Last week I talked about the importance of design so this week I thought I'd touch on the topic of materials and installation.  When you  price a sign you may find a significant variance in the estimates you receive.  Does that mean that the least expensive option is necessarily your best choice? To dig a little deeper, let's  look at an example.  Suppose you have decided to place an outdoor sign on your building or development project.  Two components will determine the price;  the quality of the backing or substrate and the vinyl that your sign is printed on. The least expensive option for an outdoor sign backing is plywood.  The problem is that after a couple of years it's like to start to delaminate. A slightly more expensive option is a plywood designed for signs that is imbedded with plastic so that it will withstand the weather for many years.  From my perspective a smarter choice for a small price differential. The same is true of the vinyl on which your sign is printed. All vinyls designed for use in outdoor signs have a rating that estimates the number of years they will continue to look good before deteriorating.  After this date they will begin to fade and even delaminate.  This means that the nice sign you purchased two years ago may need replacing far earlier than was necessary. If your outdoor sign is only meant to last a short period of time by all means go with the cheaper option but if your want it to look good for years find out what materials are being used.  At Impact! Sign and Graphics we are always happy to sit down with you to review all your estimates and explain the differences.  A little time spent up front may save you a lot of money down the road.