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Materials / Substrates & Overlaminates

Substrates and overlaminates: what the film lives on.

The substrate decides whether a sign stands up to weather, fire code, and abuse. The overlaminate decides whether the print survives UV, chemicals, and graffiti. Both deserve as much attention as the printed film itself.

Signavero LLC is an independent signage installation network. 3M®, ORAGUARD®, Dibond®, Alupanel®, Sintra®, Komatex®, Lexan®, and other product names referenced are trademarks of their respective owners. References here identify the materials we specify and install; we are not an authorized reseller of any third-party brand.

Curved sheets of colored film and media stock
Overview

What the film sits on, and what shields the film.

The substrate is what decides whether a sign survives weather, fire code, and a few seasons of abuse. The overlaminate is what keeps the print from fading under UV or getting eaten by cleaning chemicals and spray paint. Both matter as much as the printed film itself. On a Signavero quote, both get called out by SKU. Never by vague category.

Substrates

Rigid panels we fabricate and install.

  • Substrate
    Dibond / Alupanel (ACM)
    Thickness
    3-6 mm
    Indoor / Outdoor
    Indoor + Outdoor
    Fire rating
    Class A / B per grade
    Common use
    Monument signs, building cladding, large dimensional letters
    Lead time
    1-2 wk
  • Substrate
    Aluminum sheet
    Thickness
    .040–.125 in
    Indoor / Outdoor
    Indoor + Outdoor
    Fire rating
    Non-combustible
    Common use
    Panel signs, real-estate / parking signage, monument faces
    Lead time
    1 wk
  • Substrate
    Cast acrylic
    Thickness
    1/8–1 in
    Indoor / Outdoor
    Indoor + Outdoor (UV-stable)
    Fire rating
    Class B
    Common use
    Dimensional letters, lobby logos, lightbox faces
    Lead time
    1-2 wk
  • Substrate
    Extruded acrylic
    Thickness
    1/8–1/2 in
    Indoor / Outdoor
    Indoor
    Fire rating
    Class B
    Common use
    Push-through letters, interior dimensional logos, plaques
    Lead time
    1 wk
  • Substrate
    Sintra / Komatex (expanded PVC)
    Thickness
    3-13 mm
    Indoor / Outdoor
    Indoor
    Fire rating
    Class A self-extinguishing
    Common use
    Trade show, suspended signs, interior dimensional
    Lead time
    3-5 days
  • Substrate
    MDO (medium-density overlay)
    Thickness
    3/8–3/4 in
    Indoor / Outdoor
    Outdoor (painted)
    Fire rating
    Combustible
    Common use
    Site signage, construction signage, sandwich boards
    Lead time
    3-5 days
  • Substrate
    Coroplast (corrugated plastic)
    Thickness
    4-10 mm
    Indoor / Outdoor
    Outdoor (short-term)
    Fire rating
    Combustible
    Common use
    Real estate signs, political, short-term promotional
    Lead time
    1-2 days
  • Substrate
    Foamcore
    Thickness
    3/16–1 in
    Indoor / Outdoor
    Indoor
    Fire rating
    Combustible
    Common use
    Trade show, mounted prints, presentation boards
    Lead time
    1-2 days
  • Substrate
    Polycarbonate (Lexan)
    Thickness
    1/16–1/2 in
    Indoor / Outdoor
    Indoor + Outdoor
    Fire rating
    Class A (FR grade)
    Common use
    High-impact glazing, ADA signage faces, safety screens
    Lead time
    1-2 wk
  • Substrate
    Magnetic sheet
    Thickness
    .030 in
    Indoor / Outdoor
    Indoor + temporary outdoor
    Fire rating
    —
    Common use
    Removable vehicle graphics, equipment IDs
    Lead time
    2-3 days

Fire ratings and lead times shift with grade, manufacturer, and core. ACM and polycarbonate only hit Class A in their fire-rated grades. Always confirm the rating against the current datasheet and the authority having jurisdiction for your install.

Overlaminates

Protective films we run over print.

  • Laminate
    3M 8518
    Type
    Cast overlaminate
    Finish
    Gloss
    Best use
    Pair with IJ180Cv3 / IJ39 for wraps, walls, windows
    Why it matters
    UV-stable and scratch-resistant; keeps the full MCS warranty path open
  • Laminate
    3M 8519
    Type
    Cast overlaminate
    Finish
    Luster (semi-gloss)
    Best use
    Architectural and storefront work where full gloss reads too retail
    Why it matters
    Cuts glare; rides the same warranty pathway as 8518
  • Laminate
    3M 8520
    Type
    Cast overlaminate
    Finish
    Matte
    Best use
    Corporate, lifestyle retail, premium hospitality
    Why it matters
    Lowest reflection of the three; reads like a finish instead of a film
  • Laminate
    ORAGUARD 250
    Type
    Calendered overlaminate
    Finish
    Gloss
    Best use
    Floor graphics, anti-skid POP, short-term promotional
    Why it matters
    Anti-skid surface rated for foot-traffic floor installs
  • Laminate
    ORAGUARD 255
    Type
    Calendered overlaminate
    Finish
    Matte
    Best use
    Matte anti-skid for premium retail floor and stair graphics
    Why it matters
    Matte and anti-skid at once, built for branded floor environments
  • Laminate
    ORAGUARD 290
    Type
    Cast overlaminate
    Finish
    Gloss
    Best use
    Pair with ORAJET 3951 for vehicle wraps and marine
    Why it matters
    Marine-rated and still lets the cast film conform to curves
  • Laminate
    Anti-graffiti laminates
    Type
    Sacrificial / non-sacrificial
    Finish
    Gloss or satin
    Best use
    Public-facing exterior installs that see urban exposure
    Why it matters
    Spray paint, marker, and stickers wipe off clean
Specification notes

The overlaminate belongs in the spec. It isn't an upsell.

Brand teams and procurement leads sometimes ask why a quote carries a separate "overlaminate" line at all. Fair question. Here's why we don't drop it. Skip the matched overlaminate and the print fades far faster under UV, the manufacturer warranty no longer applies, and one bad run-in with a cleaning agent, fuel splash, or a can of spray paint can mark the graphic for good. On anything public-facing, the anti-graffiti laminate earns its line item the first time someone wipes a tag off.

Brand names and trademarks referenced are property of their respective owners. Signavero LLC is an independent signage installation network and not an authorized reseller of third-party brands unless explicitly stated. Service area descriptions reflect coordination capability through our installer network; Signavero LLC is a California limited liability company based in Ventura, California. ®, ™, and brand names appearing on the site are trademarks of their respective owners; references herein are nominative fair use for the purpose of identifying compatible products and services.

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