It used to be that wood was the ideal material from which to carve business signs. Versatile and easy to work with for those who know how, it dominated for hundreds of years. There is, however, one major drawback to using wood to make carved signs, and that is durability. Wooden signs are susceptible to the damaging effects of the weather, and those hung outside a building just don't last as long as you might like.
Wooden carved signs are particularly prone to the effects of moisture, which can permeate into the wood, causing it to warp and lose its shape. When this happens, not only are the shape of the sign and the carving affected, but also the paint. As the wood warps the paint job becomes cracked, leaving the sign looking unsightly.
The lifespan of wooden carved signs can be extended with regular applications of protective coatings, which will prevent the wood from becoming warped so quickly. This can, however, be costly and inconvenient, and can also create a need to repaint the sign at the same time. The cost of maintaining a wooden sign over time can be expensive, so the best option is to use a product that is not affected so adversely by the weather.
Signs made with synthetic substrates are often a better option, as they are even more versatile than wood when it comes to creating attractive designs. They are also more hard wearing and will last far longer before any repair work is needed. Talented sign makers can also make these substrate signs look more organic and give them the appearance of being made of wood.
