Maintenance Tips to Extend the Lifespan of your Signage

First impressions matter! There's nothing like a crisp, bright and bold sign to grab the public's attention and draw them into your story. However, some wind, rain, casual vandalism and a dog's raised leg later, and your outdoor signage might be left looking a little the worse for wear. In this state, it's more of a deterrent to potential customers than anything else, and you'll find the returns on your investment decreasing steadily. 

Left to its own devices, outdoor signage has an average lifespan of between 5 and 7 years. Yet, there are some nifty tricks you can use to prolong your sign's life and make sure you get the most out of your investment in visual marketing. 

Landscaping 1: trim those trees

Overhanging branches act as a rain conduit leading straight to your signage, resulting in streaking patterns and faded colours. The rain that runs down branches and leaves also carries with it a lot of dirt, pollen and other residues, further staining your signs before their time. 

Keep any tall trees and branches trimmed back from your sign to help it stay younger for longer. 

Landscaping 2: mulch moats

Some of the damage to your signage might come from well-intentioned quarters. Maintenance workers and gardeners might be getting a little close to your sign with their weed-whackers or mowers, resulting in chips, dents and scratches which are hard to fix. 

Create a buffer zone around your sign by adding a mulch bed at its base, preventing people, no matter how well-intentioned, from getting too close. 

Landscaping 3: plant protection

Strategic landscaping can deter children and pets from playing too close to your signs, as well as keeping at bay vandals who'd like to graffiti over them or steal them. If this natural barrier can also look appealing, then you're accomplishing the double duty of protecting and embellishing your signage! Think thick or thorny shrubs and bushes. 

Screw Caps to the Rescue

Adding screw caps to your signs creates a sleeker, more modern finish, all the while making them more challenging to remove. 

Cleaning Crew

When cleaning your sign, avoid abrasive products, scrub brushes, ammonia, solvents and high-pressure cleaning machines. These will most likely do more harm than good and actively reduce the lifespan of your signage.