Why do signs lose their appearance over time?
Today, while walking through the city center, I noticed the signage on many businesses.
Most of them have already lost their dignified appearance and their ability to attract customers. Many of these signs were installed only 4–7 years ago.
But that does not mean the sign looked perfect for four years and then suddenly lost its visual quality within two weeks.
So what damages a sign?
The primary factor is natural wear and tear.
Over time, even painted sign surfaces fade due to UV radiation, temperature fluctuations, frost, and moisture. For signs covered with vinyl graphics, these issues usually appear even sooner.
Once the paint begins to lose its resistance to UV exposure, not only does the visual appearance suffer — the contour and structural integrity of the sign gradually begin to deteriorate as well.
Most signs are not, and should not be, completely hermetically sealed. Fully sealed constructions would require far more complex maintenance and very specific operating conditions.
This means that over time, moisture, dust, sand, and other debris can accumulate inside the sign. Such an environment also becomes suitable for insects and other small creatures to settle in. Meanwhile, moisture gradually damages lighting contact connections: they oxidize, lose conductivity, and the lighting starts functioning improperly or stops working altogether.
And these are only a few of the reasons.
Every business owner can ask themselves one very simple question:
If we regularly maintain our business premises, clean the floors, service ventilation systems, fire safety systems, and vehicle fleets to ensure the infrastructure lasts as long as possible — why don’t we do the same for the sign, which is also an investment and the very first impression of the business?
Mārtiņš Strods – Creative Director