If you take a close look at shop signs, you’ll see that the vast majority of both tray signs and built-up letters are now fabricated out of plastic, below is a (hopefully) interesting explanation of why this is the case.
To business owners, shopping the high street for an entirely new sign for their premises, it probably never occurs to them that they could well be picking out a product that may well outlive their particular business itself (Binns of Sunderland closed their doors for the last time 23rd May 2017, having been in business for over 130 years). So, apart from perhaps paint, gold leaf and a good washing, their never-ending life begs the question: why plastic, now?
Modular Systems and the Cost of Rebranding
One aspect of plastic signage unappreciated by other materials is how well it deals with change. A modular system constructed from replaceable panels means a promotion, a seasonal update, or a full rebrand doesn’t necessitate pulling down the whole structure. The frame stays. The panel swaps out. The cost of staying current plummets.
For businesses in competitive retail environments, this is critical. If updating your frontage costs the same as a new fit-out, you don’t do it often. If it costs the price of a new panel and an hour of time, you do it whenever the business needs it.
Local conditions always play a part in material selection. Humidity, UV intensity, salt air, and foot traffic all determine what grade of material and what fixing method is appropriate. Businesses working with signage perth specialists benefit from that local know-how, fabricators who know what spec will last the distance in a specific climate and urban environment, rather than applying solutions that fail prematurely.
The Weight Problem Nobody Talks About
Extensive signage costs are apparent most in the pre-construction phase. Structural and engineering assessments are usually required with heavy steel and solid timber installations. Mechanical drawings are a necessity, and often modified a few times during the fabrication and design process. The additional weight of these materials can sometimes necessitate a reinforced façade, followed by costly heavy-duty wall anchors and brain-racking installation practices.
All of this takes labor, time, and multiple trades on a project that will likely already be over-scheduled, time is money. With Polycarbonate and acrylic there are no engineering or structural amendments, or design modifications. You can even have a finished product ready before your design is finalized, creating a warehoused product ready for immediate installation.
Maintenance Costs Across the Life of the Sign
The total cost of ownership argument is most evident here. A newly painted timber sign is attractive; three years later in a coastal or high-humidity area it’s warping, peeling, and rusting. Modern polymers don’t rust, rot, or corrode. They look as good as the day they were installed for many years with far less maintenance cost.
Silicone adhesion, for example, gives you to-the-edge graphic coverage and a beautiful, unbroken finish on your sign. The heat-knifed cell structure of PVC foam lets you apply less paint for the same vividness of color, but, from a longevity perspective, any paint you apply to the unprotected cut edges of improperly sealed PVC can quickly delaminate and peel, creating more maintenance.
Design Capability That Other Materials Can’t Match
CNC routing and laser cutting have unlocked potential in thermoplastics that many entrepreneurs don’t know about. Logos with sharp internal corners, fine lettering, and intricate geometry that would be too costly to cast in metal can be precisely cut from acrylic sheet.
Vacuum forming technology enables even more. Three-dimensional lettering and embossed panels that would traditionally be created from molded metal or carved timber can be made in a fraction of the lead time from plastic. And the results should be consistent across any number of products. For franchises or businesses with multiple locations, consistency is key.
Illuminated signage has gone through a revolution as well. Modern plastics are developed with light diffusion in mind. Backlit acrylic panels evenly diffuse LED light without any hotspots, and the low running costs and durability of LED combined with plastics makes this an economic long-term option. Roughly 60% of business owners report that upgrading their signs had a positive impact on sales (International Sign Association), so the potential return on investment isn’t small.
The Case For Treating Signage as Infrastructure
A sign is more than just a pretty face. It’s on the job every hour your business is open (and when it’s closed, if it’s illuminated). The most successful retailers know that a sign should be regarded no differently than any other piece of operational infrastructure, with an eye to its total cost, not just its upfront expense.
Plastic signs make that assessment easy. Lower installation expense, lower ongoing maintenance costs, longer working life, and practically unlimited design potential. That’s not cutting corners. That’s choosing the smart solution.
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