How long will my signs last?
This has been a common question lately. How long should I expect my sign to last? Especially when you’re are investing your hard-earned money into new indoor or exterior signage that you expect to last!
I wish the answer was easy, but unfortunately, it is not. There are many factors that come into play that can change the longevity of your sign. Type of material that was used to make your sign, how the sign is stored, what weather conditions are present, are there other elements such as lawn sprinkler that will be in contact with the signs, will road salt be an issue ( this time of year in Northern Indiana, the answer is YES for the salt! )? These are all important factors to consider, but ultimately you want to be able to rest assured that the money that you are about to invest in your signs will last. Our team has put together a quick list of reasonable lifespans that you can come to expect out of your signs when it comes to longevity.
Yard Signs – definitely the most common and most frequently used. Our signs are printed to 4mm coroplast substrate and should last between 1 and 3 years before adding
Monument Signs – (High-Density-Urethane-HDU or Wood Carved signs) You can expect cedar to generally last about 8-10 years before you begin to see splitting and wear, whereas the HDU sign can last for more than 10+ years! As for all signs, the key to longevity on these signs is maintenance. Repainting as needed and keeping them free from dirt and debris will extend their lifespan. – Our team here at Blue River Digital can assist with your sign maintenance or providing touch-up paint or vinyl on signs that we produce.
Banners– our banners here at BRD are digitally printed on 3 thicknesses of banner material, 13oz, 15oz, and 18oz. Obviously, the thicker that material the better it holds up in the elements. We generally recommend that for any outdoor banner we print on the 18 oz but to save on cost and for shorter life expectancy the smaller sizes may be considered. Again, depending on the elements, The 18oz banner can hold up for 1-2 years before seeing fade.
Lexan Sign Faces for Lightboxes – Generally 10+ years on the plastic, but it may begin to look yellow or faded after 3 or 4 years.
Vehicle Lettering – Vinyl Wraps have a 5-8 year life span. Digitally printed/laminated decals last 2-4 years before fading, this is what we would consider our vehicle badging. Again, power washing, dirt, salt, and other external elements can shorten these time frames.
Aluminum – In general, aluminum should last 7-10 years. Again, paint finishes on aluminum are subject to peeling and fading. Thinner aluminum signs can also be dented or damaged by falling objects, rocks, etc.
PVC Signs – Depending on the thickness, installation method, and use, PVC is a plastic and should not rot. However, if painted, the paint will only last 5-8 years depending on the install location (sun fades paint) and how you maintain the sign. PVC signs with digital prints should last 3-5 years before fading. Thinner PVC signs (1/8″) can crack in cold weather so are not recommended for A-Frames and other exterior signs that may be hit by rocks, debris, etc.
We want your signs to last as long as possible and are committed to print and build with the same standard of quality that you have come to expect from all BRD products over the years. Please allow us the opportunity to build your custom signage today!
