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Reflective vinyl comes in many colors and grades. Typically it is used because of its visibility at night. You see it on highway signs and on emergency vehicles. It comes in rolls and can be Engineering Grade, High Density Grade or Diamond Grade Reflective. Some years ago we fabricated some yard track signs for San Francisco BART using Diamond Grade Reflective vinyl. The material was used because of its high visibility and as a safety precaution to ensure that train operators could clearly see the yard and track markings.

Often you will see reflective vinyl used on emergency vehicles mostly because of the enhanced night-time visibility. It can be cut to shape and applied to a variety of surfaces. Although it is slightly more difficult to apply than standard vinyl, its metallic base causes it to reflect light back when light hits it. Typical uses also include road and street signs, ambulances, police cars, fire trucks and the like.

The benefits of this type of material include:

• Enhanced night time visibility

• Long lasting durability

• Suitability for parking structures and poorly lit places

• Well suited for tractor trailers/night time driving

Although the material is slightly more expensive standard vinyl the benefits outweigh the additional cost. If you have an application that calls for reflective vinyl, or for that matter reflective aluminum sheeting contact SignWorks at (510) 357-2000 or email us at info@signworks.us.com.

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The Wrong Vinyl: Wrap vinyl’s are not all the same so making sure that you are using the right material is important. Also, like with everything else in life there are various levels of quality meaning that the level of adhesion may be inferior or the material quality could allow it to bubbly, wrinkle or be prone to over stretching.

Inadequate Surface Preparation: A trip to the car wash is definitely in order prior to a vehicle wrap but this step needs to ensure that all dirt and oil has been removed from the vehicle surface. Oil and dirt will lead to poor vinyl adhesion and/or bubbling. The vehicle should be free of wax in order to promote good adhesion.

Over Stretched Vinyl: Making sure there is enough material on hand so that overstretching does not occur will make for a good installation. When overstretching occurs a whitening of the vinyl occurs. Since vinyl is a type of plastic the film’s memory will want to return to the pre-stretched state and lifting may occur. This typically occurs in tight areas and around bumpers and grilles.

Post Installation Heating: As mentioned previously wrap vinyl will tend to conform back to its original shape. Problem areas will require post installation heat to prevent potential failure. This is particularly true at the edges and in deeply recessed grooves. This additional heat will lock in the memory of the new shape.

Edge Lifting: It is important to seal the edges of the wrap vinyl, especially around door jams, wheel wells and the like. When post installation heating is coupled with edge sealing, this type of failure can be avoided.

The key is to work with an experienced vehicle wrap company that understands why wrap vinyl can fail and takes the necessary precautions to prevent it. For more information and advice about this topic contact SignWorks at (510) 357-2000 or email us at info@signworks.us.com.

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Most fire department’s call for the use of non-glare acrylic cover lens and for the specific placement of evacuation maps at exit doors and elevators, so that the exit routes are clearly marked and easy to interpret. The size of the maps may vary depending on the particular jurisdiction of the fire department, even within the Bay Area. Most of our recent evacuation map projects are fabricated using a “second surface” process where the print is mounted from the rear of the acrylic using an optically clear adhesive. This makes for a very professional looking finish.

When you are considering the purchase of fire safety signs and/or evacuation maps, be careful to select a company that is familiar with the guidelines and the appropriate materials and fabrication processes. For more information and advice about this topic or to request an estimate on an upcoming project, contact SignWorks at (510) 357-2000 or email us at info@signworks.us.com.

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Typically when you hear metal plaque, you may think of bronze metal signs that you find on the walls of the city hall or in the lobby of a big building.  In actuality metal plaques can be used both outside and inside any building. For instance SignWorks was able to complete a project which included aluminum plaques for a medical facility/middle school.

Vandalism of signage is all too common when signs are installed on the outside of facilities which is why the architects for this project specified aluminum room signs and exit signs be placed on all exterior door locations. Although there is no such thing as an anti -vandalism signs these routed aluminum plaques are routed out of a solid piece of 1/2” thick aluminum which is effective in preventing anyone from prying off the letters.  The powder coated paint also helps if anyone marks-up the sign because industrial cleaning supplies will not wear or fade the color. So if you are interested in metal plaques or a quote on any other signage please contact us at (510) 357-2000 or e-mail us at info@signworks.us.com.

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Illuminated channel letters are a very common sign type and are used by many retail chains. They consist of a dimensional letter, shape or logo, which is fabricated out of sheet metal with an outer acrylic face. Basically they are individual letter shaped boxes that contain a lighting element behind them that is either neon tubing or LED. The fact that they “light up” makes them highly visible and therefore very effective outdoor signs.

Various methods of illumination allow the letters to be front lit, reverse lit and both front and back lit. The type of lighting will produce different lighting effects. For example a reverse channel letter means the space “behind” the letter is lit making the letter appear to glow instead of light shining through the letter itself.

Illuminated channel letters are used on a variety of buildings, at shopping centers, by retail and grocery outlets and by banks, churches and schools. They are used to create professional looking signage that is versatile and will stand out, especially at night. It is very important to maintain your illuminated channel letters in a good working state. Avoid burnt out letters and the awkward spelling errors created by poor sign maintenance as this sends the wrong message to potential customers.

For more information on illuminated channel letters or to discuss and upcoming channel letter project, give SignWorks a call at (510) 357-2000 or email us at info@signworks.us.com.

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Just the other day I listened in on a tutorial about pan face signs and decided I would add my two cents in describing what they are and how they are used. They can be fabricated using .050, .063 or .080 aluminum sheeting panels. The signs will have a lid like appearance where the outer 1.5” to 2” edge has been bent in a 45 degree angle to form a lid-like shape. It makes the sign, when seated against a wall, appear to be 1.5” to 2” thick. Mounting is generally hidden behind the sign and the corners can rounded vs. squared to add a different effect.

Another type of pan face sign is vacuum formed plastic which is used frequently at gas stations. Flat plastic sheets are heated in large ovens. A vacuum process pulls the heated plastic over a mold to form the plastic sign face. In this process text and graphics can be added or painted onto the back of the pan (second surface mounted) or vinyl can be added to the outward facing, first surface.

In both cases dimensional lettering and graphics can be added to the pan face to create a bold multi-dimensional look that stands out. The decorative appearance makes them an excellent alternative to flat faced signs. They can also be used as reader boards or by adding tracks, used with changeable letter signs like those used to change gas prices.

If you would like to explore options for your next sign or would like more information on this topic, give SignWorks a call at (510) 357-2000 or email us at info@signworks.us.com.

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We just completed a lobby sign for Leung Attorneys At Law and we’re very pleased with the result. There is something about brushed aluminum lobby signs that conveys both style and class. The pictured sign was created using a machine engraving process where aluminum sheeting had been applied to an acrylic blank. The lettering and symbols were created by routing away the metallic sheeting to reveal the black under surface of the acrylic. The end product is an expensive looking lobby sign that was produced at an affordable price point

When you are working on a project, especially if there are budget constraints, it’s good to explore the many alternatives available. If you let us know your budget we can help by making suggestions and recommendations that will get you just the “look” you want at an affordable price. We can work with you so that you understand all your signage and pricing options. If you or your colleagues are in the market for a new or updated logo or lobby sign, give SignWorks a call at (510) 357-2000 or email us at info@signworks.us.com.

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We are celebrating the completion of a major signage project which involved working closely with our builder friends at Corbin Building and Arntz Builders. The process began several months ago when we were asked to bid on the signage aspects of the project by yet another builder, FOCON. As it turned out Corbin Building was brought in as a subcontractor and subsequently brought in SignWorks to work on supplying the signage for the entire project. There were several stages to this project including working on the submittals and providing samples of each specific sign type.

This large scale sign project involved working with several other vendors to match the specifications provided by the school district’s architect of record, LCA Architects. Because the project included specialty ADA signage which would need to be routed to accommodate recessed lettering as well as other specialized processes, the effort required very specialized project management skills. The large sign quantities, for example 216 room signs, and the degree of custom fabrication for both the ADA signs, dimensional letters and plaques, meant keeping track of multiple vendors, processes and shipment dates. Not to mention keeping everyone informed of the project milestones and expected delivery dates.

Though the project quantities and signage details varied from the original documentation, SignWorks was extremely pleased to have been included in the project and given the opportunity to work with such a wonderful team of building contractors and architects! We welcome the opportunity to do more of this type of large scale signage work.

If you are a building contractor looking for an experienced signage vendor capable of supplying a variety of sign types for school and college building renovation projects, then contact SignWorks at (510) 357-2000 or email us at info@signworks.us.com. We welcome the opportunity to work with you too!

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Well the Holidays are definitely upon us and all those parties and special events are filling everyone’s calendars. A recent project is very near and dear to our hearts and involves one of our favorite non-profits who needed a street banner in a hurry! The organization had been working with the City of San Leandro to ensure that the new street banner announcing the festive performance of, “A Christmas Carol, The Musical,” being performed at the San Leandro Arts Education Center, complied with local sign ordinances.

Like many cities there are guidelines which govern the size and method of attachment for banners which extend across city streets. In this case the 4 foot by 25 foot banner had rope/webbing extending 25 additional feet on each end, from both the top and bottom of the banner. Venting slits are also a crucial aspect of the design and ensuring that the banner isn’t blown away by excessive winds.

These festive street sized banners are excellent tools for garnering visibility on highly trafficked city streets. They are especially prevalent for special events, including fun festivals, Art & Wine Events, Concerts and the like. They can be used to promote both summer and holiday season events. If you, your church, or other organization is looking for ways to promote an upcoming event, a street banner might be a useful high visibility tool you should consider.

For these and other highly visible signage products and options, contact SignWorks at (510) 357-2000 or send us an email at info@signworks.us.com.

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We’re excited about the headway we are making with our Restoration Hardware truck wrap project. To date six trucks have been wrapped in the Los Angeles market and we’re in the process of scheduling the last two before we start working on the schedule for the Bay Area trucks. We’re still hoping to finish this first phase of the project by year end and we’ll certainly keep you posted on our progress.

We just finished cutting and masking the accent color lettering which we will be shipping to our remote installers. The gray background color vinyl is being shipped directly from the manufacturer as our wholesaler does not stock or warehouse this particular color. Hopefully, the holiday mail delivery schedule won’t create too much of a delay. The quality of the installation work has been wonderful, as has the positive feedback from our client!

We are really excited about the nine additional trucks we will be wrapping here in the Bay Area and we plan to keep you posted on our progress. If you are considering a vehicle or fleet graphics project, large or small, we hope you will consider using SignWorks. Give us a call at (510) 357-2000 or send an email to info@signworks.us.com.

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