Are Aluminum Signs Getting Too Expensive?
Do you even know what your aluminum sign options are?
The choices for Custom are broader … and more confusing than ever. Once you know the strengths and weaknesses of each type of aluminum sign material available, you'll be able to properly select the one best suited to your individual needs.
What Are Your Options With Aluminum Signs?
- Aluminum – Solid metal sign material with a baked on enamel finish, these are extremely durable in high traffic, wet and heavy equipment areas. Available in three grades from standard .040" gauge for real estate yard signs to medium duty, .063" gauge to heavy duty, .080" thickness material.
- Alumalite – is a corrugated plastic re-enforced rigid sign panel that is a little easier to handle and install than the thicker, heavier ARMOUR-Wood signs. It doesn't have quite as much panel strength as ARMOUR-Wood, but is still a highly durable product rated for 10 years outdoors.
- Dibond – is a lighter weight rigid sign panel ideally suited for wall mounted signs, smaller post mounted signs and hanging signs. When you are looking for a product that is substantially stiffer than standard gauge aluminum signs, Dibond is a solid choice.
- ARMOUR-Wood – is much stronger than traditional aluminum signs because it is reinforced with a wood shell and is the strongest of all the rigid sign panels.
Let's Begin With The Simple, Traditional Aluminum Sign Panel
Custom aluminum signs are strong, light-weight and among the most durable of all sign materials. Even with the steady price increases world wide in the raw cost of aluminum, this sign material is still quite cost effective and remains in high demand for its unbeatable qualities.
When you are looking for a perfectly smooth, baked-on, high gloss factory painted finish, custom aluminum project a first class image. Aluminum customized signs are guaranteed by the manufacturer not to peel, flake, rust, corrode, or fade for a full 10 years. Additionally, a custom aluminum sign can never rot or deteriorate like a standard wooden sign.
Common Uses For Aluminum Signs
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Ready to create a design and price your aluminum sign?
Simply click the button below!
Here are the key points to know about custom aluminum signs:
- The material itself is thin
- Lightweight
- Rigid yet flexible
- Rustproof, waterproof and chemically resistant
- Indoor / Outdoor durability up to 15 years
- Perfectly smooth
- Aluminum signs can be one-sided or two-sided
- They are easy to install (installation kits available)
- You can get any size you want
- Any thickness
- Any shape
- Any design, artwork, photo or logo can be used for aluminum custom signs
- And any color you want.
(Including brushed gold and silver background)
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At first I thought that I would never be able to decide which sign material to go with but then I called and Tim helped me choose which one was best for me. I did not know that there were so many different types of sign material, thank you so much for all of your helpful information. Until next time, Robert Davis |
Up-To-The-Minute Custom Aluminum Sign Production Update!
We still have a few spots OPEN in today's schedule. So if you place your order today, our Art Department will e-mail you a proof tomorrow. |
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Wouldn’t you prefer to get this aluminum signage project off your plate so you can move on to other important tasks? You can design & order your custom aluminum sign now and instantly save 15%-30% at checkout or call us now at 1-800-899-6272 and we’ll reserve your spot in today’s schedule for a proof. |
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Since real estate agents and contractors buy so many aluminum yard signs, one of the most common sizes is 18" height x 24" width. We also stock real estate sign frames which accommodate a 24" height x 18" width aluminum sign panel as well.
Keep in mind though that aluminum sheeting can be easily cut to any "odd" size to meet your individual needs. Odd size pricing just uses the next standard size up.
Other popular sizes include:
• 2' height x 3' width
• 3' height x 2' width, and
• 2' height x 4' width.
The sizes above can also fit into a sturdy angle iron step stake for a convenient and portable display. If you are in an area which has seasonally high winds, you should strongly consider upgrading the thickness of your custom aluminum signs for these larger size signs.
The thicker the aluminum, the less likely aluminum signs will buckle or be ripped from the bolts which attach the sign panel to the sign frame. Increasing the thickness of your custom aluminum sign from a standard .040" to a medium duty .063" or extra heavy duty .080" gauge aluminum will enhance the durability of your aluminum signs. Generally, the larger the size aluminum sign you want, the thicker the metal material needs to be.
When buying custom aluminum signs to mount to a building, you can use .040" gauge aluminum for signs up to 2' x 4' in size. Technically, you can use .040" gauge aluminum for sizes all the way up to 4' x 10' provided you mount the metal flat against the a wall with enough screws. The larger the sign panel size though, the greater the tendency to bend. As a result, large thin gauge aluminum signs can have a wavy or rippled appearance when installed, especially on a corrugated metal building.
Therefore, when you want a bigger building sign, we recommend increasingly thicker gauges of aluminum with the optimum heavy duty thickness being .080" gauge aluminum. The next thickness down is .063" medium duty thickness. On smaller size signs (up to 2' x 4') even a modest increase to .063" gauge aluminum substantially increases the stiffness, appearance and rigidity of the metal sign panel.
For exterior aluminum hanging signs, you can use .040" for sizes up to 18" x 24". Some people use this thinner .040" thickness all the way up in size to 2' x 3', but we don't recommend it. For sizes over 18" x 24", we recommend at least .063" thickness aluminum signs. And for larger hanging signs like 2' x 4', 3' x 3' or 3' x 4', .080" gauge aluminum works best for these heavy duty applications.
When in doubt, it's better to go too thick than too thin because the heaviest .080" gauge aluminum we stock is still less than 1/8" thick.
While you can install larger aluminum signs (like 6', 8' or 10' long) on or between posts, you have better options to choose from:
- ARMOUR-Wood is the strongest and most rigid exterior grade sign panel available with it's dense, ½ inch thick solid wood core
- Alumalite (½" thickness) has almost the same sign panel strength as Aluma-Wood making it a popular choice for larger signs. ½" Alumalite is the 2nd strongest sign material
- Alumalite (¼" thickness) is still a strong, highly rigid sign background material and has the 3rd highest panel strength
- Dibond sign panels have 10 times more strength than .040" aluminum sheets. Dibond is not quite as stiff as Alumalite, but is still considered a rigid sign material making it #4 in strength
On a scale of 1 to 10, with "10" having the highest relative strength, here's how each aluminum sign background material compares to one another:
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However, these factory painted aluminum colors are only available up to .040" thickness! White aluminum is available in thicknesses all the way up to .080". |
When you need a more rigid sign panel in a color other than white, you have three great options to choose from:
- Unpainted aluminum sheeting can be completely covered with self-adhesive vinyl at our shop in your choice of any color. By the way, all street signs are simply covered with reflective vinyl. They're not painted.
- We can spray paint or powder coat thicker aluminum sheets any custom color you choose.
- You can choose a rigid composite aluminum sign material which has a broader range of factory painted colors available such as Dibond, Alumalite and ARMOUR-Wood.
Usually, Option #3 is not only the best choice, it's the most cost effective (but not always). For example, if you are looking for a gold metallic background color for a 2' x 3' x .080" aluminum sign, the most cost effective solution would be to simply cover the metal sign panel with gold metallic vinyl. It's fast, it's easy and highly durable.
Setting up to paint such a small sheet from stock or having to buy a whole 4' x 8' sheet just to get a small section of a special color isn't always practical. We'll gladly provide you with the best option to suit your individual needs at the time of your order.
Aluminum Signs will usually outlast the vinyl lettering that is put on them. Intermediate vinyl lettering is intended for short term outdoor signs and is rated for 3-5 years. Our High Performance Vinyl Graphics will last 7-10 years outdoors, even under extreme environmental conditions.
Are you concerned that your custom aluminum sign may not turn out the way you want?
After all, we are probably hundreds of miles away from you so how can you be certain your order will turn out right? Fortunately, it only takes seconds to transmit full-color custom aluminum sign designs from our computer to yours because e-mails travel so fast these days.
Upon order approval, here’s how the process works:
- First, your order goes straight to the Art Department
- Our Graphic Designer will then e-mail you a proof
(a “proof” is a picture of what your sign will look like) - Once you review the layout, let us know if you would like to see any changes, and …
- If you have any changes, we will e-mail you proofs as needed until you’re completely happy with your design.
Yes! Every aluminum sign order comes with a 100% Buyer Protection Guarantee
Sometimes, we make mistakes. We are only human after all. But it's how a business handles mistakes that counts, wouldn't you agree? So if we do happen to overlook something on your order, we will bend over backwards to make you happy. We stand behind our work with a 100% Customer Satisfaction Guarantee.
We will promptly replace any product that is defective in workmanship or that is different from what you approved. And for your trouble, you'll even get a very pleasant surprise gift.
Does the thought of buying custom aluminum signs online with a credit card leave you feeling a bit anxious?
Are you worried you might be taking an unnecessary risk? With all the bad press about credit card fraud and card numbers getting stolen by hackers, it's wise to proceed with caution. We can understand if you still have some personal concerns about the safety of your credit card information.
Our system uses the latest 256-bit Encryption SSL technology as used by the Banking Industry, Walmart.com, Amazon.com and thousands of other online merchants- SSL technology works by encrypting all your personal and credit card information so it can travel over the internet without being intercepted by thieves
- And as an added precaution, the moment you complete your aluminum sign order online and the charges are authorized by your credit card company, your credit card information is INSTANTLY DELETED from our data-base. It's the same as if you walked into our business, charged your order and then we SHREDDED your credit card receipt.
