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Displaying Your Sign Outdoors – A Guide

When it comes to signage for our businesses, events, or even our homes, it’s good to know how to keep them vibrant and clean so they’ll be good for years to come!

However, no matter what kind of sign you get, there will always be enemies outside—sunlight, wind, dirt, and many other external forces that can affect your sign.

That’s why we’ve put together a guide on how to properly care for your outdoor signage, whether it’s brass, aluminum, plastic, or even yard signs!

UV Laminate or UV Spray

Brass Sign for a Café Saying WATCH YOUR STEP

A UV laminate or spray can be applied to the majority of our custom signs. For brass signs, a UV spray is used to seal the engraved or printed brass with a protective barrier that will ensure that the sign does not rust and is not altered by UV rays when used outdoors.

For aluminum signs and yard signs, a UV laminate is applied to the vinyl overlay. The laminate ensures that the vinyl will stay vibrant even in harsh sunlight. It also adds an extra protective barrier against scratches and other damage.

Placement

Aluminum Sign Saying NO LIFEGAURD ON DUTY

Where you place your sign is just as important! The first step to ensuring that your sign is sure to last outside is picking the right place to display it.

A flat surface with well-secured mounting is a great place to start. Placing a sign on curved surfaces makes it more likely to bend or fall off when placed outside. So make sure you select the right mounting and placement for your outdoor sign!

We suggest mounting options such as pre-drilled holes or a strong adhesive tape that is meant to last outside.

Routine care

Engraved Plastic Sign Being Wiped Clean with a Washcloth

Checking up on your signs and performing routine care is a great habit to get into if you plan on having a sign outdoors for quite some time.

Sign care is quite simple, so this is one of your easiest steps. All signs are easily cleaned with a non-abrasive washcloth and some warm soapy water. Keeping your sign clean will keep it looking new and will avoid any buildup or staining from outdoor conditions.

Best Sign Types for Outdoors

Yard Sign for a Market Saying NOW HIRING

Now that you know how to care for your outdoor sign, it’s time to think about which outdoor sign will work for you! Thankfully, the majority of our signs at Custom Signs are suited for outdoor use.

Plastic Signs: For plastic signs, your best option will be an engraved plastic sign due to its durability and long-lasting design. When engraving signs, even though they will not be as vibrant and colorful as full-color plastic, they are less likely to fade due to sun exposure.

Aluminum Signs: Any of our aluminum signs will be a great option for outdoor use! The signs are made from rust-proof aluminum and durable vinyl. However, we do advise a UV laminate for extended outdoor use.

Brass Signs: Brass is similar to plastic in that engraved brass is going to be your best bet. Additionally, having your text oxidized and then given a UV spray will further aid in your sign’s longevity. The oxidization will prevent further rusting, and a UV spray will protect it from sunlight damage.

Yard Signs: All of our yard signs are ideal for outdoor use, and, just like the aluminum signs, they will benefit from a UV laminate. This is for when you intend on having your yard sign outdoors for quite some time to really get your message across!

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Be sure you know that you’re getting the right outdoor sign for you or your business! With so many sign options and designs, it can be tough to choose, but here at Custom Signs, we can help you decide!

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Custom Signs For The Great Outdoors

With the weather cooling throughout so much of the country, this is probably one of the best times of the year to go outside and explore nature. With the crisp and cool airy breezes and the beautiful Fall foliage setting fire to the skies, there’s no time like the present to get out and soak up your surroundings. While there is no denying that Spring is also a beautiful time of year with all the earth’s flowers in full bloom, there is nothing that compares to nature’s grand finale of the Fall season. In a way, the Autumn season is nature’s last hurrah before all the trees lose their leaves and become smothered with blankets of freezing, white, powdery snow that lasts for weeks and weeks. Winter was a doozy last year – it felt as though Spring would never come. So just in case we’re in for another brutal Winter this year, we should all go out and make it a point to enjoy what time we have in this beautiful weather!

So what is this thing called outside and what should we do in it? It’s true that when a person is outside, things such as Netflix, no cable, internet access, and in some areas cell reception, no longer exist. Okay, so almost everywhere has cell reception these days, so unless you literally find yourself under a rock you should be fine. But what exactly is there to do outside? Well, thanks to the Fall season, there’s plenty going on! All over the country, countless pumpkin patches are sprouting up all over the place, as well as corn mazes, hay rides, bonfires, orchard parties, Fall festivals, state as well as county fairs and carnivals galore! So what else is there to do exactly? This is a great time of year to explore your local hiking trails!

Regardless of what kind of area you live in, there is usually always some sort of nature or hiking trail that can be found. Granted, these trails may be a little difficult to find in the western deserts or in the swampy wetlands of the south – but where there is a will there is a way. Few things in our lives can get us back in touch with nature the way an adventure can! But don’t think that you’ll be completely on your own!

In fact, many of these nature and hiking trails are considered parks that the city, state, and even the national government set aside money for every year. As an added bonus to these areas, these trails can be a great source for tourism! Some have picnic areas, gorgeous natural views, as well as bathrooms and designated camping areas. So just how are you supposed to find all of these areas while you’re on the trail? Believe it or not, these pathways have signs all over the place designed to make sure that no one gets lost or hurt along the way which is a great source for tourism! Some have picnic areas, gorgeous natural views, as well as bathrooms and designated camping areas. So just how are you supposed to find all of these areas while you’re on the trail? Signs of course!

Some of these hiking trails can be more dangerous than others, depending on where you live, so it’s always important to make sure you go on your walk or hike, somewhere well traveled with informational signs throughout the area just in case. Great for directing people around the park, these signs are also the best way to warn hikers and joggers of dangerous cliffs, swampy areas, and even potential wildlife that may be hiding in around the brush and trees.

Here at Custom Signs we specialize in all sorts of custom signs perfect for indoor or outdoor use. Custom designed and manufactured to your specifications, all of our signs are of the best quality we can manage. Whether you need an engraved or printed sign, we have more than enough options for you to browse. We’ve been in the sign industry for well over 60 years and have come to pride ourselves on our stellar customer service skills as well as speedy turnaround time! Each and every order that comes through our doors receives free two-day shipping! Make sure you stay safe on the trail and only visit outdoor areas with clearly marked durable signs!

Managing a park in need of some new signs? Check out our site and let us know what we can do for you!