside corner (just under the platform holding the tv) is cracked. I had a repair guy come out to fix a piece of the entertainment center (warranty at the time woo hoo...) and he said that the broken piece of wood was obsolete and he didn't seem worried about it. Well, fast forward to last night, I heard a "crack" and noticed the s***w WENT THROUGH the side of the entertainment center!!! I got nervous and took down the TV for the moment. I have them coming to fix the side where the s***w busted through.

My 36" tv weighs 215 lbs. The furniture store is now saying it can hold 40" and 150-200 lbs (he estimated - originally they said 40" and 225 lbs). So technically I am like 15 lbs above.

HERE IS MY QUESTION: Is there any way I can build extra support (extra wood in the spaces under the platform part holding the TV, where the s***w is with the broken little wood) and keep my TV on it still? I mean, I had it on there for 2 1/2 years the way it was and nothing catostrophic occurred.

I don't feel like spending extra money on a tv right now and I really like this entertainment center we have. I hope it is possible to keep both. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Sure, you can reinforce this yourself with little trouble, assuming you have some tools around.  Get thee to a hardware store, and buy some L-shaped support brackets.  Need not be that big, 2" on each part of the "L" fine.  You'll want two mounting holes in each leg.

Now, if you just s***w the support brackets in, you are asking for continued trouble.  Very likely you are s******g into particle board, covered by veneer.  Instead, get small screws and nuts to mount the brackets, with the screws going all the way throung the cabinet sides.  If the s***w head looks crummy showing on the outside of the cabinet, paint to match with touch-up paint.

Probably no need to actually attach the supports to the shelf -- not going anywhere with 215 pounds on it.