Outdoor Banner Printing That Lasts

Many places offer services for outdoor banner printing, but there are a few things to keep in mind when searching for shop that is best for you.  Not all banners are created equal, and this is especially true for banners made to last outdoors.  You need a material that can stand up to the wind and rain, maybe even something that will last more than one season.

KCBGraphics.com is a leading supplier of trade show products in Toronto, Ontario.  Please take a look at our heavy duty banner pricing and don't hesitate to give us a call with any questions at 1-800-350-7152.




Outdoor Banner Printing - Stitch and Grommet

The key to a good outdoor banner is strength.  to begin with, how thick or how sturdy is the material?  How well will it resist tearing in the wind?

For any long term outdoor banner printing solution, you want a material that is at least 13 oz.  (This refers to the thickness of the vinyl.)  A 12 oz material is good for indoor use, whereas 13 oz is good for mild outdoor use.  For long lasting outdoor banner printing, you want a material around 18 oz thick.




By default, we finish all our outdoor banner printing with a stitched edge.  This edge includes grommets to attached your banner as you need.

To aid against wind, most shops will sew a strip of nylon webbing around the perimeter of the banner.  This provides a fair bit of extra strength against tearing grommets do to misuse or wind.  We sew these strips of nylon right inside the back edge of the banner, which is then fixed with grommets, to two working together for a strong, long lasting edge.



Nylon Webbing is sewn into the edge for added strength

 

Outdoor Banner Printing - Windflaps

When banners are made to hang over a street, highway, or between two buildings, the wind becomes a concern.  A strong wind can cause a banner to act as a sail, pulling against itself.  This can, in turn, cause the grommets to start to tear through the vinyl.  Now, this might not be a concern.  Maybe the banner is going up against a wall, or is in a sheltered area without much wind.  But if not, then we recommend adding windflaps to your outdoor banner.



To reduce tension caused by wind


These are flaps, or wind smiles, cut directly through the vinyl.  Yes, they can impact or impede your graphics.  Banners that require these flaps, though. are generally large and intended for viewing from a distance.  When there is no wind, they hang flat, reducing impact to your text or artwork.  When setting up your file for print, we will show you where these wind flaps will be placed, staggering their placement to try to minimize impact on your design




Pick a banner that is going to last

So, keep these things in mind when purchasing your next outdoor banner.:

  • Thickness and durability of the material
  • Finishing options, like stitching and grommets
  • Heavy duty extras, like nylon webbing and windflaps

As always, we're here if you have questions or special requests.