The Great American Sign Company

We work with a variety of materials and each one brings its own unique feel, benefits and drawbacks. The information below will help you to decide which solutions best suit your needs and budget. We will also provide our recommendations, and you can always contact us with any questions.

RESIN SCULPTING

If you really want to blow away your competition or impress customers, clients or friends a sculpted sign is the way to go. We use an epoxy product specially made for the sign industry that hardens like concrete. Indoors or out, this product lasts, It can withstand temperatures from -50F to 450F and with a coat of premium latex paint looks amazing. The possibilities are endless; to see some more samples of this exciting new medium, look in our dimensional sign gallery.

POLYURETHANE FOAM

Polyurethane foam was created by the sign industry to replace wood. It is similar to wood in weight, thickness and texture. It can be shaped as easily as wood. It is a solid material with no seams. It will not warp, split, crack or rot like wood. It is water- and insect-proof.

Polyurethane does need to be painted, and it should be washed or waxed at least once a year in order to maintain a new look to the sign. Customers often choose foam over less expensive options for the luxurious look of the thicker material. The welcome signs for Madison, Drew and Fairleigh Dickinson University are examples of foam signs.

PVC PLASTIC

A new product being used for carved signs is PVC. It is a strong, no maintenance board. We recommend this product, because it does not have to be painted. It is strong and light weight. It comes white through and through. It is water- and insect-proof.

Carved Letters are painted. Colored backgrounds are self-adhesive vinyl that carries a 7-year no peal or fade guarantee from the manufacturer. PVC is a good, and less expensive, alternative to Polyurethane foam.

WOOD

Nothing beats the beauty of wood. We love to incorporate wood into our interior signs. Unfortunately, our harsh Northeast weather is not kind to wood finishes outdoors. The quality of wood available for outdoor use is not as good as it was 15 years ago so we do not recommend real wood signs outdoors in this region of the country as they can split, crack or warp within a month after installation. For outdoor signs we recommend Polyurethane Foam which can be used to create very realistic wood finishes and textures with lasting colors and finishes.

PLYWOOD

MDO Plywood is perfectly flat and factory painted. It cannot be carved. It is a less expensive option for customers who want a wood product and will not consider the use of plastic. It will not last forever outdoors. The paint on the edges will fail within a few years followed by warping and rotting.

ALUMINUM

Aluminum is strong, durable and factory painted. It is excellent for traffic signs or flat cut lettering.

Looking for ideas? Take a moment to browse through some of our recent work!