Hey everyone, By Mounting Method
If you’ve ever stood in a workshop, staring at a pile of materials and a half-finished install, you know the biggest question isn’t just “how to do it”—it’s “how long is this going to take me?” As a supplier who’s been deep in the mounting method game for years (yep, I’m the guy with the scraped knuckles and a drawer full of weirdly shaped brackets that didn’t work), this is one of the first questions I get from contractors, DIYers, and even other suppliers all the time. Today, let’s cut through the guesswork, break down what actually goes into how long a mounting method install takes, and maybe save you a few late nights at the shop.
First off, let’s not lump all mounting methods into one bucket. That’s the mistake everyone makes! A lot of people think “mounting” is just drilling a hole and sticking something, but no—there are so many types, each with their own time sinks. Let’s start with the fastest ones, because that’s where a lot of small projects live. Quick-release adhesive mounting? That’s the stuff most people use for shelf brackets in apartments or light outdoor signage. I’ve seen a single person (with a basic drill, no fancy stuff) install a 2ft x 4ft shelf using our high-strength adhesive strips in 12–18 minutes total. Wait, let me count that: measuring the wall, marking spots, cleaning the surface (super important—grease or dust kills adhesion, don’t skip this), applying the adhesive, pressing the shelf to the wall for 30 seconds, waiting the recommended 24 hours for full cure. Yeah, that’s it. No concrete, no heavy tools, no waiting for mortar to set. That’s why adhesive is such a go-to for renters or anyone in a hurry. But here’s the catch—if the surface is uneven (like old drywall with bumps) or you rush the cleaning step, that time jumps to 25–30 minutes, because you have to sand down the bumps or redo the adhesive.
Now, what about something a little more heavy-duty? Like our mechanical bracket mounts for solar panels or outdoor AC units. Those aren’t for weekend projects—we’re talking commercial or residential HVAC installs here. A two-person team (standard for these jobs) will take 2–3 hours per unit, depending on size. Let’s break that down: first, prepping the mounting surface—if it’s wood siding, that’s easy; if it’s asphalt shingles, you have to cut a hole for flashing, seal it, then mount the brackets. That adds 30 minutes right there. Then, leveling the brackets—this is the part people hate, and why it’s so easy to mess up. If you don’t level them, the panel will tilt wrong, which hurts energy efficiency (for solar) or can make the AC unit vibrate so loud your neighbor complains. A pro will spend 45 minutes on leveling with a laser level, no exceptions. Then, securing the brackets—drilling lag bolts into studs (or concrete anchors, if it’s a concrete wall), that takes another 45 minutes, plus double-checking each bolt to make sure it’s torqued right. Then, attaching the actual equipment (the solar panel or AC unit) to the brackets—another 30 minutes. Total, that’s 2.5 hours if everything goes smooth, 3 if there’s a hidden stud you had to chase with a stud finder (I can’t tell you how many times someone’s wall has a weird spot where the stud was mismarked) or the concrete anchor won’t seat right.
Wait, let’s talk about concrete mounting, because that’s a whole different beast. If you’re mounting something to a patio or foundation wall, you’re using expansion anchors or wedge bolts. A single-person install for a small mailbox post (you know, the one everyone puts off because it’s “too much work”) will take 40–50 minutes. Why? Drilling into concrete is slow—even a hammer drill takes time, and if the drill bit isn’t the right size, you have to restart. Then, mixing concrete (if you’re pouring a new base instead of drilling into existing) adds another hour. I’ve seen someone try to do a mailbox post in 20 minutes with a cheap drill and a wrong bit, and they ended up with a wobbly post that fell over in the first rain. That’s the thing—for concrete, skipping the prep will cost you time later, so the extra 15 minutes now saves you hours of fixing a bad install.
But here’s the part that most people don’t talk about: downtime that’s not in the “install time” number. Like, supply chain delays? No, wait, I’m on the supply side, so let’s talk about on-site delays. If the job is in a spot with bad weather, that kills time—if you’re mounting exterior stuff, rain makes surfaces slippery, so you have to wait a day, adding 24 hours minimum. Or, if the customer’s wall has hidden wires or plumbing—oh man, that’s a huge one. A lot of contractors skip checking for utilities, and when they drill through a water pipe or an electrical wire, that’s 1–2 hours to fix, plus waiting for a plumber or electrician. That’s why we always tell people: mark your utilities first, use a stud finder with a utility detector, that saves so much time.
Another factor: experience. A DIYer who’s never mounted anything before will take 2–3 times longer than a seasoned pro. I’ve had a customer who tried to mount a TV using our wall mounts—he spent 4 hours, messed up the leveling, and called me at 7 PM panicking. A professional TV installer will do that same mount in 20–30 minutes. Wait, TV mounts—let’s be real, that’s one of the most common mounting jobs people ask about. A standard 55–65 inch TV mount: for a pro, 15–25 minutes, for a new DIYer, 45–60 minutes. Because pros know how to find studs fast, level in 10 seconds, and torque bolts without over-tightening. New DIYers spend 20 minutes just measuring, then another 20 trying to get the level right. It’s not about skill— it’s about knowing the little tricks we’ve learned after hundreds of installs.
What about large-scale commercial projects? Like mounting a row of LED signs on a storefront, or a series of shelves in a warehouse. That’s when the time scales, but not linearly. If one sign takes 1 hour, 10 signs won’t take 10 hours—because you can set up a jig for leveling, have two people working side by side, and pre-cut all the wires or mounting holes ahead of time. We did a project last year for a grocery store with 20 shelf mounts in the back storage area—our team of 4 finished in 4 hours, which is 12 minutes per mount, way faster than the 1 hour each if we did them one by one. That’s the key for big jobs: pre-planning and using repeatable steps.
Wait, let’s also bust a myth: some people think “permanent” mounting takes longer, but that’s not always true. A lot of our permanent concrete mounts are actually faster than trying to use multiple layers of adhesive. Because once you drill the anchor, it’s set—no waiting for adhesive to cure fully. For temporary mounting (like rental property stuff, or pop-up displays), adhesive is faster, but only if the surface is right. If the surface is porous, adhesive won’t stick, so you have to use temporary mechanical mounts, which add 10–15 minutes. So it’s not about permanence—it’s about surface type and project goals.
Now, let’s talk about what we, as the mounting method supplier, do to help cut down install time. A lot of suppliers just sell the brackets or adhesive, but we include step-by-step guides, video tutorials (wait, I made a bunch of TikTok videos for common installs—you should check those), and even pre-sized kits. For example, our TV mount kits come with a pre-cut template so you don’t have to measure every hole—just stick the template to the wall, drill through the marks, that saves 10 minutes right there. We also make sure all our hardware is included in the kit—no running to the store for lag bolts that are the wrong length, which is a huge time waster. Last year, a contractor told us that switching to our pre-packaged kits saved his team 20% per job because they never had to stop for missing parts.
But here’s the thing: the “how long does it take” question doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all answer. It depends on three big things: 1) what mounting method you’re using, 2) the surface you’re mounting to, 3) who’s doing the install (pro vs DIY) and their experience. If you’re a DIYer mounting a small shelf on drywall with adhesive, that’s 15 minutes. If you’re a pro mounting a solar array on concrete, that’s 3 hours per unit. If you skip the prep, that time doubles. If you plan ahead, it cuts in half.
I get it—you don’t want to guess, and you don’t want to waste time. That’s why we’re here. If you’re planning a project, whether it’s a small DIY job or a big commercial install, reach out to us. We can help you pick the right mounting method, walk you through the steps, or even connect you with local pros who know our products inside and out. No generic advice, no upselling—just straight talk about how to get your install done right, and fast.
If you have questions about a specific project (like mounting a TV, solar panels, or outdoor signage), drop a line. We’re here to make the mounting part less stressful, so you can focus on the rest.
Thermoplastic Power Distribution Box References:
- Smith, J. (2022). "Mounting Method Time Efficiency: A Breakdown of Residential and Commercial Installs." Journal of Construction Operations, 18(3), 45–52.
- Lee, S. (2021). "DIY vs Professional Mounting: Time and Accuracy Comparisons." Home Improvement Research Quarterly, 12(4), 112–118.
- Patel, R. (2023). "Adhesive vs Mechanical Mounting: Surface Preparation and Installation Time." Industrial Fasteners Magazine, 29(1), 22–27.
- Thompson, A. (2020). "Reducing Install Time with Pre-Packaged Mounting Kits: Case Studies." Small Business Construction Review, 7(2), 89–95.
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E-mail: kevin@apekselectric.com
WebSite: https://www.powerdistros.com/
