Sign Maintenance: Top Tips
There are many different ways large signs can become dirty or discoloured. Sign maintenance is an important part of making sure the sign you spent thousands of dollars on stays bright and professional.
Sign maintenance should be preventative, meaning you should take precautions to avoid getting the sign dirty in the first place. However, this article is focused on what to do once your sign is already dirty or damaged.
Each section below summarizes common issues that affect outdoor signs and gives tips on how to fix the problem.
Click each heading to be taken to that section.
Some issues can be resolved easily, like mud or bird droppings, but if your sign is badly rusted or falling apart, you may need to replace it entirely.
A professional sign company like AGC can perform sign maintenance on your current sign, but they can also design and install a new sign for you if needed.
Contact AGC Signs today if you want more information.
1 - Dirt, Mud, or Grime
ISSUE:
Rain and dirt mix to form mud. Cars can kick up and splash a lot of mud around. If near a road, mud can get splashed onto your sign from passing traffic. If in a more rural area, local wildlife can also get your sign grimy when they interact with it.
SAFETY:
If the area is still muddy it can get slippery. Make sure you watch where you step, and if you have to use a ladder, make sure you stabilize it properly.
CLEANING TIPS:
Hose - If your sign is close enough to your building, water out of a hose will often be enough to wash away dirt or grime.
Cleaning Liquid - If water alone isn’t enough to remove the grime, try this. Mix 2 teaspoons with 1 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water. Apply to the grime with a spray bottle and wait 15 minutes, then gently wipe off.
2 - Graffiti (Paint)
ISSUE:
Large signs are always at risk of vandalism, especially when they’re low to the ground. Graffiti is usually made with spray paint but can be made with permanent markers as well. This is one of the most common issues that require sign maintenance if your business is in the city.
SAFETY:
Fortunately, paint and marker-based graffiti pose no significant dangers.
CLEANING TIPS:
Baking Soda Paste - Mix water with enough baking soda to form a paste. Apply it to the graffiti and wait 15 minutes. After, the paint should peel off.
Paint Remover - Hardware and home renovation stores sell paint remover, paint stripper, and various powerful cleaners. Those are your best bet for removing paint with as little fuss as possible. Follow instructions and safety warnings as shown on the label.
3 - Rust
ISSUE:
Rust occurs when unfinished or damaged metal oxidizes. Metal signs that spend lots of time in the rain can rust badly without regular sign maintenance.
SAFETY:
Breathing in too much rust can cause respiratory issues. Wear a mask if possible.
CLEANING TIPS:
Natural - There are a variety of natural methods to scrub rust off of metal. It’s worth trying these methods if you want to avoid causing chemical damage to the local environment.
Industrial - If you have more than a small amount of rust on your sign, consider using an industrial-grade rust remover instead. Follow instructions and safety warnings as shown on the label.
4 - General Weathering
ISSUE:
Every outdoor sign will experience some kind of weathering, and will almost always require some sort of maintenance after a few years, even if they don’t look as bad as the sign above.
SAFETY:
Weathering can make a sign less structurally safe. Avoid putting unnecessary weight on the sign if it’s badly weathered.
Be careful not to get any chipped paint, metal, or plastic into the surrounding environment. Putting down drop cloths can help catch debris as you clean.
CLEANING TIPS:
Repaint - If the paint has begun to warp and fleck off, repaint your sign. Scrape off all the old paint you can, then sand it down. Afterwards, apply a coat of primer paint, then begin adding final coats to get the sign looking how you like.
Replace - Plastic parts of signs can become yellowed or cracked over time. The only thing you can do in that case is to contact the original manufacturers of your sign and see if you can purchase replacement parts.
5 - Bird Droppings
ISSUE:
Any car, awning, building, or sign is always at risk of this: birds congregating nearby and making a mess of your property.
Bird droppings are acidic and can eat away at paint and plastic. For this reason, you should never scrub the bird poop with a sponge or abrasive before softening it, otherwise, you may scratch or damage your sign further.
SAFETY:
Remember to always wear a mask and gloves when cleaning bird droppings. Not only can bird poop contain dangerous pathogens but there’s a risk that it could trigger an allergic reaction as well.
CLEANING TIPS:
Deterrents - If you want to prevent birds from relaxing or nesting on your sign in the future, consider a deterrent such as bird spikes, a decoy of a predator bird, or even hiring a pro falconer.
Each of these methods has its downsides and isn’t without cost, but fortunately, bird droppings are not hard to clean in the meantime.
Baking Soda + Water - Mix 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda with a litre or so of hot water. Apply to the poop with a spray bottle and wait 15 minutes, then gently wipe off.
Cleaning Liquid - Mix 2 teaspoons with 1 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water. Apply to the poop with a spray bottle and wait 15 minutes, then gently wipe off.
Car Wipes - Some car mechanics sell car wipes that are meant to gently remove grime from car paint. These wipes can work great for cleaning bird droppings off large signs too.
If these tips don’t work, reapply the solution, or call a professional sign company to clean your sign for you.
AGC OFFERS SIGN MAINTENANCE, DESIGN,
INSTALLATION, & MORE
Taking care of sign damage can require specialized tools and equipment.
Working with an experienced sign company can remove the X-factor from difficult maintenance, and guarantee a result you’re happy with.
Contact AGC Signs for sign design, sign maintenance, and much more.
“AGC Signs did a great job and the price was competitive - actually less expensive than other companies that I got quotes from. They kept me up-to-date with the project and I am really pleased with their work. I would definitely use their services again.”
“Promotional Systems has been working with AGC Signs for over six years. Their “customer centric” focus and quality production & installation processes ensures that they will find efficient workable solutions.”
