The Complete Guide
Custom Made Mounted TV Covers — The Complete Owner's Guide
An outdoor or alfresco TV is exposed to conditions that indoor screens are never designed to handle. This guide covers how to measure a wall-mounted TV for a custom cover and what to look for in the material.
Why alfresco TVs need a cover
A TV mounted under a covered outdoor area is protected from direct rain most of the time, but it still gets condensation, windborne moisture, dust, insects, and UV on the face of the screen. Condensation is particularly damaging because it forms on the screen and around the port covers at the back when the temperature drops overnight, then evaporates during the day. Over time, moisture gets into the edges of the screen panel and the connection ports.
This is not a problem that most people notice until the screen develops a cloudy patch or starts showing dead pixels near the edges. By that point the damage has been done.
A cover fitted when the TV is not in use keeps the face dry, the ports sealed, and the screen surface protected from UV and dust.
The measurement that most people get wrong
The single most common mistake when ordering a TV cover is using the screen size in inches as the width measurement.
The inch size of a TV refers to the diagonal measurement of the display area inside the frame. A 65-inch TV has a screen with a diagonal measurement of 65 inches. The actual frame width is always different. It is also different between brands at the same nominal size — a 65-inch Sony and a 65-inch Samsung have different frame widths.
To measure correctly, put a tape measure across the full outside width of the frame from left edge to right edge. Then measure the full height of the frame from the bottom edge to the top edge. Write those numbers down in centimetres. Those are the measurements you need.
Width
Full outside width of the TV frame, left edge to right edge. Include any slightly protruding edge detail or trim piece at the sides.
Height
Full outside height of the TV frame, bottom edge to top edge. For a wall-mounted TV this does not include any stand — just the frame itself.
Depth
Depth is how far the TV protrudes from the wall surface, including the mount arm or bracket. Measure from the wall to the front face of the screen. Most flat wall mounts give a depth of around 5 cm. Tilting mounts and articulating arms vary. Measure the depth in the position you normally leave the TV.
Why depth matters
The depth measurement determines how deep the cover pocket needs to be. A cover that is not deep enough will not fit flush at the sides and will leave a gap at the base. A cover made to the correct depth slips over the TV cleanly and sits flush against the wall on each side.
Material for outdoor screen protection
The cover uses 350gsm silver laminated woven polypropylene. The base is a woven polypropylene, which is strong, tough, and tear-resistant. That matters for a screen that may spend months under an alfresco roof with angled sun exposure.
Woven polypropylene base
The woven base gives the cover its strength. It holds up to being fitted and removed week after week, and it does not tear at the corners the way thin generic covers do after a season or two of wind. Cheap outdoor covers tend to fail fast because the fabric is too light to take real weather. This base is built to last.
Silver reflective laminate
The outside of the fabric carries a silver laminate coating. The silver is reflective, so it bounces sunlight away instead of soaking it up. The cover and the screen underneath stay cooler, and the screen is shielded from sun and UV. The same coating is water resistant. It sheds rain and keeps rain off the face of the screen rather than letting it soak through.
Weight and durability
At 350gsm the fabric is heavier and more substantial than a light cover. It holds its shape well instead of flapping in the wind, and the extra weight helps it sit flush against the wall and the frame. It is still a cover, not a tarp, so one person can fit it and take it off without a struggle.
Fitting and care
Fit the cover whenever the TV will be unused for more than a day or two, particularly in seasons with high overnight humidity or coastal salt air. Remove it before use.
Rinse the outside of the cover occasionally with a hose. Do not machine wash. Spot clean any marks with warm water and a soft cloth. Allow to dry fully before refitting.