The 8 most popular office door signs materials used by sign manufacturers in Nairobi

If you are opening a new office for your company, you will need office door signs to mark different offices, meeting rooms, the ladies’ room, the gents’ room, kitchen and various other spaces for the new office.  When you approach top branding companies in Nairobi, below are the various materials they will use for the making of these signs. The final materials chosen for your project will be determined majorly by your budget.

With this guide, you will understand the various sign materials used for office door signs and how you can make a good decision on which to use to bring out the look you want in your office and enhance your brand. Many office signs are usually made of a backing material with vinyl or engraved graphics. Signs with vinyl graphics can be easily changed to read something else. Engraved signs on the other hand last forever and to change what the signage says, you will need to have a completely new sign made.  However, unlike vinyl signs, engraved signs last a long time as they cannot easily be vandalized or the graphics peeled off.

Plotted Self adhesive vinyl door signs for office

If you are looking for an affordable but neat look, you can use computer cut vinyl graphics and install them directly on the office doors especially if the doors are made of glass. The name of the office or person occupying the office will be computer cut on self adhesive vinyl into individual lettering and stuck on the glass door itself at eye level.

Self adhesive vinyl lettering is one of the most affordable ways you can create signage for the office because no extra cost is incurred purchasing backing material. In addition, because there is no backing material used for the signs, it enhances the open space look in your office. Self adhesive vinyl comes in lots of colors and you are assured of something that completely matches your brand color and the look you are going for. In addition to the standard rainbow colors, you can get self adhesive vinyl in special finishes like wood or metallic colors that are unavailable with any other materials.

Perspex / Acrylic office door signs

Perspex/Acrylic is a glass like material that comes in various colors and thicknesses. For office signs, you can use Perspex with computer-cut vinyl graphics, printed graphics, or even engrave the graphics on the Perspex itself. After engraving, you then paint the engraved graphics with desired colour. For office signs, you will not require very thick Perspex and therefore you can keep your costs down. Anything between 3 mm and 5 mm will work well for office signs.

Perspex signs are lightweight and fixing on the doors or walls in the office can easily be done using double-sided tape. In addition, because Perspex/acrylic comes in various colours, it is very easy to match the colour of your company brand.

Vinyl cut graphics on Perspex are also easily interchangeable once an office changes name or function. You can ask the branding company to only provide the vinyl graphics and reuse the Perspex plate keeping costs of re-branding down.

Clear Perspex/acrylic can be used with reverse cut or printed vinyl graphics for a unique glossy look where one will see the graphics through the Perspex. For printed graphics, the graphics are printed in reverse on clear vinyl and then applied to the back of the clear Perspex. Another vinyl, coloured, textured or white will be applied after the print to bring out the desired colours and look. In addition to these reverse signs being unique, they are also highly desirable for locations where signs can be vandalized by peeling.

Since the graphics are on the back of the Perspex, peeling cannot occur.  These areas include high traffic areas like lifts or dusty areas where signs will need constant cleaning that can lead to peeling if the cleaner is not careful enough.

Perspex also known as acrylic is very easy to cut into custom shapes as required using the laser or CNC router. In terms of pricing, Perspex is one of the affordable materials you can use to make signs. Perspex however, is very prone to scratches and will need careful wiping in order to remove dust without scratching the signs. Perspex signs can also easily break when they are accidentally hit fall down.

Alucobond office door signs

Alucobond is another popular material for making office signs in Nairobi. Alucobond also known as ACM Aluminum Composite Material or ACP Aluminum Composite Panel is a material made of two layers of aluminum metal one on top and the other below with a plastic material in between.

It is a very hardy and rigid material, cannot easily scratch or bend, and is therefore the best material to be used for signage to be installed in very high traffic areas. For these areas, engraved Alucobond signs are the best and most cost effective solution.

Just like acrylic or Perspex, Alucobond is used to make office signs using computer cut vinyl graphics or printed graphics. Alucobond comes in a number of colors but its color palate is not as wide as that of acrylic/Perspex. However, Alucobond comes in some unique finishes that are hard to find on any other material of comparable price. Alucobond has finishes like brushed silver, brushed gold, matte and gloss, which make unique signs.

Alucobond can be cut into custom shapes by using a CNC machine or router. You can also engrave the Alucobond for a different look that will last forever.

Alucobond comes in either 3mm or 4 mm thicknesses and therefore, for signs where more depth is required, Alucobond is not the best material to use. In terms of costing, Alucobond signs will cost you comparatively the same as Perspex/acrylic signs.

Aluminum office door signs

Aluminum sheets come in Gold and silver with a matte, gloss or brushed finish. Aluminum office signs are comparatively more expensive than Perspex or Alucobond signs.

Aluminum signs can be made with vinyl graphics but are most popular with engraved signs.

Engraving sheet door signs for office

Engraving sheet is a material very popular for making cheap engraved office signs. The material comes in various colors including gold and silver and is very easy to engrave on using the laser and CNC machines. Just like Perspex or Alucobond, it can be cut into various custom shapes and sizes. Engraving sheet is very prone to scratches.

Brass door signs for office

Brass office signs are less popular mainly because of their prohibitive cost. Brass material is expensive to buy and engrave and therefore the finished product is very costly. However, big companies like hotels do go for this material more often than not because it produces very quality high-end looking signs.

Forex or form board door signs for office

Forex is the most popular material for making affordable signs. You can use Forex with vinyl graphics or printed vinyl. Forex also comes in various thicknesses and colors like green, yellow and red but the most popular is white. Forex lacks any unique finishes and is not very long lasting as it breaks easily.

The material is very popular for use where the main priority is keeping the costs down. The material is recommended for signs that will be situated in areas with very little traffic as they damage easily. Forex is mainly used in the making of duct signs to mark the various service dusts like fire hose reel, fire extinguisher, electrical ducts and such like signs.