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pros and cons of working with vinyl in hot climates?
Hi everyone,
Does anyone have experience of working with vinyl’s (and substrates) in very hot and sunny climates? I am (trying) developing my business in Sub-Saharan West Africa and I would like to avoid to many expensive mistakes.
The worst case is 35 deg C and direct prolonged sun combined with very high humidity for 10 months of the year.
The cost of vinyl in my region of the world equates to around 1sqm of quality Cast vinyl to 2 days wages so best value is also important.
Your worldly experience would be much appreciated.
Thanks, Jon
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9 Replies
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wawww I will get to learn a lot of this question .
im not sure i would say use good 10 years life expensive vinyl.
for substrate well i think in that tempature u can frie an egg on a metal substrate . (hot)
Shane, Australia get hot days like 40 temp. what would u use?
I would say thin boards wont take much heat :banghead: maybe e-pvc
ok Shut up Nancy 😉
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Wow mate, sounds like queensland weather all year round.
Firstly, if you have consistant high temps, stick with a cast instead of poly or monomeric products.
3M 7725, Oracal 751c or 851 and Avery 900 would be the best bet.
Heat is the very thing that will make the wrong material fail quickest, and cast by its very manufacturing process is the best option.
Substrates…. if you want something to last for a long time, in extreme temps, steer away from plastics if you can. I use dibond or alugbond aluminium based materials, or a product here called Colorbond (powdercoated steel sheet). Also, Timber sheet (weathertex – which is compressed timber shavings with waterproof additives, Marine ply – make sure you paint the edges to seal them) is a good option in hot environments. Some countries have waterproof MDF, they are starting up a MDF powdercoating facility near me, not sure if that makes it waterproof tho.
Never apply vinyl in the direct heat. Work in a shade if possible. Too much heat is the same as too much cold.
Hope that helps. All the best.
Shane
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Hats off to the Southern Hem. contingent. Guess you guys have many similar probs. to me.
Shane’s coment about applying in the heat/cold made me think. For 6 to 8 weeks of the year the temp can go from 30 deg C in the evening to 6 deg C by midnight. Will this rapid temp shift have any bearing on the vinyl media? (Guess this is more a substrate problem!)
Like the Plywood thoughts Shane, been thinking about that a lot, even been out and bought a compressor and gun just for that. Epoxy is bloody expensive out my way so thought I would import that rather than PVC boards. How do Oracle and Avery products stand together, I would like to find one or two single source suppliers as that makes my imports a lot easer.
Thanks so far, and PLEASE keep the experience flowing, I will have a great opportunity to field test some products so the favours will most assuredly be returned.
Thanks again, Jon
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Jon, temp changes like that are not a problem to the cast material, but some substrates do have a hard time coping with it.
Always be aware of the expansion and contraction that goes with these temp changes. When butting two sheets of substrate, remember not to butt them up hard together, as a really hot day will make them buckle at the butt edge.
Materials I like are Oracal, mainly because I have a terrific supplier here who employ staff who are really on their game, and the owner of the business is one of the nicest guys I know. They support me so I support them.
The other reason I suggest Oracal is that they support this site thru sponsorship, and I think the best way to say thanks for their support is to buy their product. This site is an excellent resource, and I think anyone that supports it, should be supported too. Thats just me tho. It is the way I do business.
Avery 900 is an excellent product too. Unfortunately they have a lousy distribution company here who have no idea of loyalty at all, so I give them a miss unless I must use avery for a contract. It may be better there.
Hope that helps mate.
When the guys in the UK get out of bed and log on, I’m sure more advice will be forthcoming.
Take care
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Ever thought of working a night shift 😮
I nearly always have to work in the cold so sorry I cant be much help. Interesting problem though -
quote Jayne Marsh:Ever thought of working a night shift 😮
I nearly always have to work in the cold so sorry I cant be much help. Interesting problem thoughI’m doing a midnight shift tonight Jayne. 11 deg and rain… yuk! … Helping another sign shop that needs an extra set of hands to do a truck.
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Finished at 4am this morning. The other sign guy decided to take the day off today.. but I have my own day that I can’t cancel… boo hoo 🙁
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Tuff at the top mate, but hay, you did’nt let the guy down.
02:21 in blighty and still goin’. Much to learn and little time to do it in.
This forum rocks, I just spent an hour going thru some of the tutorials and the brain is just bouncing with ideas.Am I hijacking my own thread here? oh well thats what happens at silly o’clock and no sleep.
L8r Shane and get some kipp or u’ll be 😮
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ur not the only one doing 2:31
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