Why acrylic is better than glass for signage

Acrylic is used in signage across the UK and the world, and it’s the go-to when it comes to businesses wanting high-quality signage that stands out from the crowd. It can be used for both exterior and interior signage and can be cut to all different shapes and sizes. Acrylic is durable and a great option for businesses seeking signage solutions.

What are the benefits of acrylic signs?

The most important benefit of using acrylic for signs is its durability followed by its versatility.

Durable – Acrylic shop signs generally last a longer time than signs made from other materials, such as glass, so they represent a long-term investment rather than having to replace a not-so-durable sign every year.

Acrylic is less expensive than glass, but it is still 10 times more impact-resistant than glass. The extreme durability of acrylic means that it can face a broad temperature range and has very good weather resistance compared to other forms of plastic and glass.

Versatile – Acrylic signs can be used in a range of different settings. An office, for example, can use acrylic signage on the inside and outside of the building to create a seamless, professional feel for the business when people visit the building.

Lighting – Acrylic signage can be customised with a range of different features but an impressive additive would be the illumination options. Adding lighting to acrylic signage can immediately upgrade the appearance and create an even more luxurious feel to the brand image.

Lightweight – Acrylic is a much lighter material than glass, in fact, it weighs up to 50% less, so it is very easy to install and doesn’t run the risk of falling off or getting damaged due to its lightweight status.

Professional – Acrylic is a professional material to use in signage because it is very transparent, and it is easy to clean and maintain. Having clean signage reflects the business and how professional it may appear to visitors.

Acrylic Vs Glass Signage

• Acrylic weighs half the weight glass weighs.

• Acrylic is 10 times stronger than glass.

• The manufacturing process of glass is more expensive than acrylic and requires more energy to mould and extrude.

• It is difficult to process glass as it cannot be sawed, bent or milled. It is even more difficult to form after it has been heated.

• Glass is more scratch-resistant than acrylic, but acrylic can be applied with a coating to provide extra protection. Whilst scratch-resistant acrylic is not nearly as scratch resistant as glass, scratched acrylic can be polished out whereas scratched glass most likely needs to be replaced.

• Acrylic is not as glossy as glass and offers a softer reflection.