Coroplast Alternative

[CreoleCuisine]

Fairly new to the sign business, wondering if anyone has a suggestion for a coroplast alternative. Something weatherproof without the corrugated waves.

 

[Boudica]

Polystyrene

 

[CreoleCuisine]

Polystyrene

how does this material compare in price to the coroplast?

 

[JBurton]

I don't know beans about styrene, but I don't think it's meant for outdoors. ACM is cheap, but not that cheap, about 4-10x the cost, depending on quantities your ordering. There's this other sort of coro that has a honeycomb/bubble pattern, but if I recall when I had some quoted, it was stupid expensive. I don't know if it was this stuff, but very similar if not. https://www.primexplastics.com/bubble-x/

 

[Boudica]

It's about the same. I don't do pricing, I just make stuff, but according to our little price sheet I have here... looks like I've got our wholesale price sheet, they are both around $3-4 / sqft depending on the thickness of the Polystyrene.

 

[Boudica]

I don't know beans about styrene, but I don't think it's meant for outdoors. ACM is cheap, but not that cheap, about 4-10x the cost, depending on quantities your ordering. There's this other sort of coro that has a honeycomb/bubble pattern, but if I recall when I had some quoted, it was stupid expensive. I don't know if it was this stuff, but very similar if not. https://www.primexplastics.com/bubble-x/

We use .060" Polystyrene for outdoor signs a lot.

 

[JBurton]

It's about the same. I don't do pricing, I just make stuff, but according to our little price sheet I have here... looks like I've got our wholesale price sheet, they are both around $3-4 / sqft depending on the thickness of the Polystyrene.

That's not exactly cheap, or at least it's about twice what I pay for a 4x8 of ACM ($40) when buying 100 sheets. Is it easier to print than ACM or something? Of course, my ACM is not considered print/ink ready, I know that stuff has a significant upcharge.

 

[Boudica]

That's not exactly cheap, or at least it's about twice what I pay for a 4x8 of ACM ($40) when buying 100 sheets. Is it easier to print than ACM or something? Of course, my ACM is not considered print/ink ready, I know that stuff has a significant upcharge.

I should have mentioned... those numbers I rattled off aren't the prices we pay... I was looking at a wholesale customer price sheet - so that's what we would charge. Those prices would include overhead and all the other good stuff. I just have that sheet for ball parking a price if I happen to answer the phone (which I try to avoid). I don't do the buying so no clue what we actually pay for the stuff.

 

[Stacey K]

Well I have never bought 40 sheets at a time because I'm not that cool. I pay about $52/sheet but I have them delivered within 2 days and it only costs me $8 for delivery. My friend in Wautoma cannot get anyone to deliver to her so she has to pick everything up or meet in the Fleet Farm parking lot LOL

 

[Gino]

Judging by your profile, you're really not a sign shop, but a little help is needed. Other than Cor-X, there's nothing in the same price range as Cor-X is about the cheapest exterior grade sign substrate on the market. You want smooth, you'll need to step up in your costs. PVC would be your next step up because styrene will yellow within a few months outside as well as inside from interior lighting.

 

[petepaz]

to replace coro would need to know what you are making with it?
if you use it for yard signs not sure there is another material you can use with step stakes.
(they do have a paper/card stock or a plastic bag type of sign both go over the top of a U shaped stake.

also polystyrene can be used outside with no issue

 

[Signstein]

There's also smooth / ultrasmooth coro. Vendors call it different things. It still has flutes, but its smoother.

Grimco | Corrugated Plastic Panels - Ultrasmooth

www.grimco.com

 

[CreoleCuisine]

Judging by your profile, you're really not a sign shop, but a little help is needed. Other than Cor-X, there's nothing in the same price range as Cor-X is about the cheapest exterior grade sign substrate on the market. You want smooth, you'll need to step up in your costs. PVC would be your next step up because styrene will yellow within a few months outside as well as inside from interior lighting.

you are correct, i am not a sign shop. my employer is considering purchasing a flatbed printer so i'm just doing a bit of research. thank you very much for your response, that info was extremely helpful.

 

[CreoleCuisine]

There's also smooth / ultrasmooth coro. Vendors call it different things. It still has flutes, but its smoother.

Grimco | Corrugated Plastic Panels - Ultrasmooth

www.grimco.com

ah great option! Thanks!

 

[Gino]

For what it's worth................. this is from a website all about styrene

 

[Boudica]

Interesting... does the size and thickness matter? 90% of what I use .060" HIPS for (outside use) is unit numbers for Storage units, and other signs that go on doors. None of it is that terribly large. For larger outdoor signs we would use ACM.

 

[Christian @ 2CT Media]

See if any of your supplies sell bubbleX or Corsphere. They are not cheap like coro but they are less expensive than other options and about 15x stronger than coro with a smooth face

 

[Grizzly]

Bubble-x has a similar surface as PVC (Maybe a little bit more textured) and is more durable than PVC at a similar price point. I don't like styrene or PVC outside since as they age, the tend to get brittle. In colder climates they snap really easily under 40 degrees.

 

[somcalmetim]

I find Styrene or sintra get brittle and/or turns yellow over time in the sun and shatters on impact in the cold.
Needs to be installed in a frame or with VHB tape as drilled holes usually crack after some heating and cooling.
Not sure which would actually last longer outside...I find coro will also turn brittle and crack after a couple seasons.

 

[tulsagraphics]

I don't know beans about styrene, but I don't think it's meant for outdoors. ACM is cheap, but not that cheap, about 4-10x the cost, depending on quantities your ordering. There's this other sort of coro that has a honeycomb/bubble pattern, but if I recall when I had some quoted, it was stupid expensive. I don't know if it was this stuff, but very similar if not. https://www.primexplastics.com/bubble-x/

S365 sells it for $6 more per sheet than standard coro. (they call it PolyAir). I've tried sourcing this stuff several times in the past, but it wasn't widely available (none of our main distros carry it). Couldn't justify the shipping cost.