When approaching a sign company, you should know a little about the industry, in order to make sure you get the best experience possible. Some companies will cut costs by offering lesser quality products at the same high quality price, giving you an inferior product for your application, ultimately leading to product malfunction and the need to replace more often. If done right the first time, the consumer should have a knowledge base of expectations, longevity of products purchased, and the comfort in knowing they got what they paid for. Below are some key things to look for when formulating your plan of action for your signage needs.

Not using Laminates or protective coatings. It’s most important to know what you’re using your signage for. There is a big difference in outdoor and indoor signage. Some media will come in constant contact with elements outside. It’s imperative to make sure if your signage is going to be displayed outdoors you are receiving a top quality overlaminate to protect your digitally printed graphics from being faded by the sun, ruined by the rain, wind, or other weather conditions. Make sure you ask your sign company about what laminate they would recommend if any in your given project at hand; if you’re worried about damage to the graphic, then it’s a good sign (no pun intended) you should request a protective coating.

Using Inferior Materials for Your Application. Using the right materials for the right job is by far what we pay attention to the most here at 12-Point SignWorks. There are Cast and Calendared vinyl materials. Some cast vinyls have air egress technology for ease of application (for use on vehicle wraps, or surfaces with intricate curves and shapes). Some calendared films are standard economy grade vinyl for applications such as yard signs, and truck lettering. Knowing your surface, the adhesion needed, and the application is important to maximize the life and will affect price; but at the cost of installation and durability. Calendared vinyls make for bad vehicle wrap projects, but are great for cut vinyl door graphics, posters, displays, etc. Know your project needs, and explain them to your shop so they can get you the right materials.

Improper Installation. Everyone has a learning curve. But don’t be the maiden voyage project at your shop. Make sure the employees are trained in the proper installation techniques required for your signage job. Vehicle wrapping is a difficult task- and here at our shop we have professionally trained installers with years of experience who handle all our installs. Make sure your sign company knows not to cut the vinyl ON the car with a blade, scratching the car permanently. Make sure they know how to mount that expensive, beautiful dimensional logo sign in your lobby properly without damaging the drywall, or having it fall in 2 months. It happens more often than not. The bright side is there are many companies out there who do great work, many more than those that don’t. Do your research, know what you are looking for, and make sure you check out the company and their capabilities before you commit. Contact us here at 12-Point SignWorks for all your signage needs, and we’ll get you a free project consultation and estimate. Visit our web site www.12pointsignworks.com to see all the projects we’ve worked on; I feel it will showcase the quality of our work.

Share This