Better Signs helps shops like yours to continue to produce a quality sign, but quicker and with less effort, and as a result, more profit. Outsourcing allows the sign shop to do a larger volume, with the same or greater profit per sign, without expanding the overhead. With no panels to cut and nothing to coat out, you get to concentrate on what you do best-Graphics! (also see the Why Use Blanks section)

Better Signs is dedicated to producing quality sign blanks for the sign industry.All sign blanks are manufactured using state-of-the-art CNC (computerized numerically controlled) routing machinery. With repeatability of .001″, you can be assured of consistent accuracy and quality.
What is the turn around time for sign blanks cut to my specifications?
Better Signs realizes the importance of a short lead time in today’s competitive environment. Most orders for custom and stock sign blanks are shipped the same day as ordered.

Better Signs realizes the importance of a short lead time in today’s competitive environment. Most orders for custom and stock sign blanks are shipped the same day as ordered.

Yes, they are currently available in 1/2″, and 1″. Better Signs recommends using thicker material for large signs, free-hanging signs, or double sided signs. 1/2″ PVC is the best choice for general signage, especially when it will be fastened to a wall.

Better Signs does not currently offer the sign blanks in different colors. They are only available in the standard color white at this time. This is suitable for most situations where the applied graphics provide the desired colors. The sign blanks can also be painted using standard procedures. (see Can PVC sign blanks be painted) A simple solution for sign shops that do not have spray painting facilities at their disposal, but need a sign in a custom color, is to use a quality paint product such as Superfrog Frog Juice that is packaged in aerosol cans. This product comes in a variety of colors, is quick and easy to apply, and provides a long lasting finish. Simply spray the edge of the blank, apply vinyl to the front and back, apply your lettering, and your colored sign is done.

Better Sign’s sign blanks are available in two different edge treatment styles. You have a choice of a square edge or a routed round edge.

Yes! We encourage our customers to take advantage of this free service. When you purchase a stock shape you should down-load the shape to your design program in order to facilitate the design process. Make sure that when you stretch out the design to the width that you ordered that you do it proportionately, because when you entered the width, the proportionate height was automatically calculated for you.
*These downloads are provided for our customers to facilitate the design process and we ask that you not use them for any other purpose without our consent.

Yes, PVC is an excellent substrate for the use of pressure sensitive or static cling vinyl materials. The surface must be free of dust or other small particles, degreased and dry.

There are many advantages to using PVC as a substrate for indoor and outdoor signs. It does not warp, rot, crack, or peel like wood products in similar outdoor exposures and it will not delaminate like some overlay substrates. PVC does not absorb water, which greatly increases the life span of applied graphics. Better Signs sign blanks are manufactured exclusively from PVC, which is manufactured by PVC. Extensive independent testing has shown that PVC out performs its competitors.

Weatherability/effects of outdoor exposure

Tensile Strength- Virtually no tensile strength changes have been noted in prolonged environmental exposure tests.
Color-Field testing results have shown good color maintenance. The color white has proven to be the most reliable.
UV Stability (White PVC)- One of the many advantages of expanded PVC sheet is its ultraviolet durability. PVC is made with the same ingredients found in most weatherable vinyl siding and window materials. While the concentrations of these ingredients are not the same, PVC provides a long lasting sign substrate with minimal color change.

PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) is becoming very popular to use for many outdoor products, including signs. Vinyl is widely used outdoors in the building industry for siding, windows, trim, etc. An expanded PVC trim very similar to our sign blanks is gaining in popularity for exterior house trim. Vinyl fencing is very popular with styles ranging from picket fences to post and rail fences.

Better Signs has made every effort to identify the leading manufacturer of expanded PVC sheet. Tests have shown that PVC beats the competition for colorfastness in accelerated weather studies. PVC is made with the same ingredients found in most weatherable vinyl siding and window materials. PVC, in the color white, was virtually unchanged in independent weatherability comparison tests. Generally, the darker the color, the more perceptible it is to fading. For certain applications, it may be reasonable to give the sign a quick coat of a vinyl UV clear, such as T.J, Ronans (www.ronanpaints.com) Vinyl Cote UV Absorber. This will further enhance the UV resistance of the sign for superior performance.

PVC is manufactured with a satin finish PVC outer skin and a cellular PVC inner core, which are produced in a single, proprietary operation to eliminate the problems of delamination occurring in some composites. PVC has a closed cell inner core that has water absorption of less than 3%. This means that if you choose to paint the sign blank, it won’t peel due to internal water pressure like some wood composites. PVC does not warp, rot, crack, or peel like wood products in similar outdoor exposures. PVC is one of the few sign substrates where the edges don’t require any finishing.

Although life is full of compromises, and PVC is not the best choice for every sign, Better Signs is confident that expanded PVC is a good choice for many of today’s interior and exterior applications. We believe that it is a good compromise between weatherability, workability, paintability, and ease of use.