Signage Care: 4 Tips to Maintain Your Custom Signs

Signage, whether it is for your home, business, or a public area, provides several benefits. Outdoor and indoor signages let people know where a house, shop, or office is located, direct them to a particular spot, advertise your business, and promote your products or services, among others.

Over time, evidence of wear and tear will show on the surface. The deterioration of your signage would be more evident with items left outdoors. These are directly exposed to the ravages of the elements: sunshine, rain, snow, sleet, and many more, depending on the weather conditions where you live.

Performing maintenance should be part of your routine, regardless of where you place your signage. Doing so ensures that your signs are in good shape and perform their functions well for years to come. With that, here are some essential tips for maintaining your made-to-order signs.

1. Clean all electrical components

Unless the electrical components of your signage are kept in a protective airtight container, these will always be vulnerable. Dust can build up in all nooks and crannies. Too much dust can lead parts to overheat, affect contact between connectors, and make devices more challenging to repair.

Carefully check the condition of your components before proceeding to the cleaning phase. Once you have ascertained their condition, start cleaning your sign. Clean both the inside and outside components.

When washing your signage, avoid using any tool or liquid that will damage the protective surface or erode the materials. This includes scrub brushes, abrasive cloths, high-pressure hoses, ammonia, or similar solvents. Using such items can end up reducing the life of your signboard, instead of preserving it.

In most cases, a soft cotton cloth dampened in a bucket of water mixed with mild detergent will suffice in removing most dust, dirt, and even grime. If you are unsure or uncomfortable cleaning your signage from top to bottom and inside out, you can hire a specialist or a professional cleaning company to do this for you. Specialist cleaners have the tools and expertise to get into the crevices and clean every inch of your signage.

2. Protect your signage

Signboards are typically placed in areas where they can be easily seen. The objective is to make them discernable for people walking or driving by them. To ensure the elements don’t damage outdoor signs, it is worth investing in some form of shading material.

There are several ways to shield your billboard or sign. You can install a roof over the sign, install it against a wall that is away from direct sunlight or even plant a tree near it. The available options depend on your site and situation.

When choosing the right shade for your signboard, take into account where your sign is placed. The cover should provide shelter without impeding the view of your sign. Otherwise, you will end up reducing its effectiveness.

3. Practice precautionary measures

Every time you inspect and examine your sign, take note of any broken or malfunctioning components. It could be a burned-out light bulb, missing letter, broken fittings, or loose brackets, among others. Such parts should be replaced as soon as possible to keep your signboard secure and working well for years to come.

Making repairs is not merely an issue of vanity but structural stability and the effectiveness of your sign. In the case of missing letters or burned-out lamps, these could alter the message you are trying to convey with your signboard. On the other hand, broken fittings, brackets, or even internal components can cause your signage to fall to the ground or affect the connections inside.

4. Add landscaping

Signs tend to look cold and uninviting on their own. When it comes to large signs such as pylons, billboards, or signages placed close to the ground, they can also become susceptible to damage from trimmers and lawnmowers. One way of preventing this from happening is to add some plants.

There are many go-to plants for landscapers. This includes the hardy shrub loropetalum. These vibrantly-colored plants require minimal maintenance and are pleasant to look at, even from a distance.

Another blooming plant to consider is jasmine. This low-growing plant provides ground cover without obscuring the sign itself. Plus, the blooms add some color to your sign.

If you want to take things a step further, you can also consider putting your sign on a raised bed or stage. Adding some height allows passersby to see your sign better while keeping it separate from the grass or other plants that require some maintenance.

Your signage is an integral part of your home, business, or community. Take the time and make an effort to keep your signboard clean, sheltered, and protected. With these tips, you can keep your sign looking good and functioning efficiently for years to come.

Need help with your outdoor signage? Contact a custom sign maker today to get your establishment or property noticed.

AUTHOR BIO
Jay Flavell is the General Manager at Sandleford Holdings. He has been working in the DIY & Home Improvement industry since 2007 and has vast experience sourcing and developing products from overseas suppliers in the Far East. Jay has also been successful dealing with a number of major DIY & Home Improvement retailers throughout his career.

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