Spring in Wisconsin is the perfect time to review your exterior business signs and lighting. Most exterior signs are made from materials that are lightweight and durable and many businesses are opting for LED lighting that has a long lifespan. However, Wisconsin winters can be brutally harsh and Wisconsin springs can be even worse.
From snow to spring storms, the weather in our state can create power outages or issues with your business signs and lighting. That’s why spring is the best time to survey and perform some basic maintenance.
Your exterior building signs and lighting deserve annual care. No other tools work as hard to deliver your brand message and keep your business safe as they do. With a little attention now, you’ll protect your investments and be rewarded for years to come.
9 Common Spring-Cleaning Tasks and Considerations
Here are 9 common spring-cleaning tasks and considerations for your external signs and lighting.
- Give your signage a good wash. Dirt and debris can cause a film that will dull your signs and lighting. A note of caution: be sure to follow manufacturer guidelines when cleaning your signs and lighting as some cleaning agents can damage, scratch, pit or cause discoloration of surfaces. When in doubt, contact a professional.
- Survey your outdoor business signs for evidence of corrosion. At the ground level, especially when near roads or parking areas signs can be exposed to dirt, slush and salt. Though most signs are designed to withstand weather, dirt and debris can find its way inside your sign, clogging water drainage holes and causing corrosion.
- Look for evidence that insects or rodents have moved in. These pests can fit into the smallest holes and crevices and cause issues. Once inside your sign or lighting unit, they find both protection from the weather and heat from electrical light, but they are known to chew through electrical wires and cause a short circuit, so you’ll want to be sure to remove them and take measures to prevent them from returning.
- Signs and lighting poles make good nesting spots for birds as well. Remove nests and clean the area to prevent birds from returning. If you find that you have annual feathered friends, there are bird repellents on the market that you can use on your signs and poles to keep them from coming back to nest again.
- Reset timers. If your parking lot lighting and signage are operated through a timelock feature, you’ll want to be sure to adjust the timers to reflect daylight savings time differences. This alone can save you roughly three hours of energy consumption and extend the life of your components.
- Replace burnt out lamps in signage and pole lighting. As a rule, if there is one lamp out, there’s a good chance that other lamps will follow soon. When you notice a lamp that is out or dimming, it’s a good idea to change them all.
- Consider LED lighting. Retrofitting your business lighting fixtures to LED can save you energy and money. Plus, LED lighting lasts longer, shines brighter and requires less maintenance, which is good when your lighting is in hard-to-reach areas. LED lighting can also provide more creative, and programmable lighting options. This allows you to incorporate a more signature look to the exterior of your building.
- Consider adding digital signage like electronic message centers (EMC), which provides a new and convenient way to reach your audience around the clock. If your signage is showing signs of wear and you’re considering new signage, this is a great time to incorporate a digital element.
- Create a scheduled plan for the monitoring and maintenance of your outdoor signs and lighting. Signs and lighting professionals can make your business part of their routine. This not only gives you peace of mind, it also ensures the integrity of your marketing investment and keeps your employees, your customers and your business safer.
Springtime is a great time to perform general lighting and sign maintenance and consider your options for your business signage and exterior lighting. By making an investment now, you’ll ensure that your brand is bright and visible and that your visitors and your employees are safe.
Lemberg is ready with fully stocked bucket trucks that can reach even the toughest spots. We can clean and perform sign and lighting maintenance, repairs, and replacements. We are ready to assess weather damage and provide emergency triage for your signs and lighting 24/7. Contact our signs and lighting team today at (262) 781-1500 and learn more.