The very rare customer will want top quality at any expense. Most of our clients require a sign solution that makes economic sense. They ask themselves, “What’s the payoff? How long do I need this sign to attract attention? Sell my service? Identify the building?” Today people also ask us about the end-of-life, or recycling options, for their sign. These options exist, and only add a small premium to the cost of the material.
In very general terms, the longer the sign needs to last, the more expensive it is going to be. A material such as a foamed PVC board will last about 2 years in the sunlight. It will look great right up until the moment it shatters and falls off the wall. Aluminum has a lifetime measured in decades. If the graphics are of high-performance vinyl an aluminum sign will look great for about 8 years, and be serviceable for maybe 20 years.
The longest lasting sign material is porcelain enamel. This process melts a low-temperature glass onto a steel panel to create the design. Porcelain enamel signs from the 1930s look as bright and crisp as the day they were made; exposure and environment testing indicates this type of sign might last 400 years or more! Typically museums and high-traffic areas would be good candidates for this type of sign.
The letter in the picture is of an interior material used to make an exterior sign. Failing to understand appropriate materials for an application will always lead to failure of the sign.
When you call us for a quote, one of the questions we will ask you is “How long you do need your sign to last?” If you are setting up a short term marketing burst, we will suggest disposable/recyclable materials. If you are identifying an office building we’ll suggest something that will last for a generation or more.