We at Sign Clemente like to look at why some outdoor signs fail so we can ensure that yours don’t. Take a look at the photo. These letters are what is called in the industry, “foam and plex”, meaning that they are made of acrylic laminated to foam. We make lots and lots of building signs out of these materials. It is hard to say what destroyed these letters, it could have been the weather, but in Southern California, it is doubtful. Birds like to peck at foam sometimes, and that is the more likely scenario.
What to do about this? We like to add a stucco finish to the edges of the foam. Stucco finishes are really just thick paint that has been mixed with sand. The rough edges give the letters a creative-looking texture, but more importantly, the coating provides a great deal more protection against hostile elements than paint alone. Birds don’t like pecking at stucco, and the thicker coating is just tougher.
Another way to prevent sign failure is by going with metal letters. Sure they do cost more, but they last a lifetime. The industry used to incur failures when metal letters were made of sheet metal. Sheet metal is a soft alloy that usually has a galvanized coating. However, it is primarily a ferrous metal and can rust even with the best paint job. Sometimes you see rusting letters with streaks of rust running down the wall. Not a pretty sight! That sign owner would be better off without a sign, because a failing sign like that represents a failing business in the mind of a would-be customer.
The remedy for a rusty sign is aluminum. Sign Clemente rarely uses sheet metal these days, relying on aluminum. This metal is more expensive, especially because its manufacture is so labor intensive. However, paint sets up well on aluminum and it will never rust. And speaking of paint, we like to use automotive-grade enamels that look great and last for years and years.
Another type of failing that we all see often is when a neon sign becomes defective. Sometimes the entire sign goes completely out, but more often you see some of the letters lit, and some out. When you see a neon sign partially out for weeks and week, you have to wonder how well the sign owner manages its business. The cause can be several things: detoriorating wiring, broken or cracked neon or just a transformer that has finally failed. It often takes a sign installer hours to repair a neon sign by the time he diagnoses the problem and runs off to secure the replacement parts and reinstall.
The remedy for neon failure is LED lighting. We rarely use neon either. Not only do LEDs require about 1/10th the power, but they are much more reliable. You can expect to have problems with your neon sign in about three to five years. However, LEDs are usually rated for at least 100,000 hours. Even if one or two LEDs go out, there are enough LEDs in a letter to disguise the fact that one has failed.
Having a great-looking and long-last sign requires a little planning and sometimes a bit more investment up front. But the payback is a sign that will keep on selling for you day in and day out for years to come.
These letters are only three months old
