What Makes a Commercial Sign Last?

After enough years in the sign business, you learn that two signs can look almost identical the day they’re installed and look completely different five or ten years later. Usually, the difference comes down to what you can’t see.

A commercial sign spends its entire life outside, and here in Arizona, that’s no small task. Our signs deal with intense summer heat, constant UV exposure, dust, wind, and monsoon storms. Materials expand and contract as temperatures change. Wind puts pressure on structures and mounting points. Dust finds its way into places you wouldn’t expect.

Building commercial signs that can handle those conditions starts long before anything is installed.

Quality aluminum and steel, durable acrylics, reliable LED components, proper finishes, and weather protection all play a part in how long a sign will last.

So does engineering. A beautiful sign isn’t much good if its structure wasn’t designed correctly for its size, location, and the conditions it will face. Freestanding signs may require engineered footings and steel supports. Building signs need the proper attachment method for the wall and sign type.

Local requirements also need to be followed. We handle all the sign permits, placement, design review, and structural requirements for you. Those requirements help make sure commercial signs are designed and installed safely.

How well was the cabinet sealed? Were the electrical components installed properly? Was the correct paint or finish used? Is water able to get where it shouldn’t? Were the drain holes placed correctly? Was the sign installed the way it was designed?

Those details aren’t always noticeable when a sign is brand new. Give it a few Arizona summers and monsoon seasons, though, and they’ll start to show. 

A poorly sealed cabinet may allow water and dirt inside. Cheap paint can fade or peel. Lower-quality LEDs may begin failing, leaving dark spots in letters or cabinets. Improper mounting can cause movement, damage, or alignment problems.

Saving a little money on those areas may look good on the original estimate. It doesn’t look nearly as good when the sign needs major repairs a few years later.

If you’re comparing options for a new sign, take a look at the types of commercial signs we design, build, and install. We can help you choose materials and construction methods that fit the property, the sign, and your budget.

A well-built sign can still have problems if it isn’t installed correctly. Mounting points need to be placed and secured properly. Electrical connections need to be protected. Freestanding signs need the right foundation. The installation also has to account for the building surface, access conditions, wind exposure, and the sign’s weight.

That’s why we look at the complete project. Design, engineering, fabrication, and installation all have to work together. You can’t separate one from the others and expect the best result.

Even well-built commercial signs benefit from being looked after. Lighting components eventually need service. Faces and finishes can be cleaned. Electrical connections should be checked when there’s a problem. A damaged panel or small opening in a cabinet should be repaired before it allows water to reach the inside.

Catching a small issue early can prevent a much larger repair later. It’s also worth paying attention to changes around the sign. Landscaping grows, irrigation gets moved, buildings are repainted, and other work may be completed near electrical lines or foundations. Something unrelated to the original installation can affect how the sign looks or performs years later.

I’ve always believed commercial signs should be viewed as investments in a property and a business, not something you’re simply trying to get installed as cheaply as possible.

A sign that lasts isn’t the result of one special material or one trick of the trade. It comes from good design, quality materials, experienced fabrication, proper installation, and people who care about how the finished product will look years after it leaves the shop.

At Bootz & Duke, we’ve been building signs in Arizona since 1964. We know what the heat, sun, dust, wind, and monsoons can do. We also know how to build for them. That’s the difference you may not see on day one, but you’ll certainly see it down the road.

Planning a new sign or wondering whether an older one should be repaired or replaced? Contact Bootz & Duke or request a free quote. We’ll take a look at the project and help you find the right way forward.