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Preventing Cancer On Outdoor Lighted Signs in the Ocean Side City of Charleston, SC
Driving through Charleston, SC is a pleasure to the senses. The scent of flowers is everywhere, the ocean air makes you want to go to the beach and of course the beauty of our wonderful city is like no other. It is always nice to take a drive on a quiet day and revive my spirits. That's how it was this weekend, but as I enjoyed the fresh air and the view as I drove, I was stunned to see a blight ahead of me. A cancer was visible on a backlit sign and it saddened me to see it. Especially since I know it could have been prevented. The life of the lit sign was being cut short by a cancer that never had to happen.
How does this cancer get started on an outdoor lighted sign?
The cancer that I am talking about is rust. Rust doesn't only appear on metal signs, it can also happen to other types of signs. Outdoor are a prime candidate because of the decisions that are sometimes made when installing them. This rust can appear in as little as 3 - 6 months after the installation of a lit sign.
The cause of the rust is actually the hardware used on the sign. Some sign companies choose a hardware that is not rust resistant. Moisture starts the corrosion process. We all know that Charleston is a place with high humidity, and to make matters worse that humidity has salt air in it. Salt causes even more corrosion. For those that have businesses directly on the coast it is even worse. The salt spray from the ocean is blown directly on to your lit sign, including the hardware.
Where do you see the rust on a backlit sign?
If a sign isn't metal and the hardware is what is rusting than how can you see rust on the backlit sign face? It may not always be visible from the road, but it has a cumulative effect. As the rain rinses the rust off of the hardware and when it dries on the sign it leaves the rust behind. Once the sign is streaked it is almost impossible to remove.
How do you prevent the rust on an outdoor lighted sign in the first place?
The age old saying of "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is especially true in the case of a lit sign. Rust starts with the selection of the hardware. If you don't choose the right hardware to begin with it will go downhill from there. Always make sure that you request galvanized or stainless steel hardware. You can do your own research if you choose to and find the hardware that you like the best, but be sure it is resistant to rust. Specify when you speak to someone about a sign that you want it to be galvanized or stainless steel hardware used to hang your outdoor lighted sign.
Is there anything that can be done once the rust has started on outdoor lighted signs?
Once the rust starts the chances of you completely removing it from the backlit sign are slim. If you catch it as soon as it starts you may be bale to prevent it from continuing. In either case first you would clean it with a mild soapy water. You can choose to use a dish soap or even a wash that is used for a car. They are gentle enough to keep from damaging the sign face. Never use an abrasive cleaner on the sign. You can also use a rubbing compound like you would for a car.
To keep it from continuing to mar the face of your lit sign we recommend that you replace the hardware. Once the sign is installed it is secured in place. You can replace the hardware one piece at a time. We do not recommend that you remove all the hardware at the same time. Replace one bolt, then move on to the next. Make sure that the hardware you choose is non-corrosive. If it isn't possible to replace the hardware on your outdoor lighted sign, you can also use a liquid that can be put on the hardware. It is a coating that stops the rusting process and then you can prime and paint each piece of hardware to seal which will help to protect it from the elements
Why doesn't every company use non corrosive hardware on outdoor lighted signs?
We don't have a definitive answer to that question. We do however have a couple of educated guesses. One of the reasons could be that it wasn't called for in the specifications of the sign. They may simply not have thought ahead and used the hardware that they had available. Since hardware that costs a lot less helps reduce material costs, a lot of sign companies will opt to use the least expensive product to produce the sign.
The second reason isn't quite so innocent, however it is unfortunately true in many cases. Someone might have ordered a $200, $2000 or $20000 dollar on a sign and it would have cost maybe another $5 to use stainless steel or galvanized hardware instead of zinc plated, however they choose to keep the cost down by using the lower cost hardware. Honestly the price difference between the hardware is not a large amount, so we honestly don't know why a sign company would fail to use a non corrosive hardware on a backlit sign.
At TheSignChef.com in Charleston, SC 29418 we know that upgrading a sign from corrosive hardware to non corrosive hardware is a ridiculously small price and that little extra can prevent the rust from forming on the hardware. That's why we automatically use non corrosive hardware on all of our lighted . It is such a small price to pay for excellence.
Visit Our Outdoor Lighted Signs Page For More Information