Installing Aerials On Chimneys And Walls

If you have made the decision that you would like to get an aerial installed high up outside, then you might be wondering whether the best place to install it is on the chimney or the wall. Here at TV Aerials Widnes we will discus both of these options which have pros and cons.

The Highest Point Is Typically A Chimney

The chimney usually provides the most height. That is the reason why a majority of aerials get installed on chimneys. However, if you might get more height if you have a gable end wall that a chimney can be mounted to.

It Is Less Noticeable To Install Aerials On Chimneys

Typically it is more discreet to install aerials on chimneys. Seeing aerials there is what most people expect and typically a six-foot mast is as big as you need, although when you mount an aerial to a wall you might need a larger pole for its equivalent height.

It Is More Difficult To Install An Aerial On A Chimney

It is usually harder to install an aerial on a chimney. That is due to the fact that it takes more skill to install a chimney lashing bracket compared to drilling fixing used with aerial brackets. In case you are wondering why drill expansion fixing and wall bracket are not used to mount an aerial onto a chimney stack, that is due to the act that a majority of chimney stacks only have one brickwork skin, and it is frequently in poor condition. With drill fixings and wind loading, you are running the risk that in high winds the bricks will be pulled away from the chimney. I have seen this happen several times in the past. We instead install a chimney ratchet strap or chimney lashing bracket which wraps around your chimney and the aerial is held into place by the wire’s tension.

It Is More Difficult To Access A Chimney

It can be harder to access your chimney than you may realize. This might not be very tricky if you live in a bungalow. However, if you live in a regular style house, you will probably need a ladder to get up to the height of the roof along with a cat ladder for rolling up to the roof and hooking over the ridge of the chimney in order to access your chimney. If all you have is a regular ladder then you might want to mount your antenna on a wall instead.

Can Break Roof Tiles

I sometimes arrive at a job where the roof is in very poor condition or the roof tiles are actually “biscuit” tile which is a kind that easily breaks. In these situations, nothing can be done to access the chimney without the tiles breaking. Often I will try to avoid using the chimney completely and instead install the aerial on a loft or wall instead. Nothing is worse than hearing a couple of tiles go underneath your feet when you step off of a ladder to the roof.

For Larger Masts Walls Are Better Suited

If a 10’+ mast needs to be installed, then I recommend that you install the aerial onto a gable end wall if that is possible. That is due to the fact that the wall itself normally is much stronger compared to a chimney stack. K and T wall brackets can be used to create a large bracket packing to make it a really strong fixing that is better suited for bigger aerial poles. As long as the chimney stack is big enough, you can achieve a similar fixing using double lashing bracket. However, I don’t like to install anything bigger than a 10′ mast for a chimney stack, and not larger than 6′ ideally. For that to work, you will need to have a gable end wall. If you don’t have one, and for example, live in a terrace home, you might discover that a 4′ mast installed on a chimney stack will provide more height compared to a 16′ mast mounted to a wall.

If there are hanging tiles on the walls you might need to install the aerial on a chimney stack or a different position to prevent you from needing to fix bracks to the wall.

Additional Places Where You Can Site Antennas And Aerials

Aerial fixings can be installed on a non-penetrating roof mount or a fascia bracket. If you are searching for other places where a TV aerial can be mounted instead of a chimney or wall, please see our blog post on alternate positions for fixing your TV aerial.