The Sign Authority in Wheaton, IL recently fabricated and installed a new post and panel sign for Associated Research in Lake Forest, IL. This custom fabricated sign was constructed using aluminum and custom painted panels. The logos were applied with cut vinyl. The Sign Authority installed the sign in the back lot of the facility for additional wayfinding signage. You may ask yourself, why do we use vinyl for the logos instead of paint? The simple answer is that the dominant decorative material used in the sign industry is vinyl. We use printable vinyl and calendared cut vinyl depending on the needs of the client. In this case, the client did not want the logos to be in color. White cut vinyl is the best application for this type of sign. The vinyl will last at least 7-10 years without showing any signs of wear.
You might have seen a sign or two with peeling weathered vinyl before. There are a couple of reasons why this is happening. The vinyl that was used had been sitting on the shelf at the sign shop or the distributor’s shelf for a number of years. That will never happen at The Sign Authority. We use Feller’s as our vinyl supply company for two reasons. One, they are the worlds larges vinyl supplier and the material they distribute moves quickly off the shelf. We are never going to receive old, dated vinyl. And the second reason is that we don’t keep large quantities of stock on our shelves because of our Chicago-land location. we can order vinyl and received it in one day (same day if we want to pick it up). This assures that the vinyl is fresh and will have the highest quality to assure longevity and no discoloration due to age.
Some clients will cringe when the word vinyl is used when describing the manufacturing of their sign. But in reality, vinyl is a wonderful material! It can be used in so many ways and has an incredible amount of durability. Vinyl is a substrate onto which messages can be applied, either digitally or by hand (although hand-painting is becoming less common). Advancements in vinyl technology have made it more versatile, and thus longer-lasting. Adding to its popularity is the fact that it is available in a wide variety of colors
Vinyl is not the only material we use however. In addition to vinyl,The Sign Authority employs other decorating techniques: painting, sandblasting (usually on wood or glass), carving or routing, and others. The Sign Authority is constantly evolving through advancements in technology. For example, digital imaging techniques are being used throughout the industry; not long ago, they were the exclusive province of only the largest companies. Also, improvements in vinyl, paints, and sealants have had great impact in extending the life of a sign. Depending on what type of sign you choose for your business, it is likely that it is an improvement on what could have been done for you just ten years ago. Remember, it’s the quality of materials used – rather than the type of material itself. Give us a call at 630-462-9850 or visit our website at www.thesignauthority.com for a free consultation.
