4 Questions You Should Ask When Installing a TV Outdoors
Let Us Help You Create an Epic Outdoor Entertainment Space
Because temperatures in Manhattan Beach and surrounding California cities are pleasant most of the year, homeowners in this area tend to spend a lot of time outside. As we head into autumn, now is a great time to upgrade your outdoor living spaces for all your upcoming fall activities and get-togethers!
One element that any epic outdoor entertainment space needs is a TV. If you’re considering adding an outdoor TV to your backyard, be sure to ask the following questions first to avoid an insufficient installation. After all, installing audio/video technology outdoors isn’t the same as installing it indoors.
Find the questions—and answers from our experts—below!
SEE ALSO: Take Your TV Entertainment Outside with the New Samsung Terrace
1. Is Your TV Outdoor-Rated?
As we mentioned, indoor and outdoor environments pose different challenges for your audio/video technology. While you may be tempted to bring your living room TV to the patio, you’ll run the risk of damaging your gear. Indoor TVs aren’t built for exterior elements like heat, debris, rain, and insects. So, before you install a TV outside, be sure to look for an outdoor-rated model that can withstand the elements. We recommend exploring outdoor TV models from brands like Samsung, Séura, and C SEED.
2. Is Your Backyard Covered or Open?
Next, think about where your TV will live. Do you plan to hang it under a fully covered porch? Will it be mounted to the ground by an uncovered pool? Because these backyard areas receive different amounts of direct and indirect sunlight, it’s best to think ahead so you can decide if a full-sun or shade-rated outdoor TV is the better option for your unique environment. As the name suggests, full-sun TVs are typically brighter than shade-rated TVs and can withstand extensive direct exposure to the sun.
3. How Far Will Viewers Be from the TV?
If you’re budgeting for one TV for a large-scale backyard, you’ll need to consider where viewers might be at any given time before installing your display. Because obstructions like outdoor columns, walls, and trees can easily block your view, you might prefer a TV mount that lets you raise, tilt, and swivel your display to create the perfect viewing experience from several areas of the backyard.
Display size will also impact your viewing experience. Fortunately, outdoor TV sizes from Samsung and Séura vary from 43 inches to an impressive 86 inches. Even bigger is the C SEED HLR luxury outdoor TV that measures a jaw-dropping 201 inches! Talk about big-screen viewing!
4. Does Your TV Come with Speakers?
While some outdoor TVs have built-in speakers, many don’t. Look at the speaker options for your preferred TV model and decide if they fit your entertainment needs. While the C SEED TVs include speakers, Samsung and Séura offer their own weatherized soundbars that you can pair with their TVs.
You can also decide to connect your TV to your existing outdoor audio system and play TV audio throughout your yard so that no one misses the movie dialog or sports plays as they wander and mingle.
We hope this quick guide helps you make a more educated decision for your ideal outdoor TV installation! As an experienced home technology company, our team at Vision and Sound can sweat the details for you by recommending the right display for your budget and outdoor environment, installing your TV, connecting it to your speakers, and showing you how to use your system.
For a free consultation, contact us here or message us in the chat box below!