What is a signage substrate and what one should I use

Have you rung up a signage supplier wanting to purchase a sign for your area, and then been asked what substrate you wish to use? Were you confused as to what they were referring to?   

For people who aren’t in the signage industry, convoluted signage processes and terms can be overwhelming! But don’t stress, it’s actually quite simple.

When asked ‘what substrate do you require’, the supplier is essentially asking what material you want the backing of the sign to be.  

There are 5 main substrates that will be explained in depth in this article. What substrate you choose will depend on firstly what medium the sign is being attached to, and secondly where the sign is being used. For example, if the sign is being fixed to a pole in a carpark, an aluminium substrate is most common. However if the sign is being fixed to temporary fencing on a construction site, then a polypropylene is the substrate to choose!

So here are the 5 most common substrates; 

• Polypropylene
  Poly, which is short for polypropylene, is a lightweight synthetic resin material ideal for temporary applications. This is a popular substrate because it is lightweight and easy to install on a variety of mediums including uneven surfaces or around pillars because this material is flexible and will somewhat wrap around curved surfaces. Poly signs can easily be attached to gates or fences with cable ties. Area Safe’s polypropylene is 2mm thick and is UV stable. 

• Metal
  Metal, sometimes referred to as Colourbond, is fairly self-explanatory! It is a common substrate choice, ideal for permanent safety signs as it is heavy duty and will last for 10+ years. Whilst this type of sign will suit a variety of mediums and applications, it is great for concrete or brick walls at schools, shopping centres, industrial buildings and so on. Area Safe stocks metal sign blanks in a variety of sizes, 0.6mm thick. 

• Aluminium
  Whilst aluminium is heavy duty and long lasting, it is often the preferred substrate because of its lightweight and non-corrosive properties. This is the required material for all road signs.

• Alupanel
  Alupanel is a high-performance composite material consisting of two aluminium sheets bonded to an extruded thermoplastic core. As a result of this technology, we have created a perfectly flat and very formable material. Alupanel is ideal for large and irregular size safety signs because of its excellent strength-to-weight ratio. It is very durable (3mm thickness) has exceptional rigidity, is quick to install and easy to maintain! 

• Self-Adhesive Vinyl
  As the name suggests, a self-adhesive vinyl substrate is essentially a heavy-duty sticker! These are ideal for applying to steel surfaces such as steel fences, gates, machinery etc, and can easily be fully curved around uneven and curved surfaces, with flexibility unlike any of the above substrate options. Whilst most self-adhesive vinyl stickers are very sticky and adhere well, these should not be used on concrete or brick walls as the textured surface will cause the sticker to peel quicker than desired. Before applying the sticker, the surface should be cleaned thoroughly to ensure the sticker is long lasting. 

So there you have it! A simplified summary of the most popular signage substrates and a guide to help you pick the right one for you. Placing your next signage order couldn’t be easier.