Redwood, having a natural resistance to insect damage, decay an rot is the
choice wood for exterior signs. Redwood will also resist shrinking and warping
better than most other woods which allows it to withstand the elements much
better than other materials. In fact, Redwood is often used in the construction
industry when longevity and durability is of high importance. An example might
be Redwood fencing, posts or decks. All of which have to hold up under high or
low moisture conditions, direct contact with soils and the physical abuse of
foot traffic as in the case of a deck.
Another characteristic of Redwood when used for signage is the ability to
sand blast graphics into the surface exposing the wonderful wood grain below.
The reason Redwood is chosen over other materials is the softness of the wood
itself and since we only use the highest quality kiln dried redwood for our
signs, the graining is particularly striking.
A second option is to use Cedar instead of Redwood. Cedar having many of the
same qualities of Redwood has a distinct difference. When sand blasted, Cedar
tends to blast deeper with less grain. Therefore Cedar can be used when the
desired effect is a more uniform depth with less grain.
Amongst other materials we sand blast is marble, tile, phenolic, glass etc.
