Signs rarely fail all at once. Letters go dark one at a time, colors fade a little each summer and a face cracks after one hard winter. Because the change is slow, it is easy to stop seeing it. Your customers still see it.
Gogi Signs repairs and replaces signs for businesses across New Jersey and New York City. This guide covers the warning signs, a simple way to decide between repair and replacement, and the local rules that can make the choice for you.
In this guide
Nine Signs It Is Time to Act
- Faded colors. Red and yellow usually go first. A faded sign looks like a business that is not paying attention.
- Peeling or cracked vinyl. Once edges lift, water and dirt get under the film and it gets worse quickly.
- Dark letters or sections. One dark letter can change what your sign says.
- Flickering. This often points to a failing power supply or a loose connection.
- Cracked, bowed or yellowed faces. Old or low grade plastic yellows and gets brittle.
- Rust streaks or stains. These mean water is getting in, or hardware is corroding.
- Loose or leaning mounting. This is a safety problem first and a looks problem second.
- Outdated name, logo or phone number. Your sign should match your current brand.
- A sign that no longer meets town rules. Covered below, because it limits what you can fix.
Repair or Replace: A Simple Test
Most sign problems are repairable. The question is whether the repair makes sense. We look at three things.
- The cabinet and structure. If the cabinet, raceway and mounting are sound, a new face, new vinyl or new LEDs can give you years more. If the cabinet is rusted through or the mounting is failing, the sign usually needs replacing.
- The age of the lighting. Old fluorescent lamps or neon can be converted to LED modules. If the sign is old enough that every part is near the end of its life, a full replacement often costs about the same over time.
- The cost of repeat repairs. One service call is normal. Several a year means the sign is costing you more than a new one would.
What LED Warranties Tell You
If your sign uses LED modules, the warranty papers give a good clue about which parts wear out first. Principal Sloan’s current limited warranty lists 120 month coverage for several of its sign modules, and 60 to 120 months for its power supplies, depending on the model. SloanLED’s global warranty covers most of its power supplies for 60 months, while some module lines are covered for 120 months or for the life of the sign.
Two lessons for owners. First, power supplies tend to carry shorter coverage than modules, so a sign that goes dark all at once often needs a new power supply, not a new sign. Second, these warranties come with conditions. For example, using parts the maker did not approve can void the warranty. That is one reason we use matched parts from one maker when we repair a lit sign. See our sign repair service.
When Town Rules Make the Decision
Many New Jersey towns have changed their sign rules over the years. An older sign that was legal when it went up may not meet today’s rules. These signs are called nonconforming. You can usually keep them, but what you may fix is limited.
- Hoboken allows repairs to a nonconforming sign only when the cost does not exceed 50 percent of the cost of replacing the sign, under section 196 31K of its zoning code.
- Montclair says a nonconforming sign must be brought up to the current rules when it is changed in shape, size, illumination or structure, under section 347 111H of its sign rules. Adding or changing lighting counts.
- Montclair also requires signs that have faded or weathered excessively, or whose paint has peeled or cracked, to be repaired or removed, under section 247 5C of its property maintenance code.
Every town is different, so check before you plan a big repair on an older sign. Our sign permits team can look up your town’s rules as part of the job.
Permits When You Replace a Sign in NYC
In New York City, repainting or changing the display on an approved sign that was designed for those changes is not treated as an alteration that needs a separate permit, under section H101.2 of the city’s building code appendix H. A new sign is different. Larger and lit signs need a Department of Buildings permit and, in many cases, a licensed sign hanger. Our sister company in New York explains the process in channel letter permits in NYC.
Can You Replace Just Part of a Sign?
Often, yes. Common partial fixes include:
- New face. A new printed or vinyl face on a sound light box cabinet.
- LED conversion. Swapping fluorescent tubes or neon for LED modules inside the existing cabinet or letters.
- New vinyl. Replacing faded film on an aluminum panel.
- Hardware. New stainless fasteners and brackets on a sound sign.
The catch is matching. New vinyl next to five year old vinyl will not be the same color. The same is true for wraps. Pixel Wraps, our sister graphics shop, explains why in can one damaged section of a vehicle wrap be repaired.
What Waiting Costs You
Putting off a repair rarely saves money. Water that gets in through a cracked face or a lifted vinyl edge rusts the cabinet and shorts the lighting, which turns a small fix into a bigger one. A dark sign also costs you at night, when people driving past cannot tell if you are open. And in towns with upkeep rules, a worn sign can bring a notice and a deadline to fix it. Our guide on the hidden cost of poor business signage shows how these costs add up.
Questions to Ask Before You Decide
- How old is the sign, and do you have the original drawings or permit?
- Is the problem one part, or several parts at once?
- Will your town let you fix it, or is it a nonconforming sign with limits?
- Does the design still fit your name, logo and street?
- How long will you stay at this location?
Replacing for Brand Reasons
Sometimes the sign works fine but no longer matches your business. A new name, a new logo or a new location layout are all good reasons to replace. Our guide on rebranding without replacing every sign shows how to phase a change and keep what still works.
A Replacement Timeline
- Site survey. We measure, check the wall and look at what can be reused. See our site survey service.
- Design and approval. You approve a proof with sizes and colors.
- Permit. We file where your town or the city requires one.
- Fabrication. The new sign is built in our Linden shop.
- Removal and installation. We take down the old sign and put up the new one, usually on the same visit. Read who removes old business signs for more on removal.
For how long each part of a sign should last, read how long commercial signs last. To keep a new sign looking new, read how to maintain outdoor business signs.
Common Questions About Replacing a Business Sign
How do I know if my sign needs replacing?
Look for faded colors, peeling vinyl, dark letters, flickering, cracked faces, rust, loose mounting or an outdated design. If the cabinet and structure are sound, a repair may be enough.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace a sign?
A single repair on a sound sign is usually cheaper. If the structure is failing or repairs keep repeating, a replacement often costs less over time.
Can I repair a nonconforming sign?
Usually, within limits. Hoboken caps repairs at 50 percent of the replacement cost, and Montclair requires the sign to meet current rules if you change its shape, size, lighting or structure. Check your own town.
Do I need a permit to replace my sign?
Usually, for a new sign. Most New Jersey towns and New York City require a permit for new permanent signs. Simple display changes on an approved sign may not.
Why are some letters on my sign dark?
Common causes are a failed power supply, a loose connection or failed LED modules. A technician can test each part.
Can a town make me fix a faded sign?
Yes, some can. Montclair requires excessively faded or peeling signs to be repaired or removed and sets fines for violations.
Get an Honest Repair or Replace Answer
We will tell you if a repair is enough. See our sign repair service, then request a free quote.
