An outdoor television in a Tulsa covered patio extends the entertainment value of the outdoor living environment — game day viewing, outdoor movie nights, and keeping sports audio in the background during outdoor entertaining occasions all benefit from a properly installed outdoor TV with appropriate weatherproofing and mounting. VistaScapes & Design pre-wires for outdoor television locations during covered patio construction so that TV installation is clean, the conduit for cable and power is concealed within the structure, and the mounting location is properly blocked in the framing.
Outdoor TV Ratings: Partial Sun vs Full Sun vs Full Shade
Televisions designed for outdoor use are rated for three exposure categories. Full-shade outdoor TVs — designed for covered outdoor locations protected from direct sunlight and rain — represent the most appropriate category for a standard covered patio installation in Tulsa where the TV is mounted under the covered structure. These are the least expensive of the three outdoor TV categories and still include weatherproofing appropriate for covered patio humidity and temperature exposure. Partial-sun TVs handle some indirect sunlight exposure in addition to weather. Full-sun TVs incorporate extremely high brightness (2,500 to 4,000 nits) to overcome direct sunlight washing out the image. For a Tulsa covered patio installation, a full-shade rated TV is appropriate and significantly less expensive than full-sun models. SunBrite, Samsung The Frame Terrace, and Séura are common outdoor TV brands in the covered patio market.
Pre-Wiring and Mounting Location
The TV mounting location on a covered patio should be planned during the framing phase — not after construction is complete. A properly installed outdoor TV requires: a dedicated 120V electrical outlet at the mounting height (typically 60 to 72 inches from the patio floor to the center of the TV), a conduit run from the TV location to a concealed junction point for TV cable/antenna/streaming device connections, and structural blocking in the framing behind the mounting location sized for the TV mount’s lag bolt pattern. For covered patios with insulated panel roofing and posts, the TV typically mounts to a purpose-built wall section, a post with appropriate blocking, or a horizontal beam with a drop-mount arm. We plan TV location, blocking, and conduit routing at the covered patio design phase on every project where homeowners include outdoor TV in their scope.
Viewing Angle and Glare Management
The TV mounting position on a Tulsa covered patio should be oriented to avoid direct sunlight on the screen during the viewing hours when the TV will be used — afternoon sun from the west can wash out even a well-rated outdoor TV on a south- or west-facing patio. Mounting the TV on the north or east wall of the covered patio, or positioning it where the covered structure casts shade on the screen during afternoon hours, provides significantly better image quality than a direct sun exposure installation. We discuss viewing angle, shade orientation, and optimal mounting location at the design phase so the TV is positioned for practical daily use rather than placed wherever the conduit happens to terminate.
Call VistaScapes & Design at (918) 779-1317 for a free covered patio consultation in Tulsa. We’ll plan outdoor TV pre-wiring into your covered patio from the start for a clean, properly supported installation.
