Wood vs HDU
Wooden Signs
Back when the old-timers started making wood signs, popular carving materials included timbers like Sequoia Redwood and Brazilian Mahogany. The problem is that using old growth wood is not environmentally sustainable. It takes 200-400 years to grow such trees and once they have been felled they cannot be replaced for generations!
A wooden outdoor sign will peel, split, crack, rot, or warp over time. Insects tunnel through the wood. Water gets beneath the paint or clear coat and the wood sign swells. Additional cracks break the moisture seal and accelerate deterioration. A wood sign requires frequent maintenance to protect it. In extreme climates or with clear-coated wood you may need to refinish your sign every year or two to keep it looking good. Most sign owners today do not have the time, tools or skills to keep a wooden sign looking its best. That is why we rarely use wood to make our signs. We recommend a superior material called High Density Urethane.
Get the beautiful look of a wood sign - without the hassles!
Browse through our design gallery or photo gallery until you find a 'wood style' sign design you like, then customize it using our interactive SIGNDESIGNER tools. Our team of award winning signmakers will handcraft your concept and deliver your HDU 'wood style' sign in 21 days!
HDU Signs
Danthonia handcrafts our signs from SIGNFOAM3 HDU [a closed cell foam with recycled content] laminated to a firm PVC backing for added rigidity and superior hardware hold. 'High Density Urethane' is waterproof, insect-proof and fire retardant. It carves, paints, and machines like wood. Our sign panels are the same weight as Redwood with comparable dent resistance.
Our standard product looks and feels just like a painted wood sign. Especially if you choose the 'brush texture' for your design. For an additional 'custom artwork' fee our artists can create a faux wood grain. Your sign will look like clear coated wood. Weathering is superior to wood in exterior applications as it will not crack, split, swell or rot in the elements. Sign thicknesses average about 1.0 to 1.5 inches - depending on the number of sides and add-on layers required for the design. All carving is chiseled by hand and all artwork is hand painted.
Dulux Weathershield Paints
We coat our HDU 'wood style' sign panels with Dulux Weathershield paints. These paints were developed for the harsh Australian climate - the manufacturer advertises a 15 year guarantee against cracking, blistering or peeling. These UV resistant paints use mineral pigments so most colors will show no significant fading for 8-10 years. Anti graffiti coatings are available on request.