By Janet Conner, Client Services Director, MSGPR
Drive any stretch of 59 or 69 after a few months of East Texas summer and you’ll see them: yard signs curled up like potato chips, faded to a ghost of their original color, leaning off their stakes in the ditch. Banners flapping loose from one corner after a spring storm.
Between the sun, the humidity and the storms that roll through, our weather is hard on signs. The good news is that the right materials cost less than a second order. Here’s what to ask for, depending on how long yours needs to last.
Yard signs
The standard yard sign is 4mm corrugated plastic, often called Coroplast, on a standard metal H stake. That’s a good choice for temporary signs: event signs, directional signs for a weekend, or anything that won’t sit out in the weather for long.
If your sign is going to stay out in the elements, or it’s going to get thrown in the back of a truck bed or SUV over and over, spend a little more:
- Move up to 8mm corrugated plastic.
- Add UV coating so the sun doesn’t fade it.
- Use heavy-duty H stakes.
The upgrade costs more up front, but you won’t be reordering in a month.
Banners
Standard vinyl banner is 13 oz, and that’s what most people order for temporary signage.
If your banner will be up for a long stretch, or it’s hanging somewhere with steady wind, sun and rain, go up to 15 oz vinyl and add a UV finish if it’s available. That gives it extra protection from the sun.
Two more things to ask for:
- Grommets every 2 to 3 feet. More tie-down points spread out the wind load.
- Hemmed edges. They give the banner a nice finished look and help it hold up.
With grommets and hems, you can hang the banner just about anywhere you need it.
The quick version
- Short-term: 4mm sign, standard stake, 13 oz banner.
- Long-term or rough handling: 8mm sign with UV coating, heavy-duty stakes, 15 oz banner with UV finish, grommets every 2 to 3 feet and hemmed edges.
When you call, tell the shop where the sign is going and how long it needs to last. That’s what decides the materials.
