To Laminate or Not To Laminate.... That Is The Question!
December 08, 2017
Many types of signs and banners are considered "temporary signage," with the normal length of time to be displayed being weeks or months, not years.
And since temporary signage is not expected to last for years, it's not usually laminated. It's just printed on the media and that's it.
But many companies also provide lamination services. Laminating a sign or banner includes printing on the media (usually vinyl,) and then running the media through a large laminator that adheres a clear-coat layer on top of the printed media.
Laminating media will increase the durability against the elements by adding the extra coating. (Laminates can be applied with both matte and glossy finishes.)
Laminating an item is an extra step, and most sign companies charge for the time and material. It can add 20% to 50% additional cost to your item depending on the size of the sign or banner.
So when should you choose to laminate your sign or banner? Here are several things to consider:
1) Rain and snow will have the greatest impact on your sign or banner. If you're in an area with a lot of rain or snow, it may be worth the extra expense. Some types of printing inks don't stand up well to rain. The ink can fade fast. Ask your sign company what type of printers they use and if they recommend laminating in your area.
2) Is it windy in your area? Laminating can provide additional strength- especially to banners. If you're in a windy area, you may want to laminated as well as have your sign company make wind-slits in your banners.
3) Will people or items come in touch with your sign or banner (or kiosk display?) If items may come in contact with your sign or display, you should definitely laminate it. We provide kiosk displays for companies. The kiosks are wrapped with laminated vinyl that provides an extra amount of durability. The kiosks are often bumped or have items placed near them that can rub or scratch the display. Without lamination, the display would be badly damaged fairly quickly.
4) What's your definition of "temporary signage?" Although most banners, for example, aren't meant to last for years, we've definitely had customers display banners for 3 to 5 years or longer! Our pole banners are often displayed in parking lots for at least 3 or 4 years. Laminating these banner helps them last through the elements. But if you're ordering a banner and aren't sure how long you'll leave it up, invest the additional amount to laminate if you think your banner may need to last for a long time.
Thanks for reading!
Cheers,
Chris
ps, interested in more information about laminating your sign or banner? Call us now: 866-267-5814, or press live chat!
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