S2’s Look At Sign Materials: Aluminum Composite Vs. Plywood
When recommending exterior signage, climate is an important consideration for every buyer. Portland’s soggy clime demands different sign materials than, say, the unrelenting sun of Phoenix. Keeping that in mind, let’s take a look at the benefits of aluminum composite vs. plywood for weather resistant signs.
Aluminum Composite Site Sign Advantages:
Aluminum composite signs are ideal for challenging climates. Here at S2 Imaging, we carry Alupanel composite sign material, which comes with a five-year guarantee for exterior applications. Aluminum composite signs look fantastic for years to come, despite constant exposure to Portland’s notoriously wet weather.
Aluminum composite signs are made up of at least three layers. Two exterior layers are available to communicate your message, while the middle layer withstands weather. Alupanel is actually composed of nine layers—from the outer layer in, the layers are 1) protective film 2) paint finish 3) .30 mm layer of Aluminum 4) Adhesive, and 5) the central polyethylene core. To prevent warping, both layers of aluminum are the same thickness.
This multi-layered design gives aluminum composite signs several benefits:
- Not too heavy, facilitating easy installation.
- Readily available material—no long wait times or waiting for paint to dry.
- Does not require priming or painting.
- No color fade (some plastic signs are prone to fading).
- Rigid yet lightweight. This makes Alupanel and other aluminum composite signs capable of withstanding high winds, yet lightweight for installation.
- A five-year guarantee.
- Perfectly flat surface, so there’s no distraction from your message.
- Flexible finishing options, including vinyl signage, screen-printing, digital printing, and paint.
- Easy to cut
- Heat-resistant.
One downside of plywood for exterior signs: Most consumers consider plywood an inexpensive material. However, by the time it is primed and painted, the price advantage is lost. Moreover, plywood surfaces may have uneven coloration, making it nearly impossible to create a consistent look for your sign. Finally, let’s consider the durability factor. Yes, plywood is renowned as an inexpensive yet durable material. However, the makeup of plywood (many small pieces of wood layered together) can be problematic if the wood starts flaking away in nasty weather conditions.
