Can you add speakers to a louvered pergola?

If speakers on the pergola are part of your plan, ask [email protected] before you order. This article covers where outdoor speakers can go around a pergola, how to plan power and cables, and how to keep the sound pleasant for you and your neighbors.

Why ask before you plan speakers on the pergola?

A motorized pergola has moving parts and a drainage path. On a Louvano pergola, the louvers rotate from 0 to 120 degrees by remote control, and the motor is hidden in the frame. When the louvers are closed, rain runs from the louvers into the beam channels and down through the posts.

Anything added to the frame has to leave the louvers free to move and the water free to drain. That’s why the first step is to ask [email protected] before you order. If anything on the frame is part of your plan, email [email protected] with your site and installation questions before you order.

Where can speakers go without attaching to the pergola?

You have plenty of options that leave the pergola untouched:

• Speakers on stands. Outdoor speaker stands can sit beside the posts, aimed at the seating.
• Landscape speakers. Some outdoor speakers are designed to sit in planting beds or look like rocks.
• Planters and garden walls. Speakers can sit on or near a low wall or a large planter.
• The house wall. If the pergola is near the house, speakers on the wall can face the patio. Plan them with your installer.
• Portable speakers. Battery speakers can come outside for the evening and go back in after.

For layout questions near the house, see our freestanding vs wall-mounted guide and ask [email protected] about your layout.

How should you aim the speakers?

• Point the speakers at the seating area.
• Keep them at about ear height when people are seated, or angled toward the seats.
• Spread a pair of speakers so the sound covers the whole seating area.
• Avoid aiming speakers toward a neighbor’s yard.

Aiming at the seats lets you keep the volume lower and still hear the music clearly. Check local noise rules if you plan to play music late.

What should you look for in outdoor speakers?

Outdoor speakers face humidity, temperature changes, and wind-blown rain. Check the speaker maker’s instructions for outdoor use and placement, and follow their advice on covers and storage.

Open sides mean wind-blown rain can reach the edges of the patio, so keep speakers and connections in sheltered spots. Read can a louvered pergola keep you dry in the rain.

How do you plan power and speaker cables?

• Use a licensed electrician for any new outdoor power, and follow local codes.
• Keep speaker power separate from the pergola’s own power connection.
• Don’t connect anything to the pergola’s motor or its wiring.
• Plan cable routes before the patio is finished, so you can run conduit under the surface.
• Don’t run cables across walkways, where people can trip.

For more on cables, read how to hide wires on a louvered pergola. For the pergola side, see motorized pergola electrical requirements.

Why shouldn’t you drill into the frame?

Water runs through the beam channels and down through the posts. Drilling can affect that path and the finish. Ask [email protected] how to plan for the water that drains out near the post bases for your size and layout, and whether anything on the frame affects your plan before you order. See how a louvered pergola drains water.

Will the louvers make noise with the music?

The motor is hidden in the frame and only runs when you move the louvers. For more about sound under a louvered roof, including rain on the louvers, read how loud is a motorized pergola.

What about other accessories?

TVs and fans raise the same kinds of questions about power and placement. If any accessory is part of your plan, ask [email protected] before you order. Our articles on mounting a TV and ceiling fans cover what to think about for each.

FAQ

Can I mount speakers on a Louvano pergola?
If speakers on the pergola are part of your plan, ask [email protected] before you order.

Where else can outdoor speakers go?
On stands beside the posts, in planting beds, on a garden wall or the house wall, or as portable speakers.

Can the speakers share the pergola’s power?
Keep speaker power separate, and don’t connect anything to the pergola’s motor or wiring. Use a licensed electrician.

How do I keep the neighbors happy?
Aim the speakers at your seating, keep the volume moderate, and check local noise rules.

More answers are on our FAQ page.