What Is 'Outdoor Durable'?

In Baked Enamel- What’s the Deal?, we discussed the reasons why Stonehouse determined that polyester baked enamel provides the best possible coating for a long-lasting, durable outdoor sign.  A polyester baked enamel finish with thermo-setting inks is so effective that we have been using baked enamels for 40+ years for the majority of our customers. 

The next logical step in choosing your sign is to figure out what properties are most important for your particular application.  To ensure you get the maximum return on investment, you have to determine the outdoor durability of the sign in question.

Outdoor Durable Defined

Stonehouse describes ‘outdoor durable’ as the actual outdoor life of any product.  The actual outdoor life of a sign depends on many variables beyond the control of the sign manufacturer, the installer, or the sign owner.  

You may not notice it right away, but the environment in which your sign is installed begins to affect its appearance from day one, and your sign will continue to deteriorate until you choose to replace it. 

How long will my sign last?

This is always one of the first questions on our customer’s minds.  The answer depends on how you define product failure.  In most cases, ‘product failure’ is a subjective definition that depends on the intended use of your sign. 

Your sign will experience changes in appearance which happen very slowly over time.  Do you plan to replace your sign at the first sign of deterioration, or will you leave it in place until you can’t read it anymore? 

These questions factor in to what kind of substrate and coating you should choose for a particular application.  The difference could vary as much as 10 years, and it all depends on the following factors:

Direct exposure to sunlight

In North America, signs facing south and west will weather much faster because of increased UV exposure.  In addition, southern latitudes receive more sunlight than locations farther North.

Choice of colors

Certain pigments hold up better outdoors.

For example, red pigments
will fade faster than black under UV exposure.

Believe it or not,
this sign used to be bright red…

Condensation

The presence of moisture and humidity can accelerate the deterioration of the substrate material.  When installing a sign where dew frequently forms on outdoor surfaces, be sure to mount your sign in such a way that the moisture will evaporate quickly.
 

Outdoor chemical exposure

Airborne hydrocarbons will hastenthe demise of most finishes.

Other climactic conditions

Consistently high winds can drive dirt, sand, snow and ice which may “sandblast” the sign face.  Marine environments are especially hard on coatings, due to moisture and salt in the air or salt spray from the sea.

Mounting technique

How well is the sign supported to withstand high winds and severe weather?  If it isn't, it could end up looking like this:

Choose Stonehouse Signs- We Will Prevail!

A Stonehouse Sign is what you want if outdoor durability is your primary concern.  A sign from Stonehouse will stand up to elements described above, and surpass all your expectations- we guarantee it.    

• 100+ years experience:  Stonehouse Signs has over 100 years of experience manufacturing outdoor durable signage.  We choose the right combination of color, substrate and coating for your particular application to ensure your sign looks great for years to come.
   
• Tested against the elements:  We test.  And Test.  Then test some more.  We have taken the time and done the research on all the factors discussed above that destroy your outdoor signage and know that a Stonehouse sign has an extended life for any sign intended for outdoor use.
   
• Lightning Fast Turnaround: Need to replace a damaged or weathered sign fast?  From quote to delivery, Stonehouse Signs offers a quick turnaround based on your schedule.  We will deliver any of our standard safety signs or a 100% custom sign designed to your needs exactly when you need it.

If you’re not sure what you need, our expert staff can help you select the best product for your specific outdoor environment. 

Contact one of our expert staff today at (800) 525-0456,
or email us at sales@stonehousesigns.com.  

Want more information about which materials last longer outdoors?

View our standard material selections in Let's Talk Substrates I: Standard Stonehouse Materials and a selection of our non-standard and custom
materials in Let's Talk Substrates II.