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recommends getting a maintenance agreement with the installer because of the increased maintenance require- ments of outdoor equipment. Outdoor-rated televisions cost 50 to 150 percent more and are several inches thicker than indoor televisions of the same screen size because of built-in ventilation systems and thicker screens. All outdoor products, whether televisions, speakers, wiring, etc., are UL-listed and need to be constructed of proper material. Understand the diference between weather- and wa- ter-proof, too. Weatherproof can be splashed; waterproof can be submerged. Some televisions can handle direct sun- light, but not all. Janz says to avoid putting TVs in direct sunlight anyway because of the poor watching conditions. Accessibility to better outdoor-rated equipment plays a role in the increasing business of outdoor tech instal- lations, Peninger believes, in addition to the stabilizing economy. Areas with predictable nice weather, of course, are more popular for this type of job. | in case a client wants to integrate it with the rest of their home. Te more integration in the home, the smarter a home will be. Everything will be online and can talk to each other." Te constant connection of Web-based social media, Internet and streaming services also makes outdoor Wi-Fi a must-have for many. "Some people who want outdoor TVs in their outdoor living room but don't want a separate box for that TV might install an Apple TV or Roku so they can stream Netfix and Hulu, which necessitates a good Wi-Fi connection," Janz says. "Wi-Fi is starting to trump everything because mobile devices are so important to everyday use." ENTERTAINMENT Te second most common installation Janz conducts is the outdoor television. First and foremost, ensure the TV is protected from the elements. "Completely sealed roofs are great, which means that in temperate climates you can use an indoor TV outside and cover it with something like a barbecue cover when it's not in use," he says. When installing outdoor speaker systems, Peninger and Janz note that outdoor living spaces have fewer acous- tically refective elements, which translates to needing more speakers outside than in a comparably sized indoor area to cover the same amount of space and get the same volume level. Although sound systems are popular, they aren't as prolifc as one might think. "Younger people are listening to audio on their headphones or with portable speakers so there are a lot fewer people who want to fll their giant backyard with sound," Janz explains. Peninger installs audio systems, but also has found cli- ents' request a second theater en - vironment outdoors, particularly for sports fans or for those who like to entertain in their pool. Janz, too, has clients who enjoy outdoor movie nights. "Plan for conduit from an AV hub where you might want to put a projector to project onto a manual pull- down or infatable screen," he says. Janz does note, however, that there presently is no waterproof projector for residential consumers. PROPER EQUIPMENT Peninger recommends always using outdoor-rated com- ponents even if the speaker or display will be covered. "It's essential for the long-term enjoyment of the outdoor entertainment space to use components rated for outdoor use," he says. "Tere are many factors outdoors we don't contend with indoors, such as signifcant moisture vari- ations, dust, insects and extreme temperatures." He also First and foremost, ensure the TV is protected from the elements. All outdoor products are UL-listed and need to be constructed of proper material. QualifiedRemodeler.com QR September 2015 55