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Sign Maintenance - FAQ

Protect your investment and your image by performing some routine maintenance on both indoor and outdoor signage. Not only will this keep your signs around for a long time, but it will prevent any premature aging and expensive repairs or replacements.

Clean the exterior of your signs. 

Sometimes, your sign does not need any repairs, only a wipe down. If the exterior is covered in grime and mold and debris, then it could limit the amount of light that comes through or make your signage look old and dingy. By washing the sign, you give it a quick face-lift.

Take a look at a beginner’s guide to sign maintenance that we put together to help you get started with taking care of your business signage.

If your channel letter sign is dirty, you want to keep one important thing in mind, use cleaning materials that are gentle to the sign. Though most of the sign is aluminum and is durable and sturdy, the fronts or faces of the letters are acrylic and you can easily scratch them. Any scratches on them can make the letters appear grungy, dull, and hazy.

Without the proper maintenance, any dirt that’s embedded in your channel sign may show that you’re thinking of abandoning the business. It also shows that the interior of your business is just as bad as your dirty channel letters on the exterior. With the professional cleaning help of Tupp Signs, your channel letters can get a thorough cleaning and your business will attract new customers. The opposite effect can happen without proper maintenance. A sign that is let go is a loss of business.

Learn more about how you can maintain your business channel letter signage. 

Across multiple industries, maintenance is always a topic of discussion. With several different kinds of maintenance strategies, people often get confused when setting up their strategies. When we talk about On-Demand Maintenance versus Scheduled Maintenance, we are really discussing the differences between preventative and corrective methods.

You may have heard about preventative maintenance before. It is often based on risk and the condition of the machinery, equipment, or other object being maintained, and it is a time-based process that opts to find faults before they worsen.

Corrective maintenance is the opposite. It is used in an emergency when problems have already happened and need to be corrected swiftly in order to return to normal operations. Corrective maintenance is often the result of running to failure.

So, to make it even more specific to signage: preventative maintenance is done prior to the sign failing to operate or damages becoming severe. Corrective maintenance is performed on a sign when a failure has occurred, and the signage needs to be reinstated.

Learn more about the different types of sign maintenance as well as the difference between on-demand and scheduled maintenance.

Any signs that are left exposed to the elements need to be regularly cleaned and serviced. This will prevent rusting and discoloration and fading. Here are some ways to extend the life of your exterior signage:

  • Consider the materials used to construct your sign. For example, if the face of your cabinet sign is polycarbonate, you may want to use a special formula to preserve the integrity of the material. The best cleaning agents include Joy and Palmolive dish soaps, Windex, and isopropyl alcohol.
  • Rinse the signage with lukewarm water and a mild soap.
  • Use a soft sponge or cloth. Wash with up and down strokes, not side to side or circles.
  • Dry with a microfiber cloth to prevent any water spotting.
  • Wax your sign (the trim, cowling, legs, and cabinet) with automotive wax shortly after installation. Afterwards, reapplying wax once in a while to slow down the aging the process.
  • Remove any bird nests and other debris that you find.

Take a look here for everything you need to know about sign maintenance.

When you decided to get your outdoor signs repaired by a professional, they are going to need to know some information. For instance, the specialist may need to inspect the signs to figure out what needs to be done to restore the sign to its previous condition. They will consider several things, including the following:

  • Types of signs
  • Exterior illumination
  • Plastics and paint

Learn more about key points to keep in mind when considering getting your outdoor signage repaired.

Sign management can come in many forms, because it includes innovation, art, coordination, marketing, sales, and consultation. Every project is customized to meet the goals of the business. Some may even utilize project management software to streamline their services.

Get more information on sign management and why your business needs it.

The first thing you should do is clean the sign. During the winter months, your sign will need to combat reduced visibility from falling snow and fog, so any excess grime on the front of it is not going to do your business any good. Cleaning your light also helps you increase light output, which is cost-effective.

Most signage will come with instructions from the manufacturer about dealing with dirt and dust, cobwebs, insects, and so on. You should know that some surface cleaners are a no-go. Some solutions will damage the materials on the sign or chip away at the paint, so make sure you are using a cleaner designed for cleaning signage.

Take a look at some tips to help you winterize your business signage to save time, money, and minimize damage.

Most types of signage are mounted to your building—channel letterscabinet signs, and so on. That mount, however, can be the weakest link in the winter. Ice, snow, and frost can warp improperly installed structures. Any spaces may expand and crack during the freeze/thaw cycle. Even a blizzard’s wind could pull signs from their mounts.

Pay attention to the quality of installation, not just the location. Poles are highly durable and eliminate those tight spaces where snow and ice can get in. But regardless of where the sign is mounted, make sure the mount is made of something durable, like carbon steel.

Don’t forget to ground your signage to something sturdy, such as a cement wall. Be sure to check the integrity of the mount—whether it’s rickety or unyielding. Make sure the anchors aren’t rusting or cracked. Check to make sure the pole for your pylon sign isn’t shaking.

All these steps can help during windy winter days.

Learn more about preparing your business signage for the winter.

Are there characteristics of the design that could look tired and worn? You may have been fortunate enough to get a quality sign made of weather-resistant materials that have lasted you several years. Unfortunately, it still may be out of date.

Trends come and go. Certain font styles, color schemes, and graphic images have gone out of style. In turn, newer businesses with brand new signs are going to outshine you, simply because your sign is not engaging enough. It is best to invest in more modern signage to renew interest in your business.

Learn more about the options you have for updating or replacing your business signage. 

Sign Maintenance - FAQ 2

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