Plastic vs. Aluminum posted signs

[Ed Neuhauser]

 I would like to know if anyone has any information on the longevity of plastic vs. aluminum posted signs. The attached Al sign, between 10-15 years old, has faded so much that it's not usable. I don't have any long-term experience with plastic signs, do they also fad over time? If metal lacks longevity, are there any other advantages that I am not aware of?

 Below is a picture of one of my faded metal posted signs.

[Lewis E. Ward]

Much depends upon sun exposure for both aluminum and plastic. The orange plastic however is still bright for years after the black ink has faded. At least you can easily locate the boundary lines.

[Daniel Little]

We use yellow plastic signs from Voss Sign here in Central New York.  In closed tree canopy I have not seen any fading in the last 10+ years.  We do however use 12"x"12 plywood backer boards and we have had issues with porcupines and squirrels chewing the plywood and plastic signs that are stapled to them.

[Brett Chedzoy]

Ed,  I think aluminum will be more durable than plastic, though much will depend on the quality of the paint.  I would source the signs from a company that specializes in these types of signs, like Voss.  Our neighbor posted their boundary with plastic signs a few years ago.  With the exception of the signs in heavy shade, the rest are now illegible.  Though there again, plastic signs made from uv-stabilized plastic with laser lettering may hold up for years.  You get what you pay for.

[Todd Williams]

I have aluminum ones purchased from Voss. They've been up for 13 years and show no sign of fading. I wouldn't use anything else.