TV mounting, smart home and Wi-Fi in Long Beach, NY

Long Beach sits on a narrow barrier island with the Atlantic and the boardwalk on one side and the bay on the other. Housing ranges from beach-block condo buildings and walk-ups to the bungalows and cottages of the West End, the canal-side homes toward the bay, and the many houses that were raised or rebuilt after Hurricane Sandy. Living between two bodies of water shapes almost every decision about where equipment should go and what it should be made of.

Start with elevation. In a raised home, the ground level is often a garage, storage area or entry that may take on water in a severe storm, so modems, network switches, camera recorders and battery backups belong on the living floors, not under the house. When cable has to enter from the street or run to outdoor cameras, sealed entry points and conduit help keep water and salt out of the walls. If you are renovating or rebuilding, ask for a dedicated equipment closet on an upper level and conduit from it to the attic and exterior.

Salt spray and constant wind take a toll on anything mounted outside. Cameras, speakers and outdoor TVs should be marine or coastal rated, with stainless hardware, and placed under eaves or decks where they are partly sheltered. Roof decks and upper porches with ocean or bay views are popular spots for outdoor audio, and a weather-rated access point keeps phones and speakers connected without a long extension of the indoor signal.

Many owners split time between the beach and another home, or rent out a unit in summer. Remote viewing for cameras, a smart lock with temporary codes, leak sensors near the water heater and washing machine and a thermostat you can adjust from your phone make that much easier to manage. Inside, compact homes benefit from wall-mounted TVs with hidden wiring, a soundbar instead of a full speaker setup, and motorized shades for bright, sun-facing rooms. Long Beach homes see a lot of sun and sand, so simple, durable controls tend to last longer than fussy ones.