What’s the difference between exterior and interior custom commercial signs? The biggest difference comes down to function and location.
Exterior signs attract customers from the outside. They are typically made with hard-wearing materials such as metal or high-quality, weather-resistant plastic to resist nature’s fury. They are typically larger and focus on visibility from a distance, helping businesses stand out in crowded areas.
Interior commercial signs, however, are placed within an interior space to help direct, educate or immerse visitors into the environment. These interior signs place more emphasis on design and mix beautifully with architectural elements and decor. Some may use acrylic or wood to give a very smooth and finished look.
Whether for branding or wayfinding, exterior and interior signs both serve complementary functions in defining a business’s image and guiding customer experience.
Key Takeaways
- Interior commercial custom signs are all about directing your customers, enhancing your brand’s identity, and increasing safety within indoor environments. These might be ADA compliant signs, directional signs, or mural wall graphics.
- Exterior signage is meant to be more attention-grabbing to create visibility, recognition, and brand identity outside. Choices such as pylon signs, awnings and banners are manufactured with long-lasting durability against the elements in mind.
- The materials used for custom signage varies based on whether interior or exterior. Interior signs are often made with stunning, lightweight materials like acrylic or vinyl. Conversely, exterior custom commercial signs must be created with robust and climate resistant materials such as aluminum or metal.
- Whether you’re designing exterior or interior custom commercial signage, proper design is of the utmost importance. While interior signs may focus heavily on aesthetics and branding, exterior signs are more concerned with visibility and impact, particularly the ability to attract foot traffic.
- Regulatory compliance is key, considering both the federal and local levels. Interior signs should adhere to accessibility standards, up to and including ADA regulations. Exterior signs are subject to zoning regulations, which are often stricter than building code requirements, and to permitting processes.
- Good design Strategic placement and intentional lighting can make impactful interior and exterior signage even more effective. Look for effective visibility, foot traffic, and illumination after dark to ensure you are getting the most bang for their buck.
What is Interior Signage?
Interior signage is a crucial visual communication element found inside buildings that help organizations define their purpose and image. Well-designed signage serves more than an aesthetic function. It melds form and function with corporate identity to develop a unified, branded, and energetic space.
Defining Interior Signage
Interior signage encompasses everything from wayfinding signs to educational exhibits and brand-building displays, each crafted to convey powerful messages indoors. From directing patrons to the cash register to showcasing brand services, effective communication makes every engagement effortless.
These signs are aesthetically pleasing, making them a great fit for any environment including corporate offices, retail environments and hospitals. For instance, a retail store might use floor decals to direct foot traffic, while a clinic could benefit from waiting room information boards.
Thanks to their flexibility, interior signage provides businesses with an opportunity to customize designs to accommodate unique requirements.
Purpose of Interior Signs
The biggest purpose of interior signs is to direct and educate. Work or office environments particularly rely on directional signage to direct visitors to the appropriate meeting rooms. Retail shops make use of aisle signs to properly keep their merchandise segregated.
Interior signage illustrates brand values through the incorporation of logos, slogans, or mission statements, improving brand consistency across the environment. These features are especially important in helping people feel safe and access transit, schools, jobs and more.
They comply with ADA guidelines with features such as Braille, non-glare surfaces, and appropriate mounting heights. This not only makes the business more inclusive, but it enhances the customer experience as a whole.
Examples of Interior Signage Types
- Directional Signs: Hallway navigators in schools or hotels.
- ADA Signs: Bathroom signs with Braille for compliance.
- Wall Graphics: Inspirational quotes that reflect company values.
Aesthetic decisions such as typefaces, shades, and textures then personalize signage to match brand image, fostering an air of professionalism.
What is Exterior Signage?
Exterior signage is a dynamic visual communication tool strategically placed outside of buildings to identify and promote a business or organization. In addition to conveying information, these signs draw users in. They are an essential element to any effective marketing plan.
Uniting visibility, durability and creativity, exterior signage represents a brand’s support for quality and strong branding, whether in busy streetscapes or remote locations.
Defining Exterior Signage
Exterior signage can take a variety of forms, from a pylon sign to a monument sign, to a banner. These are specifically designed to withstand day to day elements such as rain, wind and direct sunlight.
Fabricated in sturdy, weather-resistant metals or plastics and frequently incorporating internal illumination sources, these signs provide high visibility 24/7. As the first touchpoint of a customer’s journey, exterior signage makes up the first impression they’ll have with a brand.
Purpose of Exterior Signs
These signs provide critical information, such as business names, logos, or hours of operation, ensuring passersby know what the business offers. In terms of marketing, exterior signage acts as a 24/7 billboard, advertising your business’ services or products without putting in any extra work or hours.
Interactive features such as QR codes or digital displays encourage potential customers to engage, powering form-fill conversions from day one.
Examples of Exterior Signage Types
- Ideal for enhancing street visibility, commonly seen in urban settings.
- Combine functionality and branding, often used in cafes or boutiques.
- Showcase promotions or brand visuals, especially in retail.
Effective designs consider factors like contrast, readability, and lighting, ensuring the sign stands out while aligning with the brand identity.
Material and Durability Considerations
When choosing materials for custom commercial signs, durability is a key factor. Interior and exterior signs endure different conditions, so the materials used need to be appropriate for each situation and use. Having a good grasp of these differences will allow you to make informed decisions that strike the right balance between function and form.
Interior Sign Materials
Interior signs tend to lean more towards wood, plastic, and glass materials. These materials are perfect as they are lightweight, minimizing installation time and labor. Stylistically, from the high tech, to minimal, to organic, for example, acrylic offers a clean, modern aesthetic and wide range of design flexibility.
Plastic materials such as PVC offer durability and an economical solution for both temporary and permanent indoor applications. Conversely, wood brings a natural, organic beauty that works in tandem with retail or hospitality environments.
The interior signage look and feel are aesthetic considerations, which is important since this will speak to the general branding. Businesses can personalize their materials finishes with options such as matte or gloss to complement their decor.
Recyclable materials like steel are becoming more common in interior signs, reinforcing sustainability efforts.
Exterior Sign Materials
Outdoor signs need to withstand various environmental conditions. Lightweight and resistant materials are often preferred for their practicality. Longevity is another key factor, as some materials hold up better against changing weather conditions.
Durability plays a crucial role in selecting the right material. Sturdy options are ideal for long-term installations, while others provide flexibility for different needs. Resistance to elements like moisture, sunlight, and temperature fluctuations helps maintain the sign’s appearance over time.
Color retention is also important. Signs that fade too quickly can lose their impact, affecting the overall impression they create.
Weather Resistance and Longevity
Weather resistance greatly impacts the longevity of outdoor signage. Sun exposure, rain, and wind will degrade your choice of materials with time, but preventing or repairing that degradation—cleaning, repainting, replacing bolts—can add years to their lifespan.
Regular maintenance keeps signs effective and attractive, increasing their return on investment even further.
Compliance and Legal Requirements
For businesses, complying with signage regulations is essential to prevent costly lawsuits and to project an image of professionalism and concern for the community. While both interior and exterior signs have their own unique rules, interior requirements differ from the exterior by location.
Get to know these rules and requirements. In this manner, your intended signage will fulfill its purpose while staying on the right side of compliance and legal requirements.
Interior Signage Regulations
Interior signage faces even more rigorous compliance standards, especially when it comes to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These regulations require elements such as Braille, non-glare finishes, and specific height mounting placement, which work together to provide access for all visitors.
Wayfinding signs should be clear, legible and located at points where they best direct people. This is really the key since nearly 80% of customers will abandon a company when they are unable to locate what they’re seeking.
With City and State compliant directory, wayfinding and safety signage improve customer experience as well as create a more positive reflection of your brand. Local codes can further require specific location within structures, emphasizing the need for careful design consideration.
Exterior Signage Regulations
Exterior signs are subject to an entirely separate set of requirements, typically including size, height, illumination, and material limits here. Zoning enforcement, often the heavy hand of civil law, are the legal requirements that help shape the compliance outcome for sign regulations.
For example, electric signs might be prohibited in residential neighborhoods. Getting all the necessary permits is very important, since any installation in violation could be subject to an immediate fine or removal.
By staying within these boundaries, businesses can look for positive, creative signage solutions without crossing legal lines.
Permitting and Zoning Differences
Because of the visibility requirement, interior signs usually have fewer permits needed than exterior signs. Zoning ordinances only address the outward facing types of signage, like billboards or freestanding signs.
Understanding local regulations prevents delays and ensures smooth installation.
Cost and Maintenance Factors
When designing custom commercial signage, you’ll want to consider cost and upkeep factors before making big decisions. From interior to exterior signage, there are different factors at play that affect your bottom line and overall investment. Understanding these cost and maintenance factors will put you in a better position to anticipate and plan for the best/future choices.
Initial Costs Comparison
The cost of signage varies widely based on factors like location, materials, and design complexity. Exterior signs often require a more significant budget, especially for larger or illuminated options. Interior signage tends to be more budget-friendly, though premium materials and intricate designs can increase costs. While higher-end signage may demand a larger upfront investment, the potential return on visibility and customer engagement makes it a worthwhile consideration.
Long-Term Maintenance Needs
The upkeep of signage varies based on type and placement. Indoor signs typically require less maintenance since they are shielded from harsh environmental conditions. Simplified designs can also help minimize ongoing upkeep costs.
Exterior signs, especially those exposed to the elements, may require more frequent attention to ensure durability and visibility. Regular inspections and proactive maintenance help preserve their appearance and functionality, making them a worthwhile long-term investment.
Repair and Replacement Considerations
Weather-related damage or just normal wear can trigger costly emergency repairs or replacements. For instance, it might be cheaper to repair faded paint than to install a new sign entirely.
Regular and timely maintenance can help stop expensive replacements in their tracks, while continuing to support your brand’s image.
Lighting and Visibility Aspects
Lighting plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of interior and exterior commercial signs. It enhances visibility and helps attract attention, especially during evenings and nighttime when visibility is lower. The right lighting techniques can make signage stand out, creating a more engaging and noticeable display. Understanding how lighting interacts with the surrounding environment is key to maximizing its impact.
Interior Lighting Strategies
Effective strategies include:
- Ambient lighting: Provides overall illumination while ensuring the sign blends seamlessly with the surroundings.
- Focus attention on specific signs, making them the centerpiece of a space.
- Backlighting: Adds depth and an upscale look, especially for logos or text.
Lighting plays an important role in establishing the mood as well. For instance, a sign featuring warm wood textures combined with elegant typography can be subtly backlit to create an inviting space that feels both professional and comfortable.
Exterior Lighting Strategies
Exterior signs could use lighting solutions such as floodlights to light the sign from below for wide visibility, or integrated illumination for a seamless aesthetic. Many of these signs are quite large and need to be visible at night.
High-quality, energy-efficient lighting like LED systems help guarantee cost-effective operation while improving durability, making them the perfect solutions for outdoor environments.
Enhancing Nighttime Visibility
To make even nighttime visibility when lighting is installed, the placement of lighting should be prioritized. Designs that incorporate high-contrast designs and bold colors combined with uniform illumination would help improve sign visibility after dark.
Design Opportunities and Branding
Specially-designed custom commercial signs, interior or exterior, are vital in establishing and controlling the first impression of your business. They serve as a powerful visual extension of your overall brand, creating points of brand identity and connection, and creating a unified visual presence.
By aligning design elements across all signage, you ensure a consistent experience for customers, whether they’re walking past your storefront or navigating your workspace. This is where creativity becomes important—it’s what can take a basic wayfinding sign and turn it into a powerful brand expression that people remember.
Interior Branding Strategies
Examples of effective interior signage strategies are wayfinding signs, wall murals, lobby displays and electronic boards. By employing your brand’s colors, logo, and messaging an integrated and fluid identity is established.
Imagine a retail store where the signage complements the product packaging or a corporate office with motivational quotes that reflect company values. Aligning these designs with your brand’s core concepts helps create a cohesive experience for visitors and employees.
For example, health and wellness brands can embrace soothing colors, textures, and imagery, while forward-thinking technology brands would benefit from clean, modern design.
Exterior Branding Strategies
Exterior signage introduces your brand to the world. A distinctively styled storefront sign or marquee sets you apart from the competition while projecting your brand’s personality and values in mere seconds.
Specialty designs—like dimensional letters, neon or LED signs, or unique logos—make your business more recognizable and visible, particularly across even the busiest cities. First impressions count—a colorful, vibrant sign will attract passing pedestrians and pique interest about what you have in store.
Creating Visual Impact
Whether interior or exterior, impactful signage starts with a strong design foundation that uses bold colors, clear typography, and striking imagery or graphics. Simplicity ensures readability, even from a distance, while impactful visuals make your brand unforgettable.
Installation Challenges and Techniques
Custom commercial signs, internal or external, come with their own set of installation challenges that need to be properly planned for and professionally installed. Interior installations focus on accuracy, detail and visual impact. Compared to interior installs, the challenges increase considerably on the exterior with weather protection and physical structures.
Both jobs require your laser focus. Beyond that, you need to make sure the sign increases brand awareness and recognition—all while meeting safety and regulatory requirements.
Interior Installation Process
- Create an in-depth site survey & brand asset inventory. Measure the dimensions of the wall and verify where it will be placed to allow for visibility. Wash the wall, removing any grease and dirt, then use spackling tape to fill gaps or holes.
Provide vandal- and theft-resistant mounting hardware, and design to facilitate accurate installation of the sign. Check the finished location to make sure installation is straight and free.
More than that, proper planning is the simple, but difficult, answer, because even small miscalculations can derail sight lines and design. Careful consideration with measurement and alignment of the sign makes sure that it commands visual attention without being too overpowering to the space.
Tackling simple details such as hiding fasteners or mounting them flush pays dividends to the overall professional look you’re going for.
Exterior Installation Process
Outline the steps required to obtain approvals from landlords and local authorities. Assess the installation site, considering factors such as expected weather conditions and accessibility. Verify that the structure and foundation are stable before proceeding.
Utilize specialized equipment to ensure a safe and secure installation while adhering to local codes and durability standards.
Exterior sign installations demand additional preparation to withstand environmental elements like wind and rain. For example, channel letter signs may require waterproofing, while monument signs may need reinforced bases for stability.
Addressing Structural Considerations
Evaluating the site’s structural integrity is critical for safety, particularly for larger signs. Proper mounting techniques, such as utilizing structural anchors or brackets, keep people safe.
Professional expertise is imperative, as improper installations can jeopardize property safety and personal injury.
Conclusion
Interior and exterior signs serve distinct yet complementary purposes. Interior signage enhances navigation, communication, and the overall experience within a space, while exterior signage captures attention, reinforces brand identity, and draws in new business. Both play a crucial role in shaping first impressions and leaving a lasting impact on customers.
Whether you need exterior, interior, or a combination of both types of signage, success depends on thoughtful planning—considering materials, design, lighting, and compliance with local codes to maximize effectiveness. With the right approach, signage can work as a powerful extension of your brand.
At It’s a Good Sign, we specialize in creating custom commercial signage that stands out and makes an impact. If you’re ready to elevate your business with high-quality, customized signs, let’s talk—the sky’s the limit!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between interior and exterior commercial signs?
Interior signs are made exclusively for indoor environments, intended to help people navigate an interior space, inform them about something, or support branding efforts. Exterior signs are built for outdoor use, emphasizing durability and visibility to attract customers and withstand weather.
Are interior signs less durable than exterior signs?
True, interior signs are generally not made to be as durable, given that they’re not exposed to the same outdoor elements. Exterior signs need stronger materials such as metals or UV and weather-proof plastics to withstand UV rays, rain, and wind.
Do exterior signs require more maintenance than interior signs?
Indeed, exterior signs are more likely to require maintenance since they are subjected to outside elements like sun, rain and wind. It sometimes means they need to be cleaned, repainted, or even replaced, keeping them safe and visible for the greater public good.
Are there legal requirements for custom commercial signs?
Indeed, interior and exterior signs are required to follow local building codes, ADA guidelines, and local zoning laws. Be sure to check with your local government to make sure your custom signage is compliant with all regulations.
Can lighting be added to both interior and exterior signs?
Of course, dynamic lighting helps visibility for both sign types. Exterior signs often use LED or illuminated boxes to stay visible at night, while interior signs use subtle lighting to match indoor aesthetics.
What materials are commonly used for exterior signs?
Exterior signs typically would be made of durable materials, such as aluminum, acrylic or PVC. These materials are able to withstand the effects of severe elements and continue to stay vibrant for years to come.
How do custom signs contribute to branding?
As powerful branding tools, custom signs ensure brand unity and recognition as you solidify your commercial identity. Custom signs allow you to include your logo, colors, and messaging, which helps create a polished and professional aesthetic that draws in customers and establishes credibility.
Enhance Your Brand’s Visibility: Expert Custom Commercial Signs
Your business’s signage is often the first impression customers have of your brand. Well-designed, high-quality custom commercial signs can set your business apart, attracting attention and establishing credibility. Whether you need illuminated signs, dimensional lettering, monument signs, or storefront graphics, having the right signage is essential for maximizing your visibility and professionalism.
At It’s A Good Sign, we specialize in creating premium custom commercial signs tailored to your unique branding needs. With over 30 years of experience in signmaking and a nationwide network of professionals, we deliver eye-catching, durable, and high-performing signage solutions that perfectly align with your brand’s identity. From conceptual design to fabrication and installation, our expert team handles every step of the process with meticulous attention to detail.
Investing in high-quality custom commercial signs ensures your business stands out, day and night. A striking, well-crafted sign boosts credibility, increases foot traffic, and reinforces your brand’s presence in the marketplace.
Don’t settle for ordinary. Contact us today to discuss your vision and let us help you make a lasting impression with the perfect custom commercial sign!
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