Quality Houston custom signs are an investment in your business. They are often the “face” of your company and your hardest-working salesman. Therefore, you want to do everything in your power to protect your signs and make sure they last a long time. Signage maintenance helps your signs make a good impression, last longer, and even reduce lifetime costs for things like repairs and replacements. There are many things to know about business sign maintenance. Of course, you should always check with the sign maker, but here are a few general tips we have for signs of all kinds.
Cleaning to Maintain Houston Custom Signs
Dirt, debris, and other grime make your signs look dirty and dingy. They can also cause more wear and tear on your signage, such as scratches, corrosion, and fading. Therefore, it’s important to clean your signage regularly as part of a good maintenance program. Removing dust and debris can go a long way in making your signs look new and last longer.
How often you clean your signs depends on many factors. In most cases you should shoot for at least once a quarter. You may need more or less depending on the locations and types of signs you have. You may even need to clean signs immediately for things like tree sap or bird excrement, as these not only look bad, but can deteriorate your signs quickly.
How to Clean Houston Custom Signs
The key to cleaning signs of all types is to be gentle. This means using soft tools, mild products, and having a light hand to simply remove any dirt or debris. The specific cleaning method depends on the type of signage. However, you typically can’t go wrong with using a soft, damp microfiber cloth and using gentle motions to wipe away grime. Also, don’t forget to thoroughly dry the sign as soon as possible to avoid issues from moisture, such as corrosion, rust, or mold.
If you want to use a soap or cleaning product for your sign, make sure to read the ingredients and double check that they are compatible with the material of your Houston custom signs. For instance, you want to avoid acidic cleaners like vinegar solutions on acrylic channel letter faces. In addition, try to test the product in a small, inconspicuous area of the sign before washing the whole sign, to see if it has any negative effects. You can also ask your signage experts which specific products they recommend for your signs.
Some Houston sign companies will clean your signage for you. For instance, our team offers a wide range of signage maintenance services so you can focus on other tasks. Therefore, if you’re not sure how or don’t have the time or staff to clean your sign in-house, consider asking our professionals about sign cleaning.
Houston Outdoor Signs vs. Indoor Signs
Also, keep in mind that cleaning your Houston outdoor signs looks a little different from cleaning your indoor signs. For instance, while outdoor signage typically needs a wash only once a season or so, indoor signs are often made from different materials. Therefore, indoor signs can benefit from more frequent cleaning. You might ask your cleaning company to lightly dust interior signs daily or weekly and wipe them down with mild products as needed. You can also have your employees take care of this as part of closing procedures. The key to any signage cleaning program is to be gentle and use the right products for the signage material, whether you’re cleaning indoor or outdoor signs.
Inspect Houston Custom Signs Regularly
Another important part of regular signage maintenance is to inspect your Houston custom signs regularly. Inspections help you detect issues early on so you can service or repair them as needed. It’s a good idea to thoroughly inspect signage at least a few times a year. You can have a signage professional do this for you or you can try to inspect your signs yourself.
There are several things to look for during a signage inspection, and a lot of this depends on your specific signs. A good rule of thumb is to look for any signs of damage or wear and tear. For illuminated signs, you also want to have the electrical components inspected on a regular basis. It can also help to look at the sign when it’s illuminated to ensure there aren’t any burnt out areas. In addition, look at any mounting hardware to look for cracks, corrosion, or other issues. For instance, many channel letters are mounted with metal hardware to the building façade. Worn or damaged mounting brackets not only put your signs at risk for damage, but can also create safety hazards.
For Houston outdoor signs, look at the landscaping as well. Foliage that comes into contact with your signs not only blocks them from view, but can speed up wear and tear on your signage. You can do a quick visual inspection to see if landscaping features might interfere with your signs. For example, look for close bushes and shrubs for monument signs or trees for pylon signs. If you do see an issue, consider having a landscaper come and trim the plants away from your signs.
A Note on Storing Seasonal Business Signage
It’s also important to talk about how to properly store signs that aren’t permanent additions to your location. Many businesses use seasonally-themed signage to grab attention, often in the form of easy to install and remove signs like vinyl banners. If you have Houston custom signs that you need to store for any period of time, then it’s important to clean them thoroughly to remove any dirt, dust, or debris. Then, store them in a clean, dry area away from direct sun exposure if possible. For vinyl banners, make sure not to fold your signs, which can cause creases. Instead, roll them up gently and place in storage so you can use them for many years to come.
Repair Houston Custom Signs As Soon As Possible
All signs wear out over time, but if you notice signs of damage, weathering, or wear and tear, repairing them as soon as possible can help you extend the life of your Houston custom signs. For example, chipping paint, peeling vinyl, cracked channel letter faces, or malfunctioning lights typically just get worse with time. In some cases, neglected signs can lead to damage so bad that they’re simply not repairable, or it’s not cost-effective to repair them anymore. Also, who wants damaged signs projecting their business image? Instead, you can save yourself a lot of hassle and expense by repairing signs as soon as you notice trouble. This can also help preserve your company’s reputation, as quality signs in good condition help represent your company in the most positive light.
4D Signworx – One of the Leading Houston Sign Companies
At 4D Signworx, we are a full-service sign company offering quality services to businesses throughout the Greater Houston area. Whether you need a brand new sign, sign maintenance, or sign repairs, our team is here to provide you with prompt, friendly service at affordable prices. We pride ourselves on your complete satisfaction. As a family owned and operated company, our goal is to help your business succeed through superior signage solutions. Contact us now for a free estimate for all your signage needs.