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professional quality
service
all enquiries
awardsigns@inet.net.nz
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24
Welles Street, Christchurch. Phone & Fax: 366 5316 Mobile: 021 342 438
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The choice of
materials that you choose is an important decision as it will influence
how long your signs will last. If you are having a short term promotion,
never to be repeated, then a cheap material such as corflute is an ideal
choice. However, if you want the signs to last for several years then a
more durable and expensive product such as Signply would be far more
appropriate.
On this page
we will have a look at some of the different types of materials that you
can use on your signs. The choice is endless and quite often the
difference between a long term product and a cheap material is very
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Let the buyer beware
is as true today as it has ever been. Over the last few years there has
been an explosion of vinyl's into the market and to the untrained eye one
looks exactly like the other. But be warned, they are not the same. When
you first see your brand new sign go up you won't know the difference
between a good quality vinyl and a cheap one. However a few months later
you will notice the difference and it will become obvious why you got that
"special" or "cheap" price.
At Award Signs we
are committed to using the right material for the right job so that you,
the customer, gets the best sign for your business.
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Cast vinyl:
Ranges in exterior life from 5-8 years. It is the only
choice you should make for vehicles and long term signage. There should be
no shrinkage and no memory. This is important for vehicles because it
won't "pop out" of door wells and complex curves. Cast vinyl is also
colour fast, won't fade and is extremely UV and weatherproof. It really is
the Rolls Royce of vinyl's and is suitable for any application.
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Calendared vinyl:
Short to medium term life expectancy (6 months - 3 years)
It is great for interior or promotional signs. Unfortunately there
have been some extraordinary claims made about this grade of vinyl and
sadly most of them aren't true. The vinyl has a memory and shrinks and
with some of the worst ones the colour runs. For short term signs it is
ideal and a good example is real estate signs which are only designed to
last a few months. It is considerably cheaper than cast vinyl.
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Digital prints:
This is where there is a vast range of products and substrates to choose
from, however the same rules apply. You also have a wide range of inks to
choose from. Mainly pigment or solvent inks. Solvent inks are far superior
and last much longer than pigment. Solvent inks are more expensive but are
well worth it.
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 Here
is an
example of using the wrong choice of vinyl that we have seen around the
city. The vinyl used is totally inappropriate for the job and has lasted
only a year. The only way to fix
the problem is to re-do the whole job again. The trouble is, who pays to
rectify the job? and was the initial budget price worth it? Unfortunately
examples like this can be seen all over Christchurch. |
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Here
are some of the more popular substrates we use. They range in price and
longevity and will greatly influence the life of your signage.
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Corflute:
Comes in a variety of colours and thicknesses. Mainly used
on real estate signage and for short term promotional work. Can be used
interior or exterior and is comparatively cheap. It should be considered a
throw away item.
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Signply:
Laminated exterior plywood in various thicknesses and
colours. Great outdoor life and excellent for signs that have to last the
distance. There are various manufacturers of this product and some are
better than others. Not cheap but the price reflects the quality and
durability.
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Coloursteel:
White finish .75 gauge. Excellent outdoor product and will
last for years. Is cheaper than Signply but has some drawbacks. Works best
when attached to flat walls so that it doesn't ripple. Not really suitable
for really large signs unless you use extensive framing behind the
surface.
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Perspex:
Classy finish for that up market look. More suited to
interior work. However opal (translucent white finish) acrylic it is used
extensively on illuminated signs.
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PVC Banners:
Used in the heavyweight it is a great interior exterior
product. Used mainly for promotional work and once you've finished with
it, simply roll it up and put in storage for the next time. A reasonably
pricy material but worth every cent.
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PVC Plastics:
More of an interior product but does have an exterior life. It tends to
warp in the heat and like all plastics will go brittle after prolonged UV
exposure. The price is mid ranged and if used cautiously, is a great
product.
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| Tyvec/Valeron: Non
tearable, medium weight paper used for interior promotions only. It can be
used outside but not recommended. Great as a internal banner material or
for re-useable posters. Reasonably priced. |
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Award Signs Ltd. 24 Welles Street. P.O.
Box 10-064, Christchurch, New Zealand
Phone and Facsimile 3665 316. Mobile phone 021 342 438. Email
awardsigns@inet.net.nz Web
site www.awardsigns.co.nz |
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Here
is an
example of using the wrong choice of vinyl that we have seen around the
city. The vinyl used is totally inappropriate for the job and has lasted
only a year. The only way to fix
the problem is to re-do the whole job again. The trouble is, who pays to
rectify the job? and was the initial budget price worth it? Unfortunately
examples like this can be seen all over Christchurch.