Signs And Awnings: Building Signs That Will Last

Sometimes your business needs signs and awnings that don’t necessarily have to last a long time. Things like banners or canopies for special events, sales or other promotions. But if you’re in the market for signs and awnings that will last year in and year out, durability has to be a key consideration. After all, you expect your investment to be cost-effective, not just good looking.

It can be a true pleasure to envision new signs and awnings, and design the details. You’re improving your business, making it easier to find and more attractive from the outside. But in the end, it’s execution that makes the difference between signs that last and something far more temporary than you had in mind.

Framing materials and fabrics have to be right for your project.
Structural underpinnings literally provide your sign’s foundation. Typically framing is constructed of aluminum or steel. Aluminum is lighter, which can be a benefit in many situations but not strong enough for every application. Even retractable awnings – which you might think are not-so-tough because they have moving parts — will serve you well for many years as long as you choose the right materials and use the awning appropriately.

There is a vast array of fabrics available for signs and awnings — including some interesting high-tech options – all specifically designed to remain strong and attractive for many years.

Mapes signs and awnings are all-metal, so they’re super-tough. Choosing arched or curved signs that mount to your building’s wall can be an excellent choice to highlight any size entrance. Mapes products are particularly useful for extra-large buildings or shopping centers, where visibility from a greater distance such as across acres of parking is vital.

Choosing the strongest materials for your project goes beyond framing and coverings, all the way down to construction details such as the type of thread used to stitch the seams and corners of your fabric.

What, exactly, is your project?
Creating signs and awnings that will last means taking into account important variables before considering structural or aesthetic materials. Sturdy, enduring signs will:

  • Be appropriate for your location. If you’re in a high-traffic area or you often experience blowing dust or sand, you’ll want the toughest fabrics, choices that are easy to keep clean.
  • Be appropriate for your weather conditions. Permanent, fixed signs and awnings must remain safe and secure in all weather, season after season. And once again this year we’ve seen what those extremes can be like.
  • Meet building codes or other local specifications and requirements. Violations could well mean you’ll have to take down your new sign soon after you put it up. That would be costly and disappointing, to say the least.

Quality execution starts with choosing a quality company.
Look for a company that will work with you from start to finish. A company that handles all aspects of manufacturing signs and awnings can provide the most individualized, personal service with least risk of communication breakdown or delays waiting on another provider. They’ll give you solid advice and help you create something uniquely yours.

The warranty says it all.
You should have every expectation that long-lasting signs and awnings will come with a warranty that reflects the manufacturer’s own confidence in their products. But common sense should prevail, too. Insisting on professional installation will ensure your sign is properly installed, by highly-experienced crews using the latest techniques and the right hardware. That’s the only way to guarantee the work is done up to industry standard, something you’ll want to count on down the road.

Your sign is your brand. It has to represent your business confidently and consistently, day in and day out. If you settle for second-best or pretty good you may save a little money in the short term, but you won’t get signs and awnings that last.