The Essentials of Mounting an Outdoor TV

If you want a fancy screen to be the centerpiece of your new outdoor patio, knowing the essentials of mounting an outdoor TV is crucial for it to work properly.

When mounting an outdoor TV, you need to ensure that the device is protected from the elements, secured from thieves and that is placed in ways that benefit both audio and visuals.

If you did want an outdoor TV to be installed, you need to think carefully about just what will work best. After all, whacking any old TV outside won’t work.

Therefore, it’s to take a serious step back and make sure you know everything you need to do to make your new screen the main attraction. So what do you need to know about mounting an outdoor TV?

Before you start…

Before you even mark anything out, you need to ensure that your TV is capable of working in an outdoor setting. Most standard TVs are not built for life outside. Why?

Well, there are several for this such as:

• Exposure to the elements
• Potential security flaws
• Screen Clarity

These all seem rather obvious when you think about it. After all, any electronic device exposed to the wind, rain or snow is vulnerable to water, dust and debris.

Furthermore, many standard TV screens are not designed to operate in a natural light setting making them extremely hard to see no matter what brightness setting you have them on.

That is why you need to look at getting a specialized outdoor TV to go outside. These devices have screens made to shine better in natural lighting as well as weatherproofed casings to prevent them from the elements.

This makes them a much better choice for putting in an outdoor location and the main attraction on which basing your setup around.

Determining the location

The next issue to deal with is one of the most important: where it is going to be mounted. Choosing the location goes a long way to how you will use it, what you will watch and the type of audio you are going to support it with.

When picking a location, there are three main areas where you can mount it:

• On a wall
• On a ceiling
• On a column/pole

Each of these locations offers different qualities and bonuses. A wall mounting is exceptionally easy to install and makes it easier to wire in (if necessary) and connect supporting devices to the TV.

Having it mounted to the ceiling offers similar freedoms as wall mounting but gives a much better viewing angle across your entire patio.

You do get similar benefits to a ceiling mount if you place it on a column however it does limit you to choosing a predominantly wireless device.

Understanding Mount Properties

As well as the TV itself, you ought to put some thought into the mount itself. That’s because that can also enhance the overall viewing experience.

For starters, you need to seriously consider investing in an adjustable mount for your TV. Having an adjustable mount is beneficial for several reasons.

First off, having it adjustable will help you angle the TV to best suit the outdoor conditions. This means you can move it or angle it better to combat sunlight glare at different times of the day. You can also move it so that it is moved to the best place for everyone to watch it.

Alongside that, you need to make sure that the mount is made from a material that is suited for prolonged exposure outdoors.

Some plastics and metals can be vulnerable to the elements. This could be from sunlight weakening its integral structure over time or from temperature fluctuations causing it to expand and contract.

Therefore, take things into account when selecting a mount and ensure that it is suitably prepared for use in an outdoor setting.

Making a Cabinet or Enclosure

To add even more protection to your set-up, you can also think about building a cabinet or enclosure to house the mounted TV.

This has several benefits for your TV. The most obvious is that it provides excellent security for your screen from any potential thefts.

Not only can you lock the cabinet when you are not watching the TV, but it also hides it away to deflect unwanted attention from prying eyes.

There’s also some additional protection from the elements too. Having a cabinet reduces the TV and mount being exposed to high moisture levels and reduces long-term damage.

All these advantages make using a cabinet an excellent part of the mounting process once you have finalized your plans for your entertainment area.

Tips for mounting an outdoor TV

When you decide to mount the TV itself, there are several major things to remember throughout the process. Some of these include:

• Always ensure you take measurements that factor in both the TV and the cabinet itself. Make these measurements diagonally to best account for viewing angles and distances to find the sweet spot.
• Ensure that you leave enough room for cords and devices to connect if you are using wired devices. If you don’t have the room to align cords safely when plugging them in, then it makes using them difficult and could also become a potential tripping hazard.
• Always consult and use any equipment provided with the mount itself. These mounts may come with specialist screws or brackets to use that generic pieces won’t fit. Trying to substitute things out will only lead to some aspects not fitting or the device being insecure.

Following these steps will ensure that you can mount your TV safely and not be disadvantaged when it comes to your first party.

Nailing those essentials

Having seen our guide about mounting an outdoor TV, it’s easy to see what you need to consider throughout the process.

It’s always vital to protect your devices from the elements and choose devices built to withstand UV and moisture exposure even if they are protected by a cabinet.

Furthermore, always think about practicality when mounting the TV. This includes the entire viewing range for the TV, ensuring it can be adjusted to match conditions and that everything is installed properly before use.

This way, you can be confident that you have aced mounting an outdoor TV successfully and that your backyard can be the place to be on your block.

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Triumph AV is a registered dealer for SunBrite TVs and in our experience of working with several other outdoor brands, SunBrite is the most realiable and bang for buck. We offer competitive price matching on all SunBrite TVs so give us a call today (214) 494-9369