How to: Protect your TV screen from rug rats

I am blessed with children. But I am overly paranoid about how they will wreck my stuff.

When I “finished” my unfinished basement, I purposely designed shelves high out of reach for my CDs, DVDs, A/V equipment. When they figured out how to get at that stuff, I built a shelf almost 8′ from the floor for all the non-kid DVDs. Hey, DVDs are expensive!

TVs were another challenge. They need to be at a reasonable height from the ground so we don’t all strain our necks. But the screens were constantly covered with grimy, filthy, finger prints, yogurt stains and worse.

I’ve done variations on the following 3 times now and it helps me keep my sanity.

Solution 1 (assumes your TV is in an armoire or cabinet and costs about $25-$30)
Step 1 — Go to your local home improvement store. Find where they hide the plexiglass and Lexan panes (usually in a far, dusty corner). Lexan is more expensive yet harder to break and cut. I recommend plexiglass.

Step 2 — Buy a sheet of plexiglass that is as wide as the width of the opening for your TV and taller than the actual TV. Don’t be cheap and think you can live with seeing the top edge of the plexiglass running horizontally across your TV. It will annoy you.

Step 3 — Go to the area where they sell those big 4′x8′ sheets of plastic lattice. You should be able to find plastic u-shaped tracks that come in 8′ lengths. Buy enough to run down the left side, across the bottom and up the right side of your TV opening. Available colors are typically white, cedar and gray.

Step 4 — Cut your tracks to fit the opening and secure to the cabinet (pre-drill holes for small screws).

Step 5 — Measure and mark out how much to cut away from the plexiglass. Leave the protective plastic on either side to keep your surface scratch free. Lay it flat on a clean work surface. Using a straight edge (such as a 4′ metal ruler or one of the plastic tracks) and a sharp utility knife, score the plexiglass over and over again. Don’t apply pressure to cut or saw. Just repeatedly score the same line along the straight edge. Get a helper and together, gently push until you snap the plexiglass back. Then repeat the process along the other edge. When done, you might need to shave down some rough spots. Dry fit the plexiglass into your tracks. Don’t be afraid to bend it gently. If all fits well, pull the protective plastic off both sides, sit back and enjoy.

Solution 2 (assumes your TV stands alone with no enclosure and costs about $20-$25)
Step 1 — Go to your local home improvement store. Find where they hide the plexiglass and Lexan panes (usually in a far, dusty corner). Lexan is more expensive yet harder to break and cut. I recommend plexiglass.

Step 2 — Buy a sheet of plexiglass that is as wide and as high as the screen. Don’t be cheap and think you can live with seeing the top edge of the plexiglass running horizontally across your TV. It will annoy you.

Step 3 — Buy clear, plastic velcro. The kind used to hang E-Z Pass from your windshield.

Step 4 — Measure and mark out how much to cut away from the plexiglass. Leave the protective plastic on either side to keep your surface scratch free. Lay it flat on a clean work surface. Using a straight edge (e.g. a 3′-4′ metal ruler) and a sharp utility knive, score the plexiglass over and over again. Don’t apply pressure like you are cutting or sawing. Just repeatedly score the same line along the straight edge. Get a helper and together, gently push until you snap the plexiglass back. Then repeat the process along the other edge. When done, you might need to shave down some rough spots.

Step 5 — Cut and apply the velcro at each corner. Start with just the 4 corners and decide if you think you need more. This stuff is pretty strong. If all fits well, pull the protective plastic off both sides, sit back and enjoy.

I hope these suggestions help you. You’ll be amazed how much damage the plexiglass will absorb while your not around. Feel free to add your horror stories below about how your little angels destroyed your stuff.

-Roland