6 Tips for Making Sure Your Outdoor Signage Can Survive the Weather

While outdoor signage is excellent for helping people know where you are located and what you do, unpredictable weather can wreak havoc on your sign. And we’re not just talking about extreme weather, like tornadoes, hurricanes, and blizzards. Even regular rain showers, snow or thunderstorms, the sun, or wind can damage your signs.

However, there are some things you can do to ensure your outdoor signs can withstand the weather. By following these six tips, you’ll ensure your outdoor signs continue to present your brand in its best light and drive traffic to your business for many years.

1. Choose a Weather Resistant Material

The first step in creating an outdoor sign that can survive the weather and last for years is choosing a suitable weather-resistant material. Durable materials, like rock or metal, will last longer under all types of weather. For example, stainless steel is a durable sign material that resists corrosion when exposed to moisture, like rain or snow. Thus, making it an excellent choice for a long-lasting sign.

Other materials for signs include aluminum, which can last for 7 to 10 years and is also water-resistant. Wood signs can last for 10 or more years, depending on the wood type and water-proof finish. If you’re not sure which sign material is best for your exterior sign, talk to the experts at The H&H Group, who can help evaluate your exterior signage needs and recommend the right choice for you.

2. Properly Secure Your Outdoor Signage

Even the best material for your outdoor sign will not resist high winds unless it’s properly secured. For example, if you’re hanging a banner, use steel cables to help protect it from the wind. It’s also helpful to install all types of outdoor signs against a solid surface, like a building, to reduce exposure to the wind.

For outdoor signs mounted on poles, there are a few ways you can ensure your sign can survive the weather. First, you can add an extra pole to ensure your sign is properly secured. Second, fix the base of the poles in concrete to ensure stability and the ability to withstand heavy rain and wind.

3. Protect Exterior Signs from Moisture

Heavy rains, snow, and even fog can cause moisture to collect on your outdoor signage. Depending on the sign’s materials, water can make the sign rust, mold, or distort. If you have an outdoor digital sign, ensure the hardware used on it is designed for outdoor use. Another way to protect against moisture is to buy a weather-resistant enclosure for your sign to keep it in better condition.

On some signs—like business or lawn signs—you can attach plastic or metal caps to the edges to prevent water from seeping into the sign and damaging it. Lawn signs made from corrugated plastic should be placed on well-draining soil to help prevent moisture buildup around it.

4. Regularly Check on Your Outdoor Signs

One of the most important ways you can ensure your sign prevents moisture buildup and survives all weather types is to check your signs regularly. Inspect for signs of corrosion, mold, or damage and address it as soon as possible to help keep your sign looking its best and continue driving traffic to your business.

It’s a good idea to check on your signs every two or three weeks and after any weather event that may cause damage to your sign.

5. Select the Right Location

Another way to help prevent weather damage to your outdoor signage is by making sure you select the right location to place your sign. Placing your sign in a sunny spot may seem like a good idea, but remember that the sun can cause your sign to fade. Instead, try to install your sign in a protective space from the sun.

You may think that placing your sign in the shade of a tree is a solution but consider the possibility of a tree limb breaking and falling on your sign during a storm, which may damage it. Instead, consider placing the exterior sign under the shade of a building.

6. Consider Portable Signage

While installing permanent signs on poles and against buildings is excellent for building brand awareness, they pose limitations in severe weather. One possibility to protect exterior signs from extreme weather is to consider using portable signage.

Custom flags and banners can be put up in front of your business to attract customers but can be taken down when bad weather strikes to prevent damage.

Need Help Selecting the Right Sign for Your Business?

At The H&H Group, we can help create custom signs for your business. Our professional graphic designers will design a sign to reach your potential customers and help drive traffic to your business. We’ll help protect your exterior sign from the weather by using a suitable material for your sign, ensuring it’s installed and secured correctly, plus provide direction on the right location and moisture protection.

When it comes to making sure your custom outdoor sign, metal signs, or other types of outdoor signs can withstand the weather, and it starts with selecting the right sign manufacturer for your business. If you’re unsure of the correct type of material for your outdoor signage, contact the experts at The H&H Group!