Monthly Archives: June 2021

FAQ regarding Brass Plaques and Plaques in General

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Brass Plaque

Solid Brass Plaque, etched and filled for exceptional long life outdoors.

We at SignForce are often asked excellent questions regarding the plaques we manufacture.

We generally work with SOLID metals, Brass, Stainless Steel, Aluminium, Mild Steel. Our plaques are etched and filled so the plaques have a long outdoor life, even in the harsh African sun.

Below are a number of questions which may aid you in making a decision if you are in the market for a plaque.

Q1: Do SignForce’s plaques survive in direct sunlight and rain, (all kinds of weather conditions), especially when the plaque will be placed outside the building.

Yes, SignForce’s solid Brass or Stainless steel plaques survive VERY WELL outdoors. When outdoors they have an expected life of between 10 and 20 years, even when exposed to the harsh South African sun. 

Can plaques be multiple colours (colors) and will the colours remain intact regardless of the weather conditions.

SignForce use 2K automotive paints for the fills. As a result the colors will last very well outdoors. SignForce’s plaques are also coated with a clear lacquer which extends the life of the paint and protecting the plaque material at the same time. 

Do SignForce have any warranty on their plaques?

SignForce’s plaques carry a 12 month guarantee and because of the process used, the plaques can be refurbished in the future to keep the, by then old, plaque looking fresh.

How long is a SignForce plaque expected to last outdoors in the harsh African sun?

Depending on the material the plaque can last many many years. Brass and Copper plaques are known to last many hundreds of years (as can be seen when visiting may old cemeteries or church yards), although the colour fills are definitely not expected to live that long. It is also important to remember that with time (more than 10 years) the metal will tarnish so it will not lose the shine it has. Brass tends to oxidize to black and Copper tends to oxidize to green. Stainless steel plaques should do the same although they will tarnish and become dull with time, especially in then harsh African sun.

Does SignForce include installation in our quotes?

You can choose for us to quote with or without backing boards, with or without deliver and with or without installation. If you want SignForce to quote to include installation we will need to know (1) where the plaque will be located – both area and height above the ground. We also need to know what the plaque will be fixed to – dry wall, plastered brick wall, concrete, etc) and how easy or difficult access will be.  If you only want the quote to include installation we need to know where the plaque needs to be delivered to so we can calculate the most cost effective option for yourselves. SignForce often use POSTNET and PEP for outlying deliveries.

What size plaque can SignForce produce?

Since SignForce make custom plaques we can make almost any size between 10 x 20 mm ( 1 x 2 cm) to 1,000 x 2,000 mm (1 x 2 meters). The standard size for doctors plaques tends to be A4 and building opening plaques tend to be A3, but you can pretty much choose the size you want.  

What is the difference material do SignForce use to make their plaques?

SignForce can use almost any material – from granite and glass to acrylic, stainless steel, mild steel, aluminium,. Brass and Copper. If you want a silver finish STAINLESS STEEL, mild steel or Aluminium will be recommended, the difference being the location of the plaque.

The short answer is Can SignForce make ALL logo’s in full color.

The short answer is YES. That said, not all full color logo’s will have a long expected outdoor life. For certain logo’s, especially those that have half tomes, the logo will need to be printed and domed, making them ideal for indoor use as they will have a very short life outdoors.  While we can produce FULL colour logo’s, for them to last outdoors they cannot have half tones and they will need to have separations so that each colour paint can fill it’s own section. Please also be aware that the cost for the plaques increase with more complex artwork / logo’s and more colours.

In order to provide an accurate quote SignForce need the following information:

1. Material you want the plaque to be? – Brass (gold), Copper (pink gold), or Stainless Steel (silver), Aluminium (silver) or whatever other material

2. What size should the plaque be? (Please approximate if you are unsure)

3. What wording and what logo(s) would you want to have on the plaque. This is very important if SignForce are to give accurate quotes.

4. Would you want the plaque (a) delivered or (b) installed. For delviery please advise l0ocation. For installation please advise where, and height above the ground and if you know what the wall is made of, the type of wall.

5. Do you want a hard wood backing board? 

Once SignForce have all these answers we will gladly get you an obligation free quote

Contact SignForce NOW to get your obligation free quote by emailing info@signforce.co.za or call us on +27(0)11 440 7525

You can find out more by visiting the SignForce website at http://www.signforce.co.za

What VLAUE does your SIGN and your Signage provider ADD to your BUSINESS?

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Mambo's Chicken Individual Cut Out Sign

Internally Illuminated 3D cut out sign

What VALUE does your sign add to your business?

If your sign is a MAJOR tool in getting feet into your store (it is!) and thus placing you in the position to SELL to your prospects, what is your sign truly WORTH?

I ask this, not rhetorically, but because all too often we see businesses running on the lines of Best Value – choosing the cheapest supplier – which is great when comparing EXACTLY THE SAME PRODUCTS – but is extremely difficult and can be costly when one is comparing one SERVISE business (signage is a service business) to another.

Yes, when you, the sign buyer, are presented with an artist impression and a quote, you believe that what you are seeing from one service provider is the same as what you are seeing from the competitive service provider. Unfortunately this is SELDOM true. This is because of the nature of signage (meant in every positive way), the range of materials available, the nature (you can call it morals) of the signage company and the reality that even if all else was equal, because signage is as much – if not more – of an art than a science, and most signs are made by hand, every sign will most likely be made differently.

All this aside, even if all the sign company’s you assessed were using the same material, charging the same amount and doing the same job, what would or should YOUR chosen sign company be able to offer YOUR BUSINESS that goes beyond the sign you are looking for.

At SignForce (http://www.signforce.co.za) we have decades of experience in MARKETING and SIGNAGE.

At SignForce we believe in supporting OUR CUSTOMERS, which is one of the reasons SignForce regularly posts pictures and comments of signs we have completed. This may not seem like anything special, we assume ALL sign businesses ‘self promote’ and the self promotion entails ‘SHOWCASING’ THEIR WORK. This is true, but how many sign businesses get more than 80,000 views of a single client’s sign.

If one considers that traditional media base their fees on the number of views one’s insert (advert, post) will receive, how does one measure the added value SignForce is offering our client’s?

If you are looking for signs that WORK, that get feet into your premises, that look good and are value for money, together with the added value of being promoted on the SignForce website, contact SignForce now on +27 (0)11 440 7525 or email info@signforce.co.za

You can find out more about SignForce by visiting http://www.signforce.co.za