Outdoor signs are a simple yet elegant way of helping your property stand out, whether it’s a commercial or residential piece. Now, most times, these signs arrive and are installed looking pristine and in good condition. But after being exposed to the elements for a while, things often change drastically. As such, it pays to know how to make an outdoor sign weatherproof.
The best way to ensure this is to pick the right type of base wood, prepare a solid wood frame, apply putty where necessary, get a strong coating agent and wood sealer before properly protecting the sign edges.
True, this might sound like a lot of work (and it is!). However, the benefit of taking the pains to do it is that long-term, it’ll save costs and effectively prevent your property from looking like an eyesore!
Contents
Why It’s Important to Waterproof Outdoor Signs
For the most part, everyone knows that sign structures generally are rather durable. Whether they’re meant for indoor or outdoor use, the purpose for which they are created makes them stand out, often giving the impression that they don’t need much care and maintenance in the process.
However, nothing could be farther from the truth!
No matter how well-built or sturdy a sign is, you still need to do some things to ensure that it lasts its shelf life at the very least.
This is more so the case when the sign in question will be left exposed to the actions of the elements. Consistent sunshine followed by rain and/or intense wind will damage even the strongest outdoor sign if it isn’t well protected!
Waterproofing your sign makes it immune to the build of moisture which is usually the first step down the path to its deterioration. So, by preparing your sign against this force, you effectively ensure that it serves you that much longer.
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Materials Needed for Waterproofing Your Outdoor Signs
You can’t protect your precious outdoor sign from the effects of rain, dew, and high and low humidity alone! To ensure that you have a sign that won’t quit on you after a few months or even years, you need to get certain materials.
Some of the resources you’ll need range from a supply of quality hardwood to rolls of authentic, coarse sandpaper. You’ll also need to get a strong and sturdy putty knife, two paintbrushes, and a few plastic edge caps.
In addition to this, you should also get personal protective equipment like overalls to protect your clothes, hand gloves, and eye shields. You’ll also need a nose mask to prevent some of the fine particles that may result from this process from entering your air pathways.
With all of these tools at the ready, we’re now set to get to the work at hand!
Waterproofing Outdoor Signs Like a Pro
To make your signpost fully resistant to the effects of the weather, make sure you follow these steps in order. Start with;
Step 1: Choose the Right Type of Base Wood
It all starts and ends with this particular factor.
Even if you give your signpost the best waterproofing treatment, if the base wood isn’t durable enough, don’t be surprised if it falls apart in no time!
The best type of wood for the job is one that is very thick and already naturally robust against the forces of the elements. Some of the types of wood that fit this description perfectly include cypress, redwood, and red cedar. They’re also great choices because they’re readily available and aren’t too expensive.
However, if you can’t use any of the above-mentioned wood types for any reason, treated wood can serve you quite well, too.
The most important thing is ensuring that any wood your signpost is made of is strong and sufficiently thick enough.
Step 2: Prepare the Wood Frame
After you’ve successfully chosen your wood frame, the next task becomes molding it into the best form and structure for the task at hand. This means sanding the wood panels.
At this point, you call on your rolls of sandpaper. Make sure that you use it to go over the surface of the panels repeatedly until you’ve achieved a perfectly smooth plane.
A smooth surface is necessary for your waterproofing efforts to be successful because it effectively reduces water and moisture retention. As such, your outdoor sign will be that much more resistant to the effects of humidity, dew, and moisture that would typically stick to its grains.
Step 3: Consider Putty Application
Whether you carry out this process or not is dependent on what type of look you’re going for with your outdoor sign.
If you’re shooting for a rustic, weathered look with the signpost, then you don’t need to get your putty knife.
However, if you want to cover any damaged areas or reduce the visibility of deep scratches or gouges on the surface of the wood, you would need to go over it with smooth wood putty.
Make sure to apply it firmly and evenly with a balanced putty knife.
Step 4: Introduce a Strong Coating Agent
At this point, you apply a water repellent preservative to the finished wood.
The presence of this component is essential as it further complements all your efforts thus far.
Depending on your personal preference, you may decide to coat your outdoor sign with this agent before or after the final sealer.
However, we suggest you apply the coating before as this may significantly increase the outdoor sign’s resistance to the elements. In addition to this, it’ll also add to the longevity of any paint you end up applying.
While purchasing your water repellent preservative, please ensure you get one that has a solid enough consistency for you to paint over.
Step 5: Paint the Structure
This is where you start to beautify your outdoor sign.
As you know, there are different types of paints you can use. However, please note that only a few of these are right for use outdoors. So, in addition to considering aesthetics, make sure that you pick a type of paint specifically manufactured for the outdoors.
In addition to properly applying a strong coating agent, this is arguably the next most important thing that you need to do.
While you have a considerable range of options here, if you want to get the best results, we strongly recommend you consider acrylic-based paints. As these have superior retention, they’ll serve you much better than most other paint types.
Also, for the application process, be sure to apply the paint in multiple thin coats as this will further improve the substance’s effectiveness.
Enamel is also a great option as it’s been known to give wooden surfaces a tougher exterior. And, in recent times, some paint products have been developed that possess both preservative and water repellent properties. These are also worth considering as well.
Step 6: Use a Potent Wood Sealer
The penultimate step to making your outdoor sign completely immune to the weather is applying a strong wood sealer.
Make sure that the paint has dried completely and they use your second, clean paintbrush to go over the entire body of the outdoor sign again. For a strong and lasting result, we advise that you go over the body of the sign with the wood sealer at least twice.
Let the first coat dry completely before applying the second coat.
This will effectively ensure that the wood doesn’t degrade. Also, the paint won’t fade as easily.
Step 7: Protect the Sign Edges
The more exposed the grain of the wood is, the higher the likelihood of water retention. For this reason, you need to take extra steps to protect the edges of your outdoor sign. For the most part, Steps 1 through 6 should take care of this for you,
However, just to be on the safer side, you should add plastic edge caps to the ends of your outdoor sign.
With this, it’ll be completely fortified, no matter what the weather might bring!
How to Maintain Your Outdoor Sign
So, you’ve given your outdoor signs all the resources it needs to serve you long and well. However, your job doesn’t end there!
You need to carry out timely maintenance services on it as well.
This includes cleaning it at regular intervals, trimming back any leaves or trees around it, and spraying its immediate surroundings with pesticide to prevent attacks from insects that might compromise its structural integrity.
By carrying out these measures in a timely and efficient manner, you ensure that your signpost doesn’t just serve you well but that it looks gorgeous while doing so!
Takeaway
As the saying goes, “The devil is in the details.”
Don’t be surprised to learn that many people often judge how well a property is cared for simply by looking at things like the curb and the outdoor sign! When you know how to make an outdoor sign waterproof, you subtly let the world know that you care about your property and are willing to do what it takes to keep it in perfect shape!