How to Deal with Mother Nature

How to Deal with Mother Nature

In life, and especially in business, there are many things we CAN control. We can control our pricing, the way we treat our customers, the way we treat our employees, the equipment we buy, and the list goes on. But one thing we CAN'T control is Mother Nature.

As a sign company, especially a sign company in Chicago, we are always working with and around the ever-changing weather outside. This article will give you a breakdown of each season, and how it may affect your upcoming signage project.

SUMMER: Summer is the prime season for all things signage. There is almost no limit to what can be done on the exterior or interior of your business during the summer months. Golf outings, corporate events, fairs, and festivals all take place during the summer. The biggest concern during the summer months is when the temperature climbs above ninety degrees. When working in extreme heat, certain vinyl or printed graphics can become “gooey” and become difficult for installers to work with. If you need graphics installed in extreme heat, make sure your sign company has a controlled environment where your graphics can be installed. If this does not apply to your project, installing during the early morning or late afternoon is your safest bet.

FALL: Fall is another great season for installing exterior signage. Fall weather is excellent because it is the sweet spot before winter hits. The biggest weather pattern to keep an eye on during the fall months are high winds. Although this is a concern in any season, high winds can limit the type of exterior signage that can be installed. When wind speeds are elevated, it makes “Off-the-ground” installs more challenging. Projects involving ladders, lift trucks, scissor lifts, etc., are all things to stay away from during high winds.

WINTER: Winter is a challenging time of year to install a portion of exterior signage. Because seasonal averages are typically below 40 degrees, any job involving graphics installed outdoors, are usually very limited. Graphics are limited in the cold weather because they are applied to surfaces using adhesive. When temps drop below 40 degrees, adhesives don’t stick the way they should, and could result in peeling graphics. Although exterior graphics are limited, there are still plenty of projects that can be completed in the winter months. Exterior Wall Signs, banners, vehicle graphics, pylon signs, and all types of interior sign projects, are just a few examples of things that can be done YEAR ROUND!

SPRING: As the ground begins to thaw, and the weather warms up again, your book of projects can be opened wide. The only thing to work around is the high amount of precipitation that takes place during springtime in Chicago. Although rain may cause a few projects to be re-positioned in the schedule, spring time is another great season to get your projects installed.