Metal Signs With Rusty Stains Is Like Ketchup On A Wedding Dress!

“Please pardon me, but you have a little something on your outdoor metal sign …”

Have you ever seen someone well put together, with hair, clothes and makeup converging for a beautiful polished look? However, when that image of grace and beauty turns around and lo and behold, the subject has a piece of broccoli in her teeth ? Suddenly all you can see is that spot and the polished person may as well be wearing a clown suit at that point!

Not only have we all witnessed a similar scene , we’ve all been there ourselves, one way or another . The experience is humiliating because our efforts to look beautiful are thwarted by a trivial but distracting mark . Unfortunately, sometimes outdoor metal signs suffer the same embarrassment with intrusive rust. You’ve likely seen it before yourself and like the person above, you can’t focus on the message of the sign with that bit of rust worming its way in. That’s a real shame because the owner of that outdoor metal sign spent some of his advertisement budget to get just the right look .

What he got with his metal sign was the wrong kind of attention.

Don’t People Make Mistakes? And Don’t Metal Outdoor Signs Naturally Rust Over Time?

Naturally people make mistakes – that’s why it’s better to laugh when someone points out your faux pas because chances are, it’s happened to them, too . We are absolutely not alone in our lack of perfection. However, outdoor metal signs are often made of an aluminum-based material which has a natural coating of aluminum oxide that prevents rusting. So, if aluminum is a natural foil to rust, then how does rust get on these metal signs ?

A custom metal sign is made-to-order in sign shops such as ours and ensured to last for years. However, some sign shops go through all the trouble of using quality materials and then back pedal by using hardware that doesn’t resist rust.

Sadly enough , this happens much too often; just look around any business district . In fact, some metal signs have so much rusty hardware that it is nearly impossible to read them. Rusty runoff from such rain-exposed hardware can send nasty reddish-orange streaks racing across any type of sign. And once your outdoor metal sign has been effaced with rust, good luck getting it off. It usually is there forever .

Fortunately , there are sign stores , including ours, who put just as much attention into the details of sign building as the larger picture of the outdoor metal sign itself.

How Can I Keep My Outdoor Metal Sign A Polished, Attractive Surface?

The answer to avoiding rusty hardware in your outdoor metal sign is both simple and inexpensive. Simply get the sign shop’s guarantee that your custom outdoor metal sign will be made with hardware made of galvanized or stainless steel.

Yes, it’s that easy.

And no, it’s not expensive .

Galvanized and stainless steel hardware costs only around $5 more than non rust-resistant zinc plated hardware. So why not spend a little more to make certain your outdoor metal sign looks its best for years to come? Wouldn’t you pay $5 more to ensure that your wedding dress never get a blemish?

Oops – Napkin, Please! There’s Already A Spot On My Outdoor Metal Sign !

Unfortunately, you can probably only keep the rust on your metal outdoor sign from getting worse at this point. Mild, soapy water or a car cleaner is a good choice for attempting rust removal. Use a soft cloth. The most important thing to remember about cleaning your outdoor metal sign is never to use anything scratchy on your sign.

Once you’ve tried to clean your outdoor metal sign , waste no time replacing the hardware, doing so one piece at a time for the safety of the sign. Sure, this is a hassle, but it’s more cost-effective than replacing your entire outdoor metal sign .

Another option is to coat the existing hardware in a rust-proof liquid. Priming and coating each piece of your hardware in this protective liquid can help seal your hardware against damaging rust.

So while you may not be able to get rid of the stain from your clothing , you can keep the glass of red wine from completely doing it in!

The Best Way To Remove A Ketchup Stain Is Not To Get One At All

It is too simple to prevent ugly, distracting rust from ruining the appearance and professionalism of your outdoor metal sign . Remember to request galvanized or stainless steel in the production and installation of your metal outdoor sign and your sign is guaranteed to always be the belle of the ball!