The Difference
Traditionally-made signs typically use lettering and graphics that are applied to the surface of a substrate such as plastic, metal or wood. With permanent-signs.com, our graphics are actually inlayed into a DuPont Corian surface.
Paint-meets-substrate combinations are naturally vulnerable to damage from external conditions like moisture, sunlight, climate, animals, and more.
permanent-signs.com’s computer-driven, hand-finished process uniquely integrates the graphics and lettering into the Corian surface.
Performance Signage | Stone | Wood | Metal or Plastic | |
Natural Conditions | Natural Conditions | Natural Conditions | Natural Conditions | Natural Conditions |
Water | No adverse effect | Mold and mildew grow in the surface. | Swells and rots. Substrate warps and cracks. Applied graphics may delaminate. | Rust and corrosion on surface and/or at fasteners. |
Sunlight | No adverse effect | No adverse effect | Overdries wood and causes splitting. Applied graphics may fade. | Applied paint and/or vinyl fade and/or wear away. |
Airborne Contaminants / Road Salt | No adverse effect | Dirt collects in recessed graphic areas, then streaks the sign face. | Dirt collects in recessed graphic areas, then streaks the sign face. | Applied paint and/or vinyl fade and/or wear away. |
Freeze / Thaw | No adverse effect | Potential for erosion (spalling) of the face from expansion/contraction. | Expansion of absorbed moisture results in warping and/or splitting. Applied graphics may delaminate. | Applied paint and/or vinyl may delaminate. |
Insects | No adverse effect | No adverse effect | Termites, worms, powder post beetles and ants eat the wood. | No adverse effect |
Bird Droppings | No adverse effect | Staining occurs and is uncleanable. Porous stone is permanently damaged. | Very difficult to clean recessed graphics or textured areas. Somewhat cleanable, but with potential to damage applied graphics with tools and/or chemicals. | Cleanable, but with potential to damage applied graphics with tools and/or chemicals. |
Man-Made Conditions and Vandalism | Man-Made Conditions and Vandalism | Man-Made Conditions and Vandalism | Man-Made Conditions and Vandalism | Man-Made Conditions and Vandalism |
Paint, Stains, Markers | No adverse effect | Contaminants can be permanently absorbed into pores in the substrate. “Cleaning” requires physical removal of the sign surface. | Contaminants can be permanently absorbed into pores in the substrate. “Cleaning” requires physical removal of the sign surface. | Possibly cleanable, but with potential to damage applied graphics with tools and/or chemicals. |
Scratches | Very scratch resistant. Scratches can be buffed out without affecting the graphics. | Difficult to scratch, but very difficult to repair. | Very easily scratched, and difficult to repair. Scratches expose vulnerable core materials to weathering. | Easy to scratch base materials and/or applied graphics. |
Soda, Food, Beer / Alcohol | No adverse effect | Difficult to clean from recessed areas. Porous stone may be permanently stained. | Difficult to clean from recessed graphics and/or textured areas. May cause permanent stains in porous substrates. | No adverse effect |
Chewing Gum | No adverse effect | Difficult to remove from recessed areas and/or porous surfaces. | Almost impossible to remove from recessad graphics or textured surfaces. | Cleanable, but with potential to damage applied graphics with tools and/or chemicals. |