Non-Reflective Aluminum Signs

Durable Signs With a Finished, Professional Look

Give a storefront, property, workplace, or public-facing space a lasting message with a custom aluminum composite sign. Choose the dimensions, artwork, shape, printed sides, and mounting preparation around the job the sign needs to do.

Common projects include business identification, property management, parking, wayfinding, safety and caution notices, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, real estate, exhibits, kiosks, restrooms, pools, gardens, and retail displays. Examples shown here are fictional customer-design concepts, not existing customer endorsements.

Options can be discussed even when not listed online. PDQ Signs 903-533-8050.

What Is This Aluminum Sign Made From?

The standard panel described in this guide is aluminum composite material, or ACM: two pre-painted 0.008-inch aluminum faces bonded around a solid polyethylene core. The finished panel is approximately 3 mm thick, often described as roughly ⅛ inch.

This is not a 3 mm solid aluminum sheet and should not be specified as solid 10-gauge aluminum. Its sandwich construction provides rigidity without the weight of a comparably thick solid-metal panel.

• Overall thickness: Approximately 3 mm.
• Outer faces: Two 0.008-inch aluminum sheets with white coil-coated paint.
• Core: Solid polyethylene, not corrugated or hollow.
• Approximate panel weight: 0.60 lb per square foot, before mounting hardware.
• Printing: Full-color digital UV printing directly onto the prepared sign face.
• Estimated service life: Five or more years with suitable placement and care, not a guaranteed minimum.

For a thicker panel, solid-sheet aluminum, brushed-metal appearance, or another specialty metal product, request a separate quote. The specifications in this guide do not automatically apply to those alternatives.

Is Aluminum Composite the Same as Dibond?

Dibond and e-panel are product names associated with aluminum composite panels. A similar layered construction does not establish that different products have identical face thicknesses, cores, finishes, or performance. If your project specifies a particular brand, obtain confirmation of the supplied material rather than treating every ACM panel as interchangeable.

Choose Your Size

Common sizes include 12 × 12, 18 × 6, 24 × 6, and 18 × 24 inches, plus 2 × 1, 2 × 2, 4 × 2, 4 × 4, 6 × 3, and 4 × 8 feet. Always specify width and height in the intended orientation.

Custom dimensions are available within the production range. The minimum dimension is 4 inches; the maximum single panel is 48 × 96 inches. A 96-inch limit on one dimension does not mean a 96 × 96-inch panel is available.

For large panels, plan the support structure and transport before approving artwork. Oversized packaging, protective crating, or freight delivery can add substantially to shipping costs. Confirm the complete delivery quote and do not assume a free-shipping threshold applies.

Printing, Color, and Both Sides

The design is digitally printed directly onto the prepared aluminum face with UV ink. It is not the same construction as a separately printed adhesive-vinyl graphic applied afterward.

Full-color printing allows one-color lettering, photographs, and multicolor graphics without a separate charge for additional colors. Panel size, quantity, printed sides, shape, holes, finish, and artwork services can still affect the final price.

Can I Print on Both Sides?

Yes. Choose single-sided or double-sided printing. Both faces can carry the same artwork or different designs; identify the front and back files clearly before production.

For directional arrows, consider the installed sign from each approach. Opposite-looking arrows in the front and back artwork may be needed to point toward the same physical destination. Keep lettering readable and review both faces before approval.

What Color Is the Blank Panel?

The standard faces are pre-painted white. A colored background is printed over that surface. Request a quote for a brushed-aluminum appearance rather than assuming the white panel will have an exposed brushed-metal face.

Is It Reflective?

No. The standard printed ACM sign is not reflective. Request a separately specified reflective product if nighttime visibility or a particular reflective grade is required. A general printed sign is not automatically suitable for regulated roadway use.

Shapes and Corners

• Square or rectangle: Straight outer edges.
• Rounded corners: Choose a ¼-inch or 1-inch radius.
• Circle or oval: A curved panel outline.
• Custom cut: A routed outline following the approved design edge.
• Custom with border: A routed outline leaving a small surrounding margin.

Rounded corners are the default option for this offering; specify square corners if required. Rounded corners do not eliminate sharp edges. Handle panels carefully and use suitable gloves when appropriate.

Confirm the final cut path, mounting clearances, and any additional charges before artwork approval. Fine features or narrow sections may require changes to make the panel practical to handle and install.

Drilled Holes and Mounting Preparation

The standard drilled-hole arrangement is one hole near each corner. Typical hole diameter is ⅜ inch, with placement approximately ½ inch from the edge. Confirm the measurement reference and exact centers if the sign must match existing hardware.

Custom hole positions or more than four holes can be requested. Reasonable additional holes are offered without an extra charge for this standard service; more extensive work may add charges. Submit a clear hole layout before production instead of relying on a note that has not been confirmed.

Can I Drill My Own Holes?

Yes, with suitable tools, knowledge, and support for the panel. A metal-compatible drill bit can be used, but take care to avoid damaging the face, core, or edges. Discuss any applicable warranty terms separately rather than assuming damage from later drilling is covered.

Where Can I Mount It?

Panels can be wall mounted, attached to suitable posts, suspended from appropriate fixings, or fitted into compatible frames or stands. Possible surfaces include wood, masonry, metal, and other rigid backings when the anchors and fasteners are selected for that surface.

Use screws with washers for an appropriate backing, or suitable nuts and bolts for a compatible post arrangement. Masonry and drywall require anchors appropriate to the actual construction; a screw alone is not a universal fastening method. Hanging with rope, bungees, or other connectors requires suitable holes, anchor points, and an installation assessment.

Check frame opening, panel thickness, retention method, and finished dimensions before ordering a frame insert. Not every nominally matching frame will accept every panel.

Will a Large Sign Bend?

The composite core improves rigidity, but a panel can still flex, dent, or bend. Larger panels need more support than small ones. Consider a suitable backing or multiple supports, including intermediate support where required, rather than assuming two posts will handle every panel and wind exposure.

Have large, elevated, or wind-exposed installations assessed professionally. Avoid mounting where movement can make the sign strike nearby objects, and do not overtighten fixings or crush the panel.

Standard Finish and Protective Laminate

The unprinted white surface has a smooth semi-gloss finish. Printed UV ink has a mild matte appearance, so reflections can vary with artwork coverage.

Optional protective laminate covers the printed surface and adds a glossy appearance. It can provide extra protection against fading, surface wear, weather exposure, and some marking, but does not make the sign scratchproof, graffiti-proof, or indestructible. Confirm the selected laminate and any additional charge on your order.

Can I Use Dry-Erase Markers?

The protective laminate described for this offering allows dry-erase marker use. Confirm that your selected coating is the appropriate writable finish and test a discreet area with the intended marker. Do not assume an unlaminated printed sign is a dry-erase board.

Weather, Corrosion, and Lifespan

These signs are suitable for indoor and outdoor use with an appropriate mounting system. Weather-resistant UV ink and coated aluminum faces provide a durable display, but exposure, handling, and installation affect the result.

Will It Rust?

Aluminum does not develop the red iron rust associated with steel, but oxidation and other corrosion effects are still possible. Mounting hardware can rust or stain the panel, so select compatible corrosion-resistant fixings. Laminate is not a guarantee against every form of corrosion.

Will It Fade or Scratch?

Fade- and abrasion-resistant ink helps the graphic withstand ordinary use. Sharp objects, repeated rubbing, strong cleaners, and prolonged exposure can still damage it. A protective laminate adds a surface layer without eliminating those risks.

How Long Will It Last?

Five or more years is an estimated service life with suitable placement and care, not a guaranteed minimum for every location. Keep attachments secure, avoid impacts and excessive flexing, and clean the sign appropriately.

Artwork, Quantity, and Delivery

Can You Help With the Design?

Supply your logo, wording, photograph, or existing file, or request help creating a layout. Plan the sign around viewing distance, location, contrast, and the intended message. Keep important artwork clear of holes and routed edges.

Review spelling, phone numbers, dimensions, both printed faces, hole positions, and the final outline before approval. Follow the actual upload field's supported formats and file limits. Confirm artwork scope and any charges with PDQ Signs 903-533-8050.

Do I Need to Order More Than One?

No minimum quantity beyond one sign is required for this offering. Request pricing for multiple matching panels and confirm any quantity savings rather than assuming every order has the same discount structure.

When Will It Arrive?

Confirm production time, approval requirements, shipping method, packaging, and the required arrival date before ordering. Printing and delivery are separate parts of the schedule. Large panels may need protective packaging or freight arrangements; no next-day production or free-shipping promise is established by this guide.

Cleaning and Storage

How Do I Clean the Standard Printed Surface?

Use mild soap and water with a soft, non-abrasive cloth. Wipe gently and avoid harsh cleaners, abrasive pads, or scraping that can damage the ink or coating.

How Do I Clean a Laminated Sign?

Start with mild soap and water. Where the supplied protective laminate's care instructions allow it, a compatible citrus-based cleaner or a mixture of 70% isopropyl alcohol and 30% water can be used in a small amount, followed by wiping with a clean cloth. Confirm compatibility with the actual coating and test discreetly first; these cleaners are not a blanket recommendation for unlaminated print.

How Should I Store It?

Store dry at room temperature with the panel supported to prevent bending. Put soft fabric or clean cardboard between panels when stacking or leaning them together. Keep sharp hardware away from the faces and avoid heavy loads, impacts, or pressure that can dent the sign.

Why Work With PDQ Signs?

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Planning an aluminum sign project? PDQ Signs 903-533-8050.

Images illustrate fictional customer artwork, material layers, and display concepts, not exact measurement drawings or certified installation plans. Confirm the selected construction, accessories, charges, and timing before ordering.