You are not mistaken, when you have passed by a tattered and battered sign and thought, that business has lost customers during that. Your external signage is the first thing people see of your brand and in South Africa, with its extreme UV conditions, it is not only a luxury to get the correct material, but also a necessity.
Acrylic sheets have already gained popularity as one of the most popular outdoor signage materials and rightly so. They are multi-purpose, aesthetically appealing, and much more resistant in comparison with conventional solutions. However, not every acrylic is equal. Then we shall decompose what sorts of types are best to use out of doors, and what to consider before deciding.
The reason why Acrylic is a good choice of outdoor signage.
Acrylic (Perspex or PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate)) is a light, shatterproof plastic material that is glass-clear. It is commonly applied in exterior signs, storefronts, display boards and building fascias in South Africa. That is why it is so popular among sign makers and business owners:
UV resistance - quality acrylic does not lose its colour or clarity even on the hot South African sunlight.
Weatherproofing - it is resistant to rain, wind and heat and does not bend or turn yellow.
Lightweight - simple and less expensive to set up as compared to glass or metal.
Customisable - it can be cut, printed on, laser engraved or backlit to create a spectacular effect.
Extended life span - high-quality acrylic can be used outdoors where it will last 10 or more years with minimum maintenance.
The most suitable Acrylic sheets used in outdoor signage.
Cast Acrylic Sheets
The gold standard of outdoor signage is Cast acrylic. It is cast in a cell process, which makes it purer optically, and has better UV resistance than extruded versions. When your sign is going to be directly in the sunshine - consider storefronts in the beachfront strip in Cape Town or the commercial areas in Johannesburg - cast acrylic is your friend.
Good with: Lighted signs, cut lettering, upmarket displays, and long-term outdoor applications.
Extruded Acrylic Sheets
Acrylic is extruded by forcing the molten material through a die. It is usually cheaper and more uniform in its thickness, so it can be a good option when one has a low budget. It is however, a bit more susceptible to surface scratching and does not stand up well to extended UV exposure.
Best: Short to medium signs, indoor/outdoor combination signs and projects that are cost conscious.
Acrylic Sheets UV-Stabilised.
Cast or extruded, UV-stabilised acrylic is what you are seeking when your signage is going to be in the direct sun. This is the kind which has UV inhibitors embedded within the material itself, rather than a surface coating, which means that it will not yellow, crack or become brittle as time passes. In the humid coastal climate of Durban or sun exposure of high altitude in Johannesburg, UV-stabilised acrylic is a must.
Acrylic Frosted and Coloured Sheets.
Coloured acrylic sheets are also popular when it comes to the bold branding and eye-catching outdoor displays. Diffused light Frosted versions provide a high-end, diffused appearance that is ideal when used with LED backlighting. Both are in UV-stabilised formulations, meaning that your brand colours will not fade after a few seasons in the sun.
Advantages of using Acrylic sheets as outdoor signs.
Great visibility and transmission of light - acrylic is able to transmit up to 92 percent of light, resulting in light-up signs being visible.
Shatter-resistant - as opposed to glass, acrylic will not break when hit, thus it is safer in high traffic places.
Simple to produce - acrylic can be cut, drilled and shaped with ordinary tools by sign makers.
Low maintenance - acrylic signs can be kept fresh by a simple wipe-down.
Recyclable - acrylic sheets can be recycled in many ways, and it is an advantage to environmentally-friendly companies.
Drawbacks to Keep in Mind
No material is perfect. The following are some of the candid shortcomings of acrylic outdoors:
Scratching - acrylic will scratch easier than glass, but scratch resistant finishes are possible.
Thermal expansion - in hot weather (welcome to Johannesburg, summer), acrylic may swell and shrink, hence correct fitting with gaps between is essential.
Not impact-proof, although shatter-resistant, heavy impacts may crack it.
Cost vs polycarbonate Polycarbonate can be more durable than acrylic in terms of signage in highly impacted environments, but it is generally more expensive.
Guidelines to Selecting the appropriate acrylic sheet on your sign.
The following are the questions to ask yourself before you make your order:
What amount of direct sunlight will the sign get? More sun = use cast, UV stabilised acrylic.
Will the sign be illuminated? Use frosted acrylic that is either clear or light-diffusing.
What's your budget? Extruded acrylic is a good compromise between performance and cost in the case of shorter campaigns.
Where is the sign located? Sea-side resorts such as Cape Town and Durban might require marine or salt-air resistant.
Conclusion
It does not need to be a complicated task to select the appropriate acrylic sheet to use in your outdoor signage. Essentially: use cast, UV-stabilised acrylic and get long-lasting, professional finishes, particularly in sun-drenched South African conditions, Joburg to Cape Town to Durban. Make your thickness to match the size of your sign, think about whether you need some illumination and deal with a reputable supplier who can give you the best advice on the best product to use in your particular requirements.
Get the proper material initially and your signage will continue serving your brand, rain, sun or coastal wind, many years to come.
Frequently asked questions
Here are some common questions about our company.
With the majority of outdoor signs, a thickness of 3mm to 6mm will work best. A smaller sign or a smaller insert can be made with 3mm, whereas a larger sign on the fascia or a freestanding display can be made with 5mm or 6mm to ensure increased rigidity and resistance to wind. In very large format signage, 8mm or 10mm cast acrylic should be used.
Good cast acrylic with UV stabilisation has a life span of 10- 15 years when well taken care of in the open air. The life of extruded acrylic is 5-8 years before it starts to yellow or wear out on the surface. Frequent cleaning and use of strong chemical solvents will increase the life span considerably.
Acrylic is mostly used in signage due to its better optical clarity and colour. Polycarbonate is stronger and more resistant to high impact areas (such as vulnerable to vandalism). When aesthetics are the concern, then select acrylic. In case the end result has to be tough in hard environments, then polycarbonate can be justified at a higher price.
Of course, acrylic is among the finest materials to use in the illuminated and backlit signage. Clear acrylic permits full light passage and opal or frosted acrylic disperses LED light uniformly to prevent hotspots. This leads to acrylic being a popular choice of lightbox signs, halo-lit lettering and LED-backlit panels.
Outdoor signage acrylic sheets can be found in large quantities in plastics suppliers and sign-making experts throughout South Africa. Local manufacturers and distributors in cast and extruded acrylic in different colours and thicknesses are found in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. When painting the exterior always request UV-stabilised, outdoor grade acrylic to be used to be confident you are using the correct product.