How does an Alumalite sign make it through a Charleston, SC hurricane?
What makes an Alumalite sign capable of surviving high winds and rough weather?
Ah, Charleston! A city rich in history and natural beauty. TheSignChef.com is proud to be a part of it all. One downside to Charleston is that hurricanes are a very real issue for us. While there are many important things to worry about if a hurricane hits Charleston, SC 29418 some things tend to be forgotten.
While a sign may be low on your priority list (which is quite understandable), wouldn't you prefer to know that your investment will still be there after the winds stop? With a properly mounted Alumalite sign, it's a possibility! It's just one less thing to worry about in the aftermath of a storm.
Can an Alumalite sign really survive a Charleston hurricane?
Part of the reason an Alumalite sign can survive our Charleston weather is because of its construction. Alumalite is made from an aluminum composite panel with a high density, corrugated polymer core that will not swell, corrode, rot, wick water, or delaminate even under prolonged water exposure.
It's this plastic corrugated core that gives the Alumalite panel it's strength and rigidity. Alumalite metal signs have become a popular alternative to wood painted signs for it's durable, lightweight properties. Alumalite metal signs are also the perfect solution when the panel weight must remain low while retaining excellent rigidity.
Besides being rigid and lightweight an Alumalite sign has factory baked polyester painted aluminum faces add high gloss brilliance and rigidity. It doesn't crack, chip, flake or peel. The manufacturer has given a 10 year rating.
If for some reason you don't live in Charleston (but why wouldn't you?) you may have concerns other than hurricanes. The good news is that Alumalite have been field tested in extreme freezing and thawing conditions and they showed no significant structural panel failure.
One additional feature is that the fade resistant surface of Alumalite makes vinyl re-lettering simple. You can change the lettering again and again with minimal or no "ghosting" at all (ghosting is seeing the faint images of vinyl lettering that has been removed). This can come in handy when the sign has such a long life span!
Does all this mean an Alumalite sign is indestructible?
No, not at all. Any sign can be messed up or even destroyed under the right conditions. Some of the damage could even be caused by incorrectly installing the sign. There are a few precautions you might want to know, before you decide if an Alumalite sign from TheSignChef.com is right for you.
- While Alumalite is rated not to crack and peel, it has a painted surface that can be easily scratched.
- When cleaning the surface, only use a mild soapy water solution and the softest cloth you can find. Don't use dry paper towels as they can put extremely fine scratches in the paint which may be visible up close.
- When mounting Alumalite signs with screws or bolts, the corrugated plastic core can compress because it's hollow. When you attach the sign, TIGHTEN THE SCREW BY HAND. When the screw head is flush with the sign panel, STOP! Continuing to tighten the screw will permanently damage the panel by compressing or squeezing the material together.
Is there anything else I need to know about displaying an Alumalite sign?
To create a finished appearance, the edges of the Alumalite metal sign material can be capped with either white or black plastic trim. Edge capping enhances the appearance of your custom sign by making it look like a solid aluminum sheet. Alumalite is also available in a variety of colors. The colors available are White, Black, Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Almond and Bronze.
Alumalite signs are recommended for all outdoor sign applications in Charleston including billboards, multiple panel signs, back-lit signs and scoreboards (think Friday Night football games). You can mount them to buildings or fences and even hang them from above if you want (please be careful that people aren't passing underneath though)
Charleston hurricanes can get pretty big, does an Alumalite sign handle them all?
No, an Alumalite sign wouldn't stand up to Hugo, but then few things did. There are limits to what the sign can handle. The most important factor to an Alumalite sign surviving the winds is to mount it properly between two posts. If the Alumalite is mounted properly it can withstand winds up to 120 MPH. Not too shabby for a lightweight, affordable sign!
Visit Our Alumalite Signs Page For More Information and again with minimal or no "ghosting" at all (ghosting is seeing the faint images of vinyl lettering that has been removed). This can come in handy when the sign has such a long life span!