Signs don’t last forever. Think about the last time you were driving through town, how many signs did you see that were way past their prime? Peeling paint, sun damage, faded colors, and damaged metal, are only some of the things that can show a signs age. At Bartush Signs, we strive to create long lasting signs that don’t fall victim to damage (at least not nearly as quickly). Your business needs a sign that will last the test of time, because your business sure will.
We want you to know the best ways to protect your sign from fading and damage. Read the following to prep your sign for the elements!
Why Does Paint Fade in the Sun?
The main obstacle in any signs lifespan is the sun and the UV radiation that it creates. Ultraviolet light is incredibly damaging to signs. Not all signs are the same, and some are more susceptible to UV fading. It’s the colors used and the materials that determine how the sign will fare in the sun. For example, metallic colors like gold and silver are more likely to fade because of the metal flake content. We always recommend that our customers choose more standard colors as they are more durable.
UV light causes something called photodegradation. To put it simply, photodegradation is the break down of chemical bonds — it’s the bleaching effect.
Not All Paints Are The Same
Think of some of the OSHA safety signs you’ve seen. They’re everywhere and if you have an eye for signs you can’t miss them. Have you ever noticed how the red is almost completely gone on these signs, but the rest of the colors aren’t nearly as faded. Why is that?
Well, we have to do a little bit of science to understand. So, on the light spectrum, red is a longer wavelength of visible light and it’s closer to infrared light meaning that it has less energy. Make sense? Yeah it doesn’t to us either. Here’s the short and sweet version: red absorbs more of the destructive high energy short wavelength light. That means it’s going to fade faster. Blue graphics on the other hand will reflect the light better and fade slower.
UV Resistant Signs
If you’re looking for a UV resistant sign you might want to look for something made from vinyl. Vinyl is known for its longevity, and while it isn’t UV proof it will last up to 10 years more than a metallic sign.
Damage Resistant Signs
Signs are a huge investment, and you don’t want to throw your money away with some cookie cutter sign maker. You don’t want cheap, poorly produced materials used on your signs. They may look nice for the first few months, but over time they will start to degrade.
At Bartush we only employ expert craftsmen who don’t just put more time, effort, and care into your signs, but they also ensure that it will stand the test of time.
Our signs are fade resistant, breakage resistant, and rust resistant. We’ve been making signs for many, many years so you can trust us: we know how to make things last.
What Can You Do To Protect Your Sign?
First off, consider your location. Do your best to put your business’s sign in the shade or angle them to face north and south. That’s not some arbitrary directional advice, it’s actually pretty simple when they’re oriented that way they won’t take the full brunt of the morning or evening sun. Remember the sun is the enemy here!
Consider making your sign vertical. This will minimize the amount of direct, mid-day sun it’s subjected to.
Here’s another tip, whenever possible take your sign down. Obviously you want your sign up as often as possible to maximize the traffic that sees it, but consider taking it down one day out of the week to save it from the sun. Store it in a dark, dry place. This could extend the lifetime of your sign up to a year!
Getting a Durable Sign
Our signs are the most durable in the industry. We don’t just mean our vinyl blue signs (if you read closely that makes sense), we mean all our signs: carved, neon, digital, and channel letters included! We make signs to last, and all our signs come with a guarantee to last longer and stay more vibrant.
So, do you have a damaged sign? Whether it was made by Barush or not we can help you! We will bring your sign back to its prime! We replace lights, patch cracked surfaces, touch up paint, and pretty much any other repair you need! We do it all, and you can rest assured that our repairs last!
Maybe your sign is too far gone, get in touch with us and let’s work together to create a new sign that will take your business into a whole new chapter!
