Common Signage Problems and How to Avoid Them

It should be easy to keep your business signs relatively trouble free throughout their life. Yet there are certain aspects where the quality of your sign’s materials can provide years of high-quality, reliable advertising for your business.

Most signs today are illuminated using LEDs or light emitting diodes. You are probably familiar with LEDs as they provide most of the lights in use today. In commercial signage, LED lighting is generally expected to last about five years. After that point, you may expect some failure and dimming to occur. This issue can be easily mitigated when your sign company uses a high-quality LED product. While no LED lasts forever, you can expect years of trouble-free service from your sign when quality LED products are used.

Another area where material quality is important is in the sign’s paint. There are special paints specifically designed for the signage industry that are formulated to last a long time without maintenance. Most houses are painted every five to ten years and most vehicles are regularly washed, with protective coating added. Signs don’t get those advantages. Once the sign is installed, the paint is expected to last. Reputable sign companies like Bootz & Duke use the highest grade of paint to ensure that your sign will last for years to come.

Arizona is one of the harshest environments in the country for outdoor signs. Constant UV exposure, extreme summer temperatures, monsoon dust, and wide temperature swings accelerate fading, chalking, cracking, and peeling. Lower-grade paints that might hold up reasonably well in other states often fail much faster here.

For businesses, faded or deteriorating signage sends the wrong message. If the colors look washed out or the finish is peeling, it can make your business appear neglected.
Our team of sign experts also focus on surface preparation, primers, and application methods, not just the paint brand itself. Even expensive paint can fail if the substrate is not properly cleaned, sanded, primed, or cured. You can trust us to carefully manage the full process or preparing and applying your sign’s paint.

Another consideration in preparing your sign for years of trouble free life is installation. Signs can weigh hundreds of pounds. If not anchored to a building correctly, they can fall off, possibly injuring one of your customers. That’s why our Bootz & Duke team conducts a thorough survey of your building in advance to ensure your sign will be securely anchored into a structural part of the building to ensure your sign stays in place through wind storms and the passage of time.

Some companies manufacture signs but they outsource the installation to sub-contractors. Bootz & Duke is a fully integrated sign company that manages every aspect of your project from design to permitting to fabrication to installation. Since 1964, Arizona businesses have trusted us for quality signs that are built and installed to last.

Your sign’s installation impacts safety, visibility, longevity, electrical performance, code compliance, and the overall appearance of the finished project.

These are just a few areas of concern you should discuss with your signage sales representative. Whether you need simple interior signs or fully customized signs for your building’s exterior, I recommend avoiding any company that suggests that they can use less expensive products or installation methods to save you money. While cheaper materials and processes may be attractive in the short term, there is a higher likelihood to have safety, durability, and functionality issues over the long term.

Choosing the right sign company is an investment in your business. If you’re working with another sign company and you would like a second opinion before purchasing your sign, feel free to reach out to a member of our team and we will provide you our opinion and some optional pricing at no charge.