They say that March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb, but here in the Nashville, TN area we're sure to get lots of April showers in the next month! Outdoor banners and signs have the potential to take a beating from Mother Nature at any upcoming outdoor events you or your company may be hosting. To make sure your signage actually holds its own in wind or rain, there are a few things to consider.

Use Mesh Banners

The best way to combat wind? Let it pass right through! This means mesh banners are a great option for outdoor activities. The more the banner material is trying to resist the wind, the more likely it is to rip or tear. Because mesh is essentially a grid with thousands of tiny holes, wind is able to pass through it without putting too much resistance on the fabric.

This mesh banner was designed and fabricated by 12-Point SignWorks for Nissan USA's sponsorship of the Chukker's for Charity polo match that takes place in the Franklin area every year in support of charities helping people with disabilities.

Mind Your Corners

Simply putting some rope or twine through the four corners of a banner is usually not a great idea if you are expecting rough weather. Pulling on the four corners of a banner makes it more susceptible to getting torn because too much tension is being put into the four isolated spots. Your banner is even more likely to rip using this method if you are using cheaper vinyl materials. Instead, place holes that are reinforced with tabs or grommets along the top and bottom, and weave your rope or cable through the hem of the banner. This helps disperse the tension being put on the banner and prevent damage.

Use Feather Banners

Also known as feather flags, banner flags, sail signs, and wind feathers, these types of banners are actually designed for breezy days. The tension rod that runs through the banner not only makes it easy to spike into the ground, but it keeps the text and images (printed on tear resistant material) displayed on your banner visible while flapping in the wind. These banners are also easy to transport, put up, and take down, so they're a great product all around!

We designed and fabricated these feather banners for Nissan USA.

Anchor Your Banner Stands

There a lot of options for weighing down your banner stands so they don't blow away, but the two most popular options are water weights and sand weights. These beanbag-like weights usually weigh at least 25 pounds are are designed to fit around the tension poles of outdoor tents and feather banners. That's like having 5 bags of sugar, a ten-foot metal chain, or a two-year old child holding down each banner! So basically if it's not windy enough to bowl your toddler over, it won't be windy enough to knock over your banner if it's weighed down with an anchor sign base. 

Use Banner Tape

Banner tape is a strongly adhesive tape that takes well to banner fabrics. You can use it to hem the edges of your banners, reinforce banner edges, and correct damage that has happened to your banner in the past. Some brands of banner tape are extremely strong and wind resistant. Megatape, for example, has proven to withstand winds up to 98 MPH in wind tunnel tests!  

Consider Getting Banner Tabs

If you want to hang a banner outside your storefront for an upcoming sale or promotion but feel like getting metal grommets punched in your paper or plastic banner would be overkill, you'll definitely want to consider getting banner tabs or clips. These tabs protect the edges of your banner from tearing and give you a stronger grip for pulling your banners taut. Be sure to check if the brand you are using makes tabs labeled "for outdoor use" to insure that they will protect against wind damage.

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