Welcome to the world of Polyvinyl Chloride, or as you might know it more familiarly, PVC. PVC pipes can be seen in any hardware store you go into. And you might just be surprised at how many PVC plastic signs are out there. They are a strong and popular choice of advertising for businesses across the globe. How much so? Did you know there are 40 million tons of PVC plastic produced every year? Here’s what you need to know about this type of plastic signage.
Customizing PVC Sign Options:
Chemically and molecularly, PVC pipes and signs have the same composition. The signs, however, are more lightweight and porous. With all the small pores in a PVC sign, it allows for it to accept liquid. Because of that, sign companies like ours can distribute ink in them and create your graphics.
There are a few variables to PVC signs that might help you understand how we can customize yours. First—thickness. There is not one single size of the product out there. We carry four sizes. Among them are a 1/8 inch and a 1/4 inch, which are more of the industry standard thicknesses.
Next—Density. In short, the denser a sign is, its rigid properties increase.
Thirdly—Colors. Not to worry about that. We have any color you want for your graphics. And in the design process of printing your sign, we will be more than happy to help you, as we’ve designed thousands of them, and our knowledge of what color schemes work best is spot on.
Lastly—Shapes. We believe in creativity and that your custom pvc sign should not be like your competitors’. We can cut yours in a traditional rectangle shape, square, or round. And we even have an impressive machine called a CNC router that can cut your sign in any custom shape you desire.
Sign Differences: If you’re wondering what the differences are between PVC signs and other commonly purchased ones… they are very close in makeup to acrylic signs. They don’t come with the glare like acrylic; they have more durability and are not as expensive. Compared to coroplast, the PVC signs do cost a bit more, but the benefit is that they last a lot longer. They’re less costly and are easier to handle than the popular aluminum signs.
Printing: PVC signs traditionally come printed digitally direct with uv ink at low quantities with a matte finish, which isn’t an overly glossy look. What that does is eliminate reflection and glare, making it a bit easier for your customers to read.
But one of the ways we can customize your sign is by producing a decal print and mounting it on your plastic sign for a bit of shinier, gleaming look. We can also print your sign via the silkscreen method, but that would mean much higher quantities of signs need to be ordered.
Best Uses for PVC Signs:
These custom signs can be used for plenty of things. Among them are retail displays, point of purchase displays, informational PVC signage, menu boards, and directional signage. Many store owners really like to use them for directions. Things simply run smoother for customers and the store. It saves time for workers to be more efficient because they don’t constantly have to stop what they’re doing and guide customers to where they’re going. Signs make it easy for the customers to find what they’re looking for. Signs also help visitors, eventgoers, and others get to their destinations with the eye-catching directional signs.
Other common places for PVC sign usage are:
- Businesses and Offices
- Warehouses and Factories
- Hospitals
- Trade Shows, Conventions, and Expos
They’re so inexpensive and are easy to read with the aforementioned matte finish. They come in any size or shape you want up to 48” x 96”. These facets and more make them quite versatile.
Indoor vs. Outdoor Use: When it comes to indoor versus outdoor uses, there are certainly factors to take into consideration. You can most definitely display your sign both inside and outside. However, your best option is displaying indoor signage. If kept there, you will get a 2-3 year lifespan if handled carefully and cleaned regularly (every two weeks to a month, depending on how much dust, grime, or other accumulates). It’s also best to try and place it in an area with low humidity and minimal moisture. While PVC signs are largely plastic, it’s technically a foam product. It means is that it will absorb moisture from the air, and the signs will actually expand and contract in a humid environment. Thus, it will eventually not last as long.
If your desire is to place your sign outdoors, know that it will have a shortened life expectancy. There is a greater amount of moisture outside. Additionally, refrain from displaying it in the sun. Exposure to the sunlight will cause your outdoor signs to warp, and they simply will not last for a very long time.
Chronic winds can also play a factor in the longevity of a sign. You’ve likely seen where wind is blowing fairly hard on stop signs and other signs and how they don’t take it very well. The bottom line is it’s not meant to withstand extended amounts of time outdoors.
Displaying PVC Signs:
There are plenty of other options on how you can display your promotional piece. It can be at ground level with its back nestled against a flat surface. You can also hang it with rope, strings, or bungee cords. We can produce drilled holes for you to make the hanging sign process easy and less time-consuming for you. Just let us know when you place your order, and we’ll take care of it. But just know that the thicker and consequentially heavier a sign is, you would be better served to mount it on a wall. This can be easily accomplished by using screws, an adhesive like Command Strips, with double-sided tape, or you can go with our handy and user-friendly multi-mount standoff system.
The nice thing about our display accessory is that the sign isn’t flush on the wall, and because of that, it presents an extra little professional look to it. One other idea is that you can place your sign on an easel for temporary displays, giving it a nice artsy feel.
If you’re looking to be a little creative and you’re pretty handy, you may want to put together your own sign holder. You can save some money doing it, but not necessarily. Either way, we found a short video so you can at least see one way a particular businessperson put theirs together. It’s only about 3 minutes long, so enjoy.
Caring for Your Sign: PVC material is rigid but also bendable. Bending does not damage the PVC unless done to an extreme point. You’ll want to handle your PVC sign with moderate care. The surface of the sign can be damaged with pointed, sharp objects, leaving an indentation. PVC can be ruined more readily than rigid metals.
When storing your sign, take note of the size. The bigger it is, the more you’ll want to consider laying it down on a flat surface where it will help avoid the possibility of bending or even breaking.
Cleaning Your Sign: When it comes to cleaning as part of caring for your sign, there is a difference in whether the sign is direct print or you have us add a decal over the print. If it’s direct printed, you should do everything to avoid using water or any liquid cleaners. If any liquid gets on the sign, you run the risk of smearing the ink. And while these signs are inexpensive, we wouldn’t want you to have to buy a new one by not having the information you need. Use a dry, lint-free cloth and gently wipe the dirtied area.
If we add a decal over the print, then the ink is completely covered. So if you’re cleaning a sign of this nature, you can use water or sprays to help get out the affected portion of your sign without worry.
How to Order Your Custom PVC Signs:
We most often get two questions right out of the gate from clients looking to buy products from us. The first is, “How much does it cost?” The answer varies depending on the size of the sign you want. You can clearly find out on our website or from our sales staff.
The second is, “How fast can I get it?” Once you place your order (see the process below) and you approve the proof we send you, we will have your sign ready for you to pick up, or for us to ship to you, in just two business days.
When ordering your signage, there are three easy options for you if you go with Good Guys Signs:
#1: Dial us up at (800) 614-8040 and speak with one of our helpful and professional sales staff members. They’ll listen to your needs and talk through everything with you.
#2: Head to our website at www.goodguyssigns.com. When on the product page, you can use our handy, user-friendly design tool. Click on “Get Started” when you choose your sign(s), and you’ll be off and running just like that.
#3: If you have the means to create your design with your own software, like Photoshop or others, upload and email it to us at goodguyssigns@gmail.com.
In Closing:
Well, that’s a wrap on custom PVC signs. Should you require any more assistance or information, just give us a call. We are here and fully capable of helping you out. We have been doing this since 2009, and over the course of time we have gotten very adept at what we do. We look forward to earning your trust and business and forging a lasting relationship with you.
