Benefits Of Weatherproofing Your Outdoor Retail Signage

Outdoor retail signage has a prominent marketing role. It is used to communicate the brand, connect with audiences, and make its mark against the competition. As such, outdoor retail signage is a platform that can, and should, shine. However, issues such as maintenance challenges and material degradation can easily result in a sign that sends all the wrong messages. Here is a simple guide to getting it right.

Why does weatherproofing matter?

Outdoor signage is linked to several short-term and long-term financial cost flows. With its role of attracting footfall, its quality is directly implicated in sales, brand awareness, and brand loyalty. Equally, outdoor signage maintenance can be expensive. Weatherproofing options can help to reduce the cost of maintenance while ensuring the premium lifecycle, enabling the marketing benefits to be realised. As such, weatherproofing outdoor signage should always be a budgetary consideration.

Know your environment

The type of weatherproofing will always depend upon the environment of your outdoor retail signage. This will affect both the choice of material and the weatherproofing strategy. Weather in the UK tends to involve plenty of rain, requiring good waterproofing. The use of fluorescent paints and sealants can help to increase the light refraction while reducing the risk of water damage. Equally, even on a grey day the sun’s UV rays can cause some materials to degrade and discolour. Examine the meteorological history of your area, and it will help you to maximise the long-term investment on your corporate exterior signage.

Protecting metal

Due to its natural durability, strength, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendliness, metal is an excellent choice for outdoor retail signage. The most popular metal is aluminium. Lightweight, rust-proof, inexpensive, and easily protected by a simple coating of paint, aluminium is a cheap and cheerful option that requires little maintenance. Sometimes, discolouration is part of the charm of metal signage. For instance, copper will gradually transform into an evocative green, which can be highly attractive. A more formidable solution is iron. Iron signage needs to be treated with anti-corrosive coatings to prevent rusting, resulting in a strong, durable, timeless solution.

Protecting acrylic

As a poly-methyl methacrylate (PMMA) polymer, acrylic signage has natural weather resistance. It is strong, tear-resistant, waterproof, and its versatility renders it a firm favourite for outdoor retail signs and corporate exterior signage. PMMA can be manufactured for opaqueness or translucence, with this versatility making it one of the best choices for transparent shop signs. Like all plastics, the polymers in PMMA are highly vulnerable to UV-damage, so it is crucial to use protective coatings to prevent cracking and discolouration. Additionally, use a high-quality PMMA supplier to ensure that the manufacturing quality matches the durability requirements of your exterior shop signage.

Next steps

Signage can add value, attract audiences, and communicate with customers. As such, it is important that it looks its best while offering excellent return on investment. To learn more about getting the most out of your outdoor retail signage, please get in touch with one of our design specialists today.