Start Planning Your Outdoor Upgrades Before the Snow Melts
Winter may seem like the worst possible time to undertake any upgrades to your outdoor spaces. Waiting for warmer weather before you get started, however, could be a big mistake. Everyone looks to get their outdoor AV ready in the spring, in time for the warm Minneapolis summers.
There is a huge rush in spring to begin outdoor installations as soon as the snow thaws. That means tighter installation windows and increased demands for products. And if you’re only starting planning in spring, your installation window could overlap with summer.
And while the Minneapolis winters feel endless, we know how quickly the summers come and go. So why not anticipate your needs and make sure everything is summer-ready for lounging in the sun? Good AV requires extensive planning and time to get it right.
Early Planning Gets You Top-Tier Products
In a professional outdoor installation, your technicians use specialized equipment primed to brave the elements. These weather-rated components aren’t usually stocked year-round, and there are fewer viable backup options in case any models sell out. The biggest demand for these products comes at the tail end of winter, when warm weather entices everyone outdoors.
Late planning will limit the choices available. You shouldn’t be settling for lower-end products that will sacrifice the overall longevity and performance of your AV system. When you secure your spot early, we’ll be able to choose the right products instead of settling for what’s available.
Avoid Missing Tight Installation Windows Once Spring Arrives
In Minnesota, outdoor AV installations really require threading the needle. Our team needs to wait for the soil to thaw and for exterior access to be clear of snow, but we can’t wait too long, or the final touches of the installation will creep into the summer. If you’re waiting to inquire about outdoor audio or TVs until spring, it’s too late.
We recommend starting the consultation and design process in the winter so that, as soon as the conditions allow, our team can move on to the installation and implementation phases. And even those winter consultations fill up fast! Installation windows could be reserved weeks in advance. If you want a thoroughly thought-out, high-end system in your home, you need to give our team the time to design and install with the meticulous attention to detail we demand.
What Kind of Planning Goes Into Your Outdoor System?
Our outdoor AV installations are tailored to our clients' environments and use cases. The first step is to get on a call with you or, if possible, to do a walk-through of your home. We’ll get a better sense of how you want to use your outdoor AV and any space limitations. What we learn in that conversation could affect your installation in the following ways:
- Outdoor TVs: With TVs, it’s as simple as knowing how much sun exposure they’ll get. There are specific TV models for shade, partial sun, and full sun. It’s important to choose the right model for your space; if you were to use a shade or partial sun TV in a full sun area, the TV will likely fail and require replacement. We’ll also need to figure out viewing angles and sight lines for your main gathering areas. We’ll need to finalize the design plans for all wiring required to power the TV and provide access to any indoor sources.
- Outdoor Audio: For audio, we’ll primarily want to know where you want to listen. That will determine speaker placement to deliver uniform sound throughout. We’ll also want to know how much you care about speakers being visible. There are speaker options, like landscape and rock speakers, that blend into your outdoor spaces. As with your TVs, we’ll add underground wiring that meets all safety and performance standards. Our neighborhood-friendly solutions direct the sound toward you and not your neighbors.
- Outdoor Lighting: We design lighting systems to illuminate outdoor activities, from ambient lighting for dinners on the patio to path lighting that safely guides guests to your front door. We also consult with you to highlight your favorite landscape features, creating a stunning space after dark. Lastly, outdoor lighting integrates with security systems, flashing on and off when intruders are detected.
If you want your outdoor space ready for entertaining, relaxing, and making the most of every summer weekend, now is the time to start the conversation. To get started, call or fill out our contact form.
