Time For A New Sign

Sometimes it’s worth taking a step back to look at your signage in the same way a potential customer may look at your business as your signs are likely going to be the first thing that they see.

If you’ve noticed that some signs have seen better days, it’s worth remembering that signs don’t last forever and although this can vary between the base materials and the way the product is made or installed – it is likely that signs will begin to fail or fade over time.

Overtime your signs or banners can be exposed to various elements, including weather, cleaners, UV sun light etc. We’ve listed some of the main reasons you might need new signage.

Weathering

Weather exposure like rain, wind, cold and heat can all have an effect on your signs. If your signs are continuously battered by these conditions, as you may expect your signs overtime will begin to start showing a little wear and tear.

Temporary or promotional products like banners are a great example of this, as in the wrong location – they can act like ship sails and cause tension on eyelets thus causing tearing or ripping of the banner.

Keep in mind that more expensive and higher-grade materials are available, so be honest about where it may be and how long you expect it to be up for. It may cost a little more, but the higher quality materials will likely last longer too.

Lifespan of products

Depending how your sign is made, it may start to crack, shrink or peel off i.e.  no longer be sticking to the substrate (like boards, walls etc.).

Most products, regardless of signage will have a finite lifespan but don’t be afraid to ask what grade of materials your sign maker might use – as they should be able to offer some sort of warranty (or be covered by a manufacturer’s warranty).

In the case of lifespan, you may also get what you pay for as better materials and production technology does cost more – so consider spending a little more to avoid future headaches.

Just keep in mind that there are incidents of some materials just failing as there may have been an issue in manufacturing causing a failure in the product and not a result of your sign makers abilities.

Printing starting to fade

If your signs have been printed, printing inks also have a finite lifespan and although this may vary between solvent inks, UV inks and latex inks – the colours will begin to fade due to UV exposure =, friction or rubbing etc.

There are measures that you can take to increase the lifespan of your product, such as laminating the finished product but if this is not done correctly it can cause further issues down the line such as the laminate to shrink and wrinkle etc.

Movement

Where signs can move freely, such as swing signs or wall mounted hanging signs – it’s also good to check the fixings to ensure they are also tight – as these can come loose due to vibrations and continuous movement. In this instance, fixings can easily be replaced however in situations where a swing board fixings might be fixed to a panel itself; the panel could also begin to show indications of weathering or damage and will likely need to be replaced overtime.

In the case of hanging signs, this can also be a big health and safety risk for the general public – so should probably be checked every so often.

Vandalism

Graffiti, scratching or the unwanted removal of signs can also be an issue to be aware of. In most cases, these are less targeted ‘attacks’ and more a by chance or one-off event, so it’s good to keep placement in mind.

To avoid vandalism, try to keep signs up high and in the eye of the general public or CCTV (which you may also need signage to indicate).

Sign portability

Having signage that you can carry like roller banners, or pavement signs is a great solution for some businesses however anything that can be carried can also be dropped which may cause damage to the product or print.

Higher quality products can sometimes take a little more abuse, or be produced from other materials like aluminum frames making it a lighter thus less likely to be dropped or damaged when dropped too.

Conclusion

It’s worth taking a step back and being honest about the appearance of your signage and review how your potential customers might view your business.

In most cases, the more that you can spend on your signage products – the longer it is likely to last and not require a replacement – possibly saving you money in the long run.

If you need some advice or would like a sign survey to discuss your options or issues, please get in touch via the contact page or email info@greenside-signs.co.uk