Aluminum is one of the most common materials for signs that give businesses and offices a professional appearance upon installation. Custom aluminum signs come in three distinctive flavors: standard, brushed, and reflective. This article will elaborate on these three types of distinctive flavors to give you an idea of where you can order brushed aluminum signage and what to order to place.
Standard Aluminum signs
Made of a Dibond core that consists of polyethylene sheets sandwiched between aluminum sheets that are 0.008 inches thick, standard aluminum signs have a regular aluminum sign with a thickness of 2mm. This sign is known for being simple and reliable. It usually comes with a semi-glossy finish.
Being the cheapest option, it is prevalent among people looking for affordable yet quality aluminum signs. However, any surface that ink will be printed on will have a matte finish. Matte finish is achieved by coating both surfaces of the sign in white paint. Then, the graphics will be printed directly on the top surface using digital printers to allow you to choose any color or design. After printing, the sign is dried using Ultra Violet(UV curing system. This curing procedure allows the graph to remain fade-resistant for a long time. Apart from being affordable, standard aluminum signs offer many benefits, such as lightweight, portable, versatile, and weather resistant. They can also be printed on both sides. Typical applications of standard signs are in real estate, parking lots, construction signs, and bidirectional signage.
Brushed aluminum signs
The brushed aluminum sign will be ideal if you want an aesthetically pleasing sign. A brushed aluminum sign in an office or lobby instantly adds a touch of professionalism and finesse. The construction of brushed aluminum signs is similar to standard signs in that it has a Dibond core of polyethylene stacked between aluminum sheets. However, brushed aluminum is a little thicker at 3mm, ensuring a robust and long-lasting sign. Furthermore, brushed aluminum is not painted white on both sides. Instead, the metal is brushed using tools to achieve a shiny, classy look. After that, the graphics are UV-painted on the surface.
Brushed aluminum signs come in two different finishes. First is the Spot White Finish, where a layer of white ink is applied before the graphics are printed on the surface; This blocks the brushed finish through the printed color.
The second type of finish is the transparent finish; no layer of white ink is applied, and therefore the brushed finish would show through the ink.
Brushed aluminum signs have several benefits, including:
- It is brilliant in color- Normally, brushed aluminum undergoes several anodizing treatments, which boosts its color and style.
- It is fingerprint-resistant and corrosion-resistant
- It is easy to clean and maintain since it doesn’t absorb any dust.
You can use Brushed aluminum signs indoors or outdoors. They are primarily installed in business environments like offices, lobby receptions, shopping malls, etc.
Reflective aluminum signs
Reflective aluminum signs are metal signs that reflect light, giving them visibility both day and night. They are primarily used outdoors in roadside signs, safety signs, emergency signs, etc. Like the last two signs, it is also composed of a light plastic stacked between aluminum sheets, similar to standard aluminum signs(2mm). In making reflective aluminum signs, the sheets will first be covered with white paint and graphics imprinted using fade-resistant, weather-resistant UV ink. After that, a reflective Engineer-Grade vinyl film overlay is applied to the sign. This vinyl film gives reflective aluminum signs its ability to reflect light.
These signs give you the flexibility to choose any color or shape you want. The standard shapes include triangular, circular, and rectangular. You can also print any logo, artwork, or graphics you want. Reflective aluminum signs from a reputable company worth it’s salt have the following benefits:
- They are long-lasting. The vinyl film will last over five years.
- They meet ASTM D4956 Type 1 standards for non-critical street and road signs.
- They are easy to maintain. You can use warm water, soap, and non-abrasive salt to clean.
Conclusion.
There are three varieties of custom aluminum signs: standard, brushed, and reflective. All these three have different characteristics that make them unique. You can use standard signs anywhere as they are versatile. The only con is the basic appearance. Brushed aluminum signs are ideal for professional appearance and quality. The nature of Reflective aluminum signs allows them to be used in the visibility key. However, they all share a common durability attribute and need much maintenance.
