Custom Wooden Signs Can Withstand The Weather

By Author: Angel Rhett
Total Articles: 55
Comment this article

Custom Wooden Signs Can Withstand The Weather

Don't Wooden Signs Expand With Moisture?

Every summer I go with my family to the same beach spot. I always know we're getting closer when I start seeing similar signs for every business imaginable. Retail businesses, resorts, even the movie theater - they all have signs with a few characteristics in common. They are all gray in color, fairly low to the ground, and made of wood. Something about those wooden signs has an elegant yet rustic look that is seen throughout the salt-aired environment of that seaside town. So the signs really do enhance the overall appearance of the whole town.

I assume there's probably a sign ordinance dictating these sign specifications. Most municipalities have sign ordinances, and towns in high tourism locations such as the beach have even more rigid regulations as to what they can display. Obviously, the ordinance in this beach town insists on gray, wooden signs, and they do look very attractive. But wouldn't wood be the last material to be required in a beach town? After all, when you think of wood signs, you might think of splintered, ...
... rotted wood with peeling paint, particularly at a place as salty and humid as the beach.

This does not have to be the case at all. In fact, the trick to a high quality, long lasting wooden sign is in the type of wood used for the sign.

Not All Wood Is Meant To Be Used Outside

This sounds contradictory, as wood comes from trees, and trees grow outside. But many sign companies make wooden signs strictly out of plywood. And regular plywood on its own can not hold up to high humidity or changes in the weather. Even painted plywood is subjected to swelling, warping, and cracking once it absorbs moisture, even just from the air. And even if your wooden sign is somewhat new, it will look old and shabby under such conditions. And a shabby sign send the wrong message about your business.

So, What Is The Secret Of This Beach Town's Beautiful Custom Wooden Signs?

Another feature this beach town's signs all have in common is that they are all in prime condition, all year round, every time we go. How is that possible? They choose high quality sign companies who use a specific type of wood for custom wood signs that is actually weatherproof in all types of environmental conditions. This type of wood is known as Rot-Safe and is guaranteed for outdoor use for up to ten years.

Rot-Safe wood is still made of plywood, but the raw material consists of a Medium Density Overlay plywood core. A special hardwood veneer face then gives the sign a smooth finish, even after painting. Finally, an ultra-smooth overlay of a high fiber sheet treated with a resin for optimum paint adhesion guarantees the wooden sign will hold its look for up to a decade.

The inside of Rot-Safe wood also contains solid inner plies and a tight core gap. This simply means that there are fewer and smaller edge voids, meaning a longer lasting, smoother looking custom wooden sign.

So it's not necessarily a secret exclusive to these beach town businesses - they just have the industry knowledge that we are passing along to you.

Who Else Uses Custom Wood Signs?

You don't have to live in a tourist community or by the beach to take advantage of the charms and allure of a custom wooden sign. In fact, because they are so attractive, and because they are so durable, many businesses are going to custom wood signs to set their business signs apart from the vast amount of metal signs that adorn the streets of your local business district. And because the cost of raw materials for Rot-Safe signs have gone virtually unchanged over the past fifteen years, the price of a custom wooden sign has remained about the same, which is good news for you. In fact, chances are that when you are ready to replace your custom wooden sign in ten years, the cost of a new one will not be that different than the cost of the one you order today.

Custom wood signs are popular with real estate companies, bars and restaurants, town signs, retail businesses, and any business that wants a high quality appearance that will last and last. Custom wooden signs are naturally set apart from other types of signs, therefore setting your business apart from other types of businesses.

So head on down to the beach and forget about your custom wooden sign for a week - it will do just fine without you!
SignsUS - Corporate Looks for Small Businesses
Tim Harrelson, the owner, has been in the sign industry more than 20 years
Learn more about wood signs
Helpful information on all types of custom business signs