Sign Refurbishing

If you’ve had the same business signage for more than five years there is a good chance that your signs are not as energy efficient as they could be. Replacing outdated, inefficient and inoperative lighting technologies and components is the number one reason SUN SIGN COMPANY is called upon to refurbish signs. Let’s face facts, old neon and T12 fluorescent tubes are dim and lacking when compared with new LEDs or induction lighting.

New lighting technologies have given us lighting that is not only safer and more energy efficient but far more brilliant than the dated lighting technologies of the last decade.

Are you wondering what is reason number two for the high number of calls for sign refurbishment? That would be sign face replacements. Old, dull, sun-faded polycarbonate not only looks unattractive but it doesn’t refract light well. You’ve seen this, I’m sure, where you literally can’t read a sign even though it seems to be amply lit. There may be reflections, scratches or just dirt and grime from years of neglect blocking the light and the message. Or, faces may have become dull, brittle or spider-cracked from long exposure to the UV rays of the Sun.

Hotspots are another problem I'll bet you’ve seen.  Have you ever noticed how, oftentimes, you can count the fluorescent tubes or LEDs in a pole sign or building sign just driving by it on the road? Obviously, this shouldn’t be the case and it detracts from the message. The problem here may not be lighting. Rather, the polycarbonate substrate from which the sign face is cut may be too thin or it may be lacking light management vinyl on the back side known as light diffusion film.

Light diffusion is needed to dissipate and break up the light rays. However, diffusion wasn’t needed or used with any frequency in times past when lighting wasn’t as intense and bright as it is now-days. But, lighting hotspots sure stand out when new lighting is paired with old sign faces.

For best results, new sign lighting should be paired with new sign faces.


Just as there have been advancements in technology to boost light output using less energy, sign face polycarbonate has seen equal advancements in its ability to refract lighting without the use of light management films.  Light management is built into the substrate.   New polycarbonate and acrylic substrates produce a smooth glow across a sign face all but eliminating unsightly hotspots.  No film required.

LIGHTING HOTSPOTS ARE MORE PREVALENT

The primary reason we see conditions such as hotspots with more frequency is that modern sign lighting is brighter and less forgiving.  Its rarely a match made in Heaven when new lighting is installed and original sign faces are reused, especially when they are reused without adding a layer of diffusion. Some sign companies say they simply can’t afford the extra expense of using sign diffusion film to reduce hotspots.  Others skimp by, opting to use a less expensive generic versions of light management vinyls that are less translucent than brand name materials.

“Make no mistake,” says David Williams, owner of SUN SIGN COMPANY, “any vinyl film or print used on the frontside or backside of a sign face may change for the better or worse how a sign message looks and how readable it is. Choosing a good pairing of lighting, sign face substrate and vinyls or print inks is as important as getting the right toppings on your pizza. The wrong pairings will leave a bitter taste every time."

Polycarbonate faces and vinyls must be chosen thoughtfully to insure they work  harmoniously with the specific internal or external lighting that has been chosen so the sign cabinet will illuminate properly.

MORE REASONS FOR SIGN REFURBISHMENTS

Other sign refurbishments are performed by SUN SIGN COMPANY to enhance the dated look and safety of older sign cabinets. Rusty sheet steel, worn hinges and prop struts, as well as loose or missing hardware render sign cabinets unsafe and susceptible to critical damage from harsh wind and unpredictable weather.

Sign refurbishment can give you peace of mind.

 Call on the experts at SUN SIGN COMPANY to refurbish your sign and there will be no more worries about where the pieces of a sign face will scatter when wind howls. No fearing that a cabinet will fall, or that rain will penetrate into a sign cabinet through a rust hole and short out electrical power supplies and start a fire. Best of all, with sign refurbishment the message on your sign’s faces will be capable of being read with minimal distraction allowing your sign to do what it was designed to do - sell potential customers on doing business with your store.

Sign refurbishing could reinvigorate your sign, making it look like new and allowing you to take advantage of increased energy efficiency, all for a lower price than the cost of full sign replacement.

If you are interested in learning more and finding out if your older sign qualifies for refurbishment or restoration, reach out to us. You'll find contact information for SUN SIGN COMPANY on every page of this website.  It will only take a few minutes of your time and could end up saving you money, not only on the repair but every hour your sign it is operational.