Pergola, Arbor & Home Entertainment; Outdoor TV or Projector

Adding an arbor, pergola or gazebo to a backyard creates a natural gathering place to enjoy some of life's simplest pleasures; the smell of grilling food, a cold drink in hand, laughing with family and friends, enjoying a game or good movie outdoors. Watching TV out in the natural beauty of nature is fast becoming the new American way of home entertainment. Luxury hotel and resorts getaways advertise outdoor TV's as a luxurious commodity. Outdoor television is also being used as a tool for people with disabilities to encourage their intake of fresh air and natural healing vitamins of nature in the outdoors.

When television was first introduced into the American home, families were drawn indoors rather than congregating socially on the front porch. Today, outdoor living structures offer an invitation to spend quality time with family and friends in a healthier atmosphere.

Western Timber Frame™ arbor, pergola and gazebo kits, when specified, are drilled for power and sometimes with conduits to easily run cable lines and/or HDMI cables. Outdoor TV's are a state of the art solution for watching movies outdoors, and does well in all kinds of weather, year round. This includes snow and heavy rain. The TV's are full HD LCD because Plasmas have problems when exposed to extreme heat. Outdoor TV's are built and designed to withstand more heat and do better in well lit areas. Retrofitting a TV not designed for outdoor use is not ideal and can be a safety issue and will shorten the life of a TV.

People do use indoor TV's outdoors, howbeit I do not recommend it. The biggest issue with a television not designed specifically for outdoor use is the heat. Televisions generate heat and all are designed to work within a particular temperature range. When it goes over the temperature that particular TV was designed for, it can cause damage. It gets colder at night and then warms up in the day causing condensation that can affect the liquid crystal and internal components resulting in a short TV lifespan.

Some will seal a TV up against the elements while allowing the heat that is generated to escape. Be aware though that condensation will happen whether or not a TV is covered. There are however, commercial TV enclosures offered by retailers for TV's not designed for the outdoors.

TV enclosures are "weather resistant" but they are not "weather proof". Some suggest a simple solution could be to build a weather proof cabinet to store the TV in and open it up when you watch it. Be aware though, a cabinet will still trap heat and can cause condensation. It would have to be periodically opened and let the air circulate for the condensation to dry. If the condensation was not continually kept in check it could eventually cause damage to a TV.

As with all outdoor furnishings, a TV designed for the outdoors is still the best investment. This will eliminate the safety concerns that an improvised indoor TV presents with condensation and potential damage caused from the heat. It also provides a clearer picture with anti-glare against outdoor light and better contrast.

Projector TV's are an option if a Large LCD is not within the budget. Whether adding an outdoor Projector TV, a simple Outdoor TV or a whole theater, with a pavilion, arbor, pergola or gazebo kit from Western Timber Frame, you can create a cozy or spacious atmosphere for home entertainment that the family will never want to leave.