How To Choose The Outdoor Letters For A Building
Outdoor lettering is a great way to attract attention to your business, but you need to ensure that you are choosing the right letters. Choosing the wrong letters could cause major problems for your business from customers not viewing your business favorably to high maintenance costs. This is why you should consider certain factors when you look at the outdoor letters for your building.
The Type Of Letters You Are Getting
There are 2 types of outdoor lettering that you should consider getting for a building. The first is dimensional lettering and the second is channel lettering. Each will have their own benefits and drawbacks that you will need to consider and assess.
Dimensional lettering will be non-illuminated signs and are generally favored for their effectiveness. Dimensional letters ate distinct and clear making them ideal for outdoor signs. There are also a number of finishing options that you can choose from which will ensure that your business values shine through.
Channel lettering will be illuminated signs and are similar to dimensional letters. The primary difference is that these letters will have some form of lighting effects which allow them to illuminate the letters. Channel lettering brings the benefit of being visible in the day and night which is ideal for business visibility.
.
The Materials Being Used
Once you have determined the type of lettering you are going to get, you will need to consider the materials which will be used. There are many materials that you can use and they will have different benefits and costs. It is important that you consider this because you need to stay within your budget and get the most out of your signs.
Plastic is a commonly used material for outdoor letters because it is versatile and can be very affordable. The primary plastics that are used will be PVC, vinyl, acrylic, and plaques. Plastic lettering will generally be painted to add some color, but this material will be subject to fading over time.
Another commonly used material is metal which offers better durability than plastic. The different designs that are used will impact the style of the lettering and the overall aesthetics. There are many different metals that can be used including cast aluminum, stainless steel, brass, and aluminum. It is important to note that metal outdoor letters will generally be heavier than others and will need to be correctly anchored to ensure they are safely used.
The last material that you should consider when looking at outdoor letters is letter foam. This foam will offer you a light-weight option with high-density. Of course, it is important to note that this material will not provide the durability of metal and you may have to replace it more often.
The Styles Of The Outdoor Letters
There are many styles that you can choose between when you look at outdoor lettering and you need to consider this. Some of these styles will only be available when you use certain materials and you will need to be aware of this. If you want to use a certain style, you will need to use a material that matches the best.
One of the styles that you can consider is a painted finish, but this will generally be available for acrylic letters. When these letters are painted, it will increase their durability and visibility. The versatility offered by painting these letters will also allow you to be more creative with your letter design.
Another style that you should consider is metal laminate. When you use this style, you will have metal letters which are laminated to plastic or foam. The edges will then be painted to provide a metal look. This kind of laminating will add dimension to the letters which can set your lettering apart from others.
The Thickness Of The Letters
Once you know the style of the letters that you want, you should also consider the thickness of these letters. Dimensional letters will generally come in a thickness range of 1/8 inch to 2 inches. You should choose the thickness that best suits the style you are using and what you want to achieve with the lettering.
If you have chosen illuminated letters, it is important to note that they will generally be thicker than dimensional ones. Illuminated letters will generally have a thickness range of 3 to 5 inches. If you are going to have reverse-lit channel letters, they will generally be 3 inches deep. There will also need to be additional wall spacers for the lighting effects to be placed. Other illuminated letters will generally be 5 inches deep.
Choosing the right outdoor lettering for your building is important and you will need to consider all of the options available. You will need to know the style that you want as well as the type of lighting before looking at the materials.
Also, read our next article on LED Channel Letters.