The ABCs Of Sign Maintenance: Best Practices To Keep Your Signs In Shape

After decades of sign research and studies of consumer psychology, there’s no denying sign maintenance matters.

We now know people look to our signs as “inferential cues” to make “thin-slice judgements” about our businesses (Kellaris & Machleit, 2016). The American Shopper Study showed that 41.5% of consumers make quality assumptions about new brands they encounter based entirely on signage, and 85.7% agreed signs “convey the character or personality of the business.”

With that in mind, it’s easy to see how faded, burnt-out, flaking, or broken signs can send the wrong messages, telling customers you either lack the time, energy, or funds required to keep your primary marketing materials in shape. Should they expect the same low standards from your products or services?

Sour impressions aside, poor sign maintenance can also cost you sales in the form of poor readability. More than 60% of American Shopper Study respondents said they had recently failed to find a business they intended to visit due to poor sign legibility, and peeling, flaking, or fading sign messages are often much harder to read.

Finally, neglecting sign maintenance can result in financial penalties, as Section 4607 of the Houston sign code states all signs must be “kept in good repair and… shall be thoroughly painted as often as is necessary, consistent with good maintenance.” Additionally, “all braces, bolts, clips, supporting frames and fastenings shall be free from deterioration, termite infestation, rot, or loosening.”

If you need help with your sign maintenance, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn some simple tips for cost-effective upkeep, or call (713)-244-8704 to speak directly with a sign maintenance specialist near you.

The Abcs Of Sign Maintenance: 5 Tips For Cost-Effective Upkeep

Sign maintenance requirements differ for every product, but the following general upkeep tips should help get you started:

1. Select your display area with future maintenance in mind. Thanks to our modern materials and manufacturing processes, most of our signs are lightweight, highly durable, and resistant to water, corrosion, and fading, so you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to suitable display areas. However, your decision will largely impact your maintenance responsibilities, so choose wisely. For example, if you place your signs in areas with high levels of dust or flying particulate matter, you’ll need to spend more time wiping them down than you otherwise would. For help finding the ideal balance of low exposure to the elements and high visibility, get in touch with our team.
2. Start strong (and stick with) genuine fixtures and mounting hardware. When working with custom signage with precisely machined components, it can be difficult to find compatible parts, but settling for imperfect fits looks off and often leads to other problems down the line. One advantage of working with a one-stop shop like ours is that your maintenance specialist will also be your manufacturer, so you’ll have easy access to original hardware. This ensures perfect fits for flush mounting, lasting durability, and superior sign safety over the long term.
3. Clean your signs properly. For most sign cleanings, a clean cloth, water, and some mild detergent should suffice. Follow the instructions on the detergent and be sure to rinse and dry your sign thoroughly. Whatever you do, avoid abrasive scrubbers and power-cleaning tools, such as pressure washers or buffers, and be aware that some harsh cleaners may interact poorly with your sign materials. For additional help, don’t hesitate to ask our experts for specific instructions and cleaner recommendations.
4. Clean your signs regularly. The longer you leave dirt and other contaminants on your sign face, the harder they will be to clean away, and the more reputational damage you risk.
5. Know when you need a sign replacement. Many signs can last for years, even decades, but if you detect serious fading, peeling, cracking, warping, or water damage, you will likely need a replacement. And replacements aren’t always a bad thing—in many cases, such as the switch from dated neon lighting to modern LEDs, it could end up saving you a lot of money over the long term.When in doubt, ask our sign maintenance experts!

Simplify Your Sign Maintenance: Get A Free Quote In Houston, TX

Whether you need access to quality replacement parts, prints, and energy-efficient LEDs, or you want to go pro and automate your upkeep for the foreseeable future, Houston Graphic Signs is here to help.

We offer full support with sign maintenance, repairs, and retrofitting throughout Houston and all of the surrounding areas, including the communities Cypress, Katy, Richmond, and beyond.

We also carry a large selection of replacement parts, mounting hardware, and LEDs, and shipping is available nationwide.

To speak directly with a sign maintenance specialist and get a free quote on any order, you can:

• Call (713)-244-8704
• Email sales@hgstx.com
• Fill out our online contact form

References

Kellaris, J. J., & Machleit, K. A. (2016). Signage as marketing communication: A conceptual model and research propositions. Interdisciplinary Journal of Signage and Wayfinding, 1(1).