Building services companies get judged on whether things last. Your sign is the first product
of yours a client ever sees, and if it has gone gray and lifted at the edges after two winters,
that says something you would rather it did not.
Wood outdoors is entirely doable. It just has to be built for it from the start, and that
decision happens before anything is cut.
The project
A building services company came to us needing something that would live outdoors. We built it
on ebony with green and orange lettering, which is a combination that works harder outside than
it looks.
Dark bases are the right call for exterior wood. As any timber weathers it tends to gray and
lighten, and on a pale base that shows as patchiness. On ebony it reads as depth. The bright
lettering then does the work of being seen from a distance, which is what matters when someone
is looking for you from a road or a yard entrance.
What an exterior build actually changes
| Interior sign | Exterior sign | |
|---|---|---|
| Finish | Stain and seal | Plus exterior grade clear coat |
| Coats | Fewer, one cure cycle | Several, with cure time between each |
| Preparation | Standard sanding | Surface has to be perfectly clean before spraying, any dust shows permanently |
| Lead time | About a week | Longer, and the cure time cannot be rushed |
| Color | Stain shows true | Slightly deeper, the coat darkens the tone |
| Maintenance | None | Recoat every few years if fully exposed |
The clear coat is the reason exterior signs take longer, and it is worth planning around
rather than discovering later.
Making an outdoor sign last
- Shelter beats no shelter, dramatically. Under an eave, a canopy or a porch,
you multiply the life of the sign. - Avoid the weather side of the building where you have a choice.
- Dark stains hide ageing. White wash and natural show it first.
- Size up. Outdoors there is nothing to give scale. A sign that dominates a
workshop wall looks modest on a building frontage. - Recoat before it needs it. A fresh coat every two or three seasons is far
cheaper than a replacement.
See sizes and exterior options
Frequently asked questions
How long does an exterior wood sign last?
With a clear coat and some shelter, years. In full sun and rain, plan on recoating periodically.
Wood is a natural material and it moves with the weather.
Can you go large enough for a building frontage?
Up to 60 inches on the long side, which is bigger than most sign shops can produce or ship.
Do you do matching interior signs?
Yes. Reception, office and yard signage from the same spec, and ordering them together costs
less per sign.
What if the logo has fine detail?
Very fine elements sometimes need thickening slightly so they survive the cut and hold up
outdoors. We show you any change on the proof first.
See yours before you commit
Every job starts with a free digital proof so you can approve the design and
the stain before we cut anything. Made in the USA and shipped nationwide.
Related:
contractor signs ·
home builder signs ·
industrial company signs
