Temporary Exterior Sign

[paul luszcz]

What would you recommend for a temporary exterior sign, when the customer doesn't want a banner and their sign is over 12' long?

This is for a very nice restaurant and they waited until the week before they opened to finalize their logo. I would normally recommend a banner, but they know it may be up to eight weeks before their permanent sign is installed and they don't want the look of a banner.

I think a banner could look fine, as long as it's stretched taut. It's going on a wall over the entrance, but this strange building is so tall the sign will be over 15' off the ground. This means installation, even of a banner, requires a bucket truck. It also means you won't see this sign up close.

The only other material I can think of that comes 12' long without a seam is polycarbonate.

Handling, decoration, installation and removal could easily cost $1000.

Any other suggestions?

 

[fresh]

We can get 4x12 corex sheets, but I don't think that will look any better than a well-installed banner. Did they have a budget in mind for the temp sign?

 

[graphicwarning]

Maybe some coroplast, or stinger? http://stinger.coroplast.com

 

[CanuckSigns]

I second the budget issues, do you know what they are going to be comfortable spending on this before you waste your time researching options? If they only want to spend a few hundred dollars (which I imagine they do) explain to them that for that price a banner is the best they are going to get, or coroplast.

 

[Gino]

3mil aluminum composite can be up to 60" x 150" without a seam.

 

[Billct2]

I agree, ACM would look best. But they're going to spend more for the temp sign than most spend on a permament one.
Are there no other options, ones that wouldn't require a bucket truck? Windows signs? A ground sign?

 

[CanuckSigns]

I agree, ACM would look best. But they're going to spend more for the temp sign than most spend on a permament one.
Are there no other options, ones that wouldn't require a bucket truck? Windows signs? A ground sign?

I agree, explain to them that even a cheap sign has to be installed properly, with a bucket truck etc. that is going to cost more than they want to spend most likley.

We get people come in the shop looking for "gag signs" for a buddy's birthday or retirement, they think since it's not a "real" sign it's only going to cost a few bucks, but they don't understand that it takes the same amount of time & materials to make a "joke sign" as a real one.

 

[MikePro]

Phototex has an opaque version. Quick print & install, and comes in 100' rolls.

 

[paul luszcz]

Gino, where do you get such large sheets? Our local sign distributors don't carry them. Are you using AlucoBond when you get that large?

Mike, what is the advantage of Phototex? Are you saying to it will adhere right to the Dryvit?

 

[MikePro]

Ah, dryvit. missed that part. was imagining a sign cabinet you needed to cover.
Anywho, I've used Phototex's high-tack to adhere to dryvit temporarily BUT it definitely has that "banner-look".
You could "fancy-it-up" a bit with some hand-trimming (phototex doesn't cut too well on a plotter). Rounded corners or letter-shapes, its up to you.

I would still secure/stitch with a staple-gun, just in case, if you do go this route. Plan that into your print, by making a dark-outline around the logo to camouflage the staples and make look less-like a ChuckTaylor logo? idk. I tend to overthink things.
Regardless, staples&phototex on Dryvit are easily removeable.

 

[Gino]

Gino, where do you get such large sheets? Our local sign distributors don't carry them. Are you using AlucoBond when you get that large?

Mike, what is the advantage of Phototex? Are you saying to it will adhere right to the Dryvit?

Various suppliers around us carry it. Our suppliers won't do you any good, as the freight will kill you. You'll just need to keep calling around, til ya find someone. About $128.00 a sheet. Don't know the name. I just order and the shop people peel it, so until it comes in again, I don't know.

 

[iSign]

I think we all tend to fear seams too much...

I think banners do look tacky up close, but agree that you're client is probably fearing that tacky look to much as well, considering the height...

...but the alternative of a two piece sign seems like the lesser of evils to me. A seam might look unfortunate on an 8' sign, especially if it were eye level... but I think the average consumer would barely notice a nicely done seam 15' up, any more then they would notice the lines in T-1-11 or concrete block..

 

[GAC05]

You could build a 12' frame from wood, gallery wrap it with the printed banner so the frame does not show.
Light, easy to produce, low cost & easy to hang.
From 15' up it will not look like a banner and will last far longer than needed.


Wayne k
guam usa

 

[Z SIGNS]

What would you recommend for a temporary exterior sign, when the customer doesn't want a banner and their sign is over 12' long?

This is for a very nice restaurant and they waited until the week before they opened to finalize their logo. I would normally recommend a banner, but they know it may be up to eight weeks before their permanent sign is installed and they don't want the look of a banner.

I think a banner could look fine, as long as it's stretched taut. It's going on a wall over the entrance, but this strange building is so tall the sign will be over 15' off the ground. This means installation, even of a banner, requires a bucket truck. It also means you won't see this sign up close.

The only other material I can think of that comes 12' long without a seam is polycarbonate.

Handling, decoration, installation and removal could easily cost $1000.

Any other suggestions?

Others have offered some good suggestions.

I don't think a job like this about substrates it's about end result.

For example sign shop A can provide a nicely seamed whatever ac whatchamacallit
and sign shop B can do a no seem whatchamacallit that is cheaper than sign shop A

Then there is sign shop C that can create a remarkable rendering executed
on cheap banner material that is easy to handle and install and looks so much or better than the final sign it would blow you away.

Again I don't think it's about substrates.It's about what's best for all involved..

I would go with sign shop C thinking

 

[heyskull]

A banner is already classed as a "temporary sign" anything else is the real deal.
I think this customer of yours is just wanting the "moon on a stick"
If your customer is worried about tacky they will have to find more $$$$ for the real thing.

SC

 

[visual800]

What would you recommend for a temporary exterior sign, when the customer doesn't want a banner and their sign is over 12' long?

Any other suggestions?

You guys have got to have a larger set and tell these folks their options and stop wasting time with them. They want temp and they want it quick and they want 12' long...THEY GET A DAMN BANNER.

As OP mentioned it appears they drug their a$$ on the logo and it lead to this THEY GET A BANNER! People want stuff because they think they can have it. banners can be done or ordered quick, cheap and installs a breeze.

This is not complicated science