Just got a new flat-screen TV, or thinking about getting one, and want to protect your investment? Do you know how fragile the screen is? Well, the answer is that it depends on what kind of television you have.

In the world of flat-screen TVs, LCD and plasma sets are the two types currently being produced (and either will fit into a TV lift cabinet). But as far as fragility is concerned, one is definitely more fragile than the other. Plasma TVs are much heavier than LCD TVs, primarily due to the extra glass screen and components, and this heaviness contributes to it being more fragile than an LCD. However, a heavier TV could also make it harder to tip over.

LCD TVs, being lighter, means they can also be made thinner than a plasma screen, and many LCD TVs are commercially available as thin as 2” thick. A thin Plasma TV is about 3” thick.

While a discussion of fragility and TVs does little good if you’re planning on mounting and storing your TV in a TV lift cabinet, especially since the TV is attached directly to the TV lift and is virtually impossible to tip over. Also, the smooth rack and pinion lift system that is standard in the Uplift TV lifts means the mounted TV experiences no shaking or rattling when it’s lifted out of and lowered into a pop-up TV cabinet.

However, the main reason you should be aware of how fragile your flat-screen TV might be is to know that if you order your TV online and have it shipped, you may experience some increased costs getting a plasma TV to your home. In most cases, it’s recommended to have it shipped overnight. Also, if you buy a plasma screen at a local store, you should prepare to get your new investment home as quickly and smoothly as possible. Even one pothole could damage your plasma set. The plasma TV screen is really two glass screens with a layer of light-producing cells between them that react to an electrical charge, and any damage to either glass screen or the cells will make your TV useless.

So while it doesn’t matter how fragile your TV is if you keep it in a TV lift cabinet, you should use caution when purchasing and mounting your TV in your home.