Could you ever imagine that the same metal used in airplanes, tech gadgets, or food containers is also used to advertise businesses and decorate corporate settings?
Almost all sign-making companies offer a wide variety of metal plaques. It helps customers create signage that truly interprets their brand identity. Still, the real challenge arises when people are unable to distinguish between the different types of aluminum signs.
This blog explains the differences between standard, brushed, and reflective aluminum signs, including their characteristics, usage, and popularity.
Key Takeaways
- Standard aluminum is the most widely used metal in the commercial industry. It’s budget-friendly, lightweight, easy to install, and looks practical.
- Brushed aluminum signs ooze elegance, professionalism, and precision. They’re suitable as name plates, award plaques, and wayfinding signs in corporate offices, clinics, and hotels.
- Reflective aluminum signs are used outdoors to display road and regulatory signs. Reflective metal signs provide 24/7 advertising with clear legibility from a distance.
The Different Types of Aluminum Signs
Aluminum signs ensure long-lasting performance for your brand, providing an elegant and sleek appearance. Each type has its own advantages, characteristics, and usage.
Standard Aluminum
Standard aluminum signs are the traditional choice that complements any company design. This product is available in different thicknesses. As a general rule, the larger the aluminum sign, the thicker it should be to prevent bending. Regular aluminum signs come with one-sided or double-sided full-color printing that covers the entire surface of the product.
Standard aluminum is weather-resistant. With proper care, it remains sleek, vibrant, and rust-free for an extended period. The main disadvantage is the full-coated printing, which disguises its metallic appearance and gives it a basic look.
Brushed Aluminum
Brushed aluminum signs exude elegance and professionalism with their metallic look. Available in single- and double-sided printing, a brushed aluminum plaque maintains its mill-finished metallic face. You can get it in different sizes, shapes, and thicknesses.
Brushed aluminum signs are suitable for creating nameplates and directional signs for offices, healthcare centers, and more. Their polished finish communicates trust, quality, and cleanliness.
Reflective Aluminum
Reflective aluminum signs are another popular type of metal signage widely used for regulatory purposes. In comparison to standard and brushed aluminum signs, reflective aluminum provides 24/7 advertising thanks to its unique characteristics. This product consists of composite aluminum and a reflective vinyl coating. At night, the vinyl face reflects light. Any light shining on the sign illuminates its entire face and helps people read the message from afar.
Reflective aluminum signs stand up to weather changes and last long. They come in different shapes, sizes, and printing options.
| Characteristic | Standard Aluminum | Brushed Aluminum | Reflective Aluminum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Basic | Brushed metallic | Reflective |
| Printing | Single- and double-sided | Single- and double-sided | Single- and double-sided |
| Thickness | 0.040”, 0.060”, 0.080” | 0.032”, 0.125” | 0.125” |
| Lifespan | More than 10 years with proper care | More than 5 years with proper care | More than 5 years with proper care |
| Durability | Durable but prone to bending and scratching over time | Durable with less damage than standard aluminum | Durable but prone to peeling over time |
| Indoor Use | Directional and wayfinding signs, Safety plaques, Branding signs, Decorative signs | Directional and wayfinding signs, Branding signs, Healthcare signage, Safety plaques, Awards and recognition panels, Decorative signs | Not applicable for indoor use |
| Outdoor Use | Traffic and parking signs, Advertising signs, Construction signs, Safety plaques | Traffic and parking signs, Advertising signs, Construction signs, Safety plaques | Traffic and road signs, Parking and regulatory signs, Construction plaques, Emergency panels, Safety plaques |
Standard vs. Brushed Aluminum
The difference between standard and brushed aluminum signs is their appearance. A standard aluminum sign has a white protective coating that disguises its metallic look and gives the printed areas extra vibrancy. A brushed aluminum sign, on the other hand, has a polished metallic appearance coated with a transparent protective layer.
Brushed aluminum can be made of a single sheet or a composite aluminum. The latter is comprised of two aluminum faces and a plastic core sandwiched between. A standard aluminum sign is always a single metal sheet.
Standard vs. Reflective Aluminum
Standard and reflective aluminum signs may look identical. However, they differ in their printing options. Standard aluminum signs are directly printed using UV-inks, whereas reflective aluminum signs have a reflective vinyl adhered to the metal surface.
A regular aluminum display is mainly visible in the daytime. A reflective aluminum plaque, on the other hand, is legible 24/7 thanks to its reflective vinyl face.
Brushed vs. Reflective Aluminum
Brushed and reflective aluminum signs have different appearances and applications. Brushed aluminum plaques have elegant metallic faces, suitable for healthcare branding, wayfinding, and other purposes. Reflective aluminum has a special vinyl face that exhibits graphics day and night. This product is used outdoors to display traffic and road signs.
Can’t decide which option to choose? Contact our professionals for more information.