5 Types of Materials Used for Durable Outdoor Signs for Businesses

No matter the size of your organization, a significant amount of money is dedicated to marketing each year. While commercials, digital ads, and social media campaigns are effective in attracting consumers, there is a crucial and often overlooked method to catch potential customers’ attention: outdoor signs for businesses.

An impressive 85 percent of your customer base resides or works within a mere five-mile radius of your establishment. This means that they, along with other potential customers, pass by your location daily.

Utilizing outdoor signs for businesses not only serves as an excellent marketing strategy but also offers a permanent and enduring solution, continuously broadcasting your brand regardless of the time of day or weather conditions.

However, the effectiveness of a sign relies heavily on the company responsible for its design, fabrication, and installation. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to collaborate with a trustworthy signage provider who will guide you throughout the entire process, treating you like a valued member of your family.

When you are ready to make an investment in outdoor signs for businesses that will withstand the test of time, here’s what you need to keep in mind.

Source: canva.com

Building Your Brand

Creating effective outdoor signs for businesses plays a crucial role in establishing your organization’s brand. However, if your signage design fails to align with your brand image, lacks visibility for your business, or doesn’t prominently display your logo, it can have a detrimental impact on your branding efforts.

To ensure a successful signage design for your business, it is essential to collaborate with a talented and creative company. Equally important is selecting a company that excels in fabricating high-quality signs.

By using top-notch materials in the construction of your signage, you can rest assured that your sign will remain resilient for years to come, even when faced with the most challenging weather conditions.

Common Materials for Outdoor Signs for Businesses

1. Aluminum

Among the most prevalent materials for outdoor signs, aluminum offers a wide range of colors and sizes. Its non-rusting properties make it highly durable, and its lightweight nature sets it apart from carbon steel and stainless steel.

As a result, aluminum is commonly used for sign cabinets and channel letters, featuring either an aluminum body or an extrusion system.

Source: canva.com

2. Aluminum Composite Panel

Alumalite, a popular type of aluminum composite panel, stands out due to its high-density corrugated polyallomer core, which remains unaffected by prolonged water exposure, avoiding swelling, corrosion, or rot.

This material is gaining popularity in outdoor signs for businesses due to its combination of lightness and durability. It works excellently for simple flat graphic signs and post and panel signs, allowing for high-performance vinyl and digitally printed graphics.

3. Acrylic and Polycarbonate

Widely used plastics in the signage industry, acrylic and polycarbonate are about half the weight of glass while being significantly stronger and weather-resistant. They find application in sign faces, individual cut letters, and other architectural elements.

Polycarbonate, particularly known for its strength, is commonly used for backlit pan-formed faces, while smaller flat faces can be made from either material. Moreover, advancements have been made to ensure their resistance to yellowing caused by sun exposure.

4. High-Performance Vinyls & Digital Print Media

These materials serve as versatile options for decorating various types of sign faces. High-performance types of vinyl are employed when specific colors are desired, suitable for flat plastic faces, pan-formed plastic faces, flex faces, and channel letter faces.

On the other hand, digital print media is recommended when intricate graphics or unavailable vinyl colors are required. Applying the appropriate overlaminate on digitally printed graphics enhances media longevity and protects against harsh outdoor conditions.

Source: canva.com

5. Other Metals

Metals are indeed widely used in outdoor signs due to their exceptional durability and versatility. But aluminum isn’t the only metal used for them. Steel, including carbon steel and stainless steel, is favored for more robust and heavy-duty sign constructions, making it suitable for larger, freestanding signs and monument signs. Brass is chosen for its attractive appearance and resistance to corrosion, making it a popular choice for engraved plaques and decorative signs.

Copper offers a unique aging process known as patina, which lends a distinctive greenish-blue appearance over time, often used in artistic or historic signage. Similarly, bronze, with its aesthetic appeal and durability, finds application in commemorative plaques and classic-looking signs. The options are limitless! You can even order custom laser cut metal signs if you want sleek ones for any purpose.

However, put in mind that the selection of the ideal metal depends on factors such as the sign’s purpose, location, budget, and desired appearance, and a knowledgeable signage provider can assist in making the best choice for specific needs.

Creating Outdoor Signs for Businesses

Once the design phase is complete, and you have chosen the appropriate materials for your signs, the fabrication process comes into play. It is crucial to ensure that your signage company utilizes top-of-the-line materials and employs advanced manufacturing techniques when crafting outdoor signs for businesses. This commitment to quality will transform your chosen raw materials into captivating and vibrant signs that are bound to captivate and attract customers.

While pre-made outdoor signs for businesses are available, the most favorable approach is to collaborate with a seasoned and trustworthy custom signage provider. Whether you seek brand-new signage or wish to upgrade an existing sign, seek out a company with ample experience working with the specific materials you require.

By partnering with a reputable signage provider proficient in design and fabrication, your outdoor signs will undoubtedly engage potential customers, leave a lasting impression, and ultimately boost sales.

Source: canva.com

Conclusion

Outdoor signs for businesses are invaluable tools for establishing and promoting a brand while attracting potential customers. The strategic placement of these signs within a five-mile radius can effectively capture the attention of a significant portion of the target audience. To ensure the success and longevity of these outdoor signs, it is essential to work with a trusted signage provider who possesses the expertise to design, fabricate, and install high-quality signs.

The use of materials like aluminum, aluminum composite panels, acrylic, polycarbonate, and various metals further enhances the durability and visual appeal of the signs. By investing in well-designed and professionally crafted outdoor signs, businesses can create a lasting and impactful brand presence, ultimately driving sales and fostering strong connections with their local community.