Challenges in Mounting an Outdoor TV

Outdoor areas present problems even for the installation of TVs rated for outdoor use. Unlike being indoors, Mother Nature will put a TV mount to the test by exposing it to sunlight, humidity, rain, snow and wind.

A mount that hasn’t been designed for outdoor use can malfunction, and at worst become a safety hazard caused by hardware failure. Not to mention, with conventional indoor TV mounts rust can occur over time as the mount’s hardware and surface areas are subjected to heat, water and humidity, leaving behind unsightly traces of rust on the TV, wall and flooring.

Solutions to Solve Outdoor Installation Problems In order to solve the problems mentioned above, outdoor-rated TV mounts were designed and developed to address the effects of long-term exposure to UV, rain, humidity, wind, snow and other outdoor elements that are common to outdoor areas. Next, we’ll delve into more specifically how outdoor TV mounts handle those challenges faced when placed in an outdoor environment.

Layers of Protection for Weatherproof TV Mounts

1. Layers of Protection Steel used in the mount is covered by galvanized plating, outdoor paint primer, and outdoor-rated paint to form layers of protection. Galvanized steel, known for its corrosion-resistant characteristics, is used heavily throughout the manufacturing of outdoor TV. The finishing process is more complex than a standard TV mount. Outdoor TV mounts go through a process of being first coated using a specially formulated outdoor paint primer followed by a thicker layer of paint that delivers longer life and better resistance to the outdoor elements. Surface coatings go through strict adhesion, resistance, corrosion, and salt spray tests to ensure performance and longevity.

2. Special Hardware and Plastics Hardware and accessories are also an important part of the outdoor TV mount. Hardware used for conventional indoor mounts will rust over time, creating stains on TVs, walls and flooring – ultimately resulting in a hardware failure, becoming a safety that poses a serious risk to the TV and people around the installation area. To eliminate these risks, stainless steel hardware is used throughout an outdoor TV mount. Plastic used in outdoor TV mounts must also be weather-resistant. Conventional plastic fails as well, due to its inability to resist sun UV and extreme temperature changes, causing the plastic to fade, become brittle, crack and ultimately fail in a short period of time.

3. Minimize Connection Points The wind is especially hard to handle compared with other outdoor elements. So it takes careful planning and design to reduce connection points or adapt protective covers on connection points. Plus, coating the outdoor paint primer and paint over the welds to minimize or eliminate weld points can also improve the outdoor performance of the mount. How to Choose a Suitable Outdoor TV Mount Now that we’ve talked about why a special outdoor TV mount is needed, it’s time to choose the perfect mount for specific needs.

Outdoor TV Mount

We will go through some important features that should be considered before purchasing the mount.

1. Compatibility Compatibility is the first issue when it comes to television accessories. Check the weight capacity, VESA pattern, and fit screen size before making the decision. Also, be aware that some mounts support curved screens while others do not.

2. Durability It is important to know how much damage a mounting system can actually sustain from the elements. In order to satisfy the requirements of most outdoor TV users, outdoor TV mounts should go through a complicated production process, including an additional electroplating process covered with a high-grade outdoor powder coating finish. Also, all the screws are made of stainless steel, therefore this TV mount should pass a 90-hour salt spray test- ensuring that it can withstand all kinds of harsh weather!

3. Screen Angle Adjustment When a screen is placed outdoors, we should take light changes into consideration for a better viewing experience. The angle of the screen needs to be frequently adjusted to avoid glares during different periods of the day. A tilt weatherproof TV mount satisfies the basic needs of angle adjustment for semi-enclosed environments like patios. As for fully exposed areas, a full-motion outdoor TV mounting solution can provide more precise adjustment.

4. Anti-Theft Design If the TV is placed in a public place, one big problem is how to ensure the safety of this valuable asset. After all, no one would like to see the device stolen before it is worn out due to exposure to the natural environment. Therefore, an anti-theft design is necessary to protect the device from unwanted removal. Some brackets with locking holes enable the user to secure the TV with the mounting base with a padlock.

Mounting an Indoor TV in the Outdoor Space A professional outdoor TV is much more expensive than a normal TV for home use. Is it possible to use it for a covered patio? The answer is YES. There are four solutions for keeping an indoor TV mounted outdoors:

1. Mobile TV Stands An on-floor TV stand with casters enables flexible use of the device – ideal for both indoor and outdoor entertainment. Roll it out to enjoy the sunshine and move it back to the room to avoid damages caused by bad weather.

2. Swing TV Mounts If it is only for temporary use, a TV wall mount with a wide swivel range is also a feasible choice. The extended arm and swing design allow an indoor TV to be mounted inside the room while providing up to 170° movement, making it possible to watch the TV in the garden.

3. Outdoor TV Enclosure As an affordable solution to permanently mount a TV outdoors, an outdoor mount with a protective TV cover (such as outdoor tv wall mount cabinet) offers effective rain/wind/UV/vandal resistance, preventing the TV from any damage. LUMI's weatherproof outdoor tv enclosure is the perfect choice to fight against storms during the most terrible weather.

The full-motion design allows easy angle adjustment for perfect viewing no matter how the lighting changes. Moreover, this weatherproof outdoor TV cabinet is also anti-theft. There are 2 holes for padlocks to prevent the TV from theft. Although the outdoor tv cabinet enclosure could be much heavier than other outdoor TV mounting solutions, it provides the most effective protection from both weather and theft.

4. Outdoor TV Cover A weather-proof outdoor TV cover is probably the most cost-effective solution to provide year-round protection. Constructed from durable oxford fabric, it is designed for long time use and can provide 360-degree protection from scratch, dust, water, rain, wind, snow mold or mildew. Best of all, most outdoor TV protector covers have built-in remote control pockets, which allow the user to keep remote controls in convenient and safe storage.