Neon signs have a glamour of their own. Their looks are unique and they catch the eye like no other type of signage.
These types of signs have been the choice of many businesses since the early 1900’s. Nowadays, they have been replaced in some places by digital screens and other affordable signage options, but you can still find them in use by big and small businesses alike.
They haven’t died out, and it’s unlikely that they will ever lose their popularity.
Why is neon popular exactly? What’s so special about these signs? In this post, that is what we’re going to be looking at.
How Exactly Do Neon Signs Work?
Let’s first understand how exactly these signs work. Where does the word “neon” come from and how are they able to give off their signature look?
Neon signs are made of glass tubing. The glass is shaped for whatever the sign has to say or show. Inside the glass is a certain gas (or a combination of gases) that glows when an electric current is put through it.
Neon is one of the gases that is commonly used in these types of signs. It produces a bright red color. This is why these signs are thus named, and this is where the term “neon colors” used descriptively in other places comes from.
Argon and Xenon are also some other gases that are used in these signs.
Why Are Neon Signs So Popular?
Now let’s talk about why these signs are so popular.
They Offer a Unique Look and Lighting Style
Nowadays, businesses use other types of signage options, such as LED signs and LED screens, etc. However, these types of signs use light. Their style is somewhat generic and, while they do the job, they don’t stand out.
On the other hand, neon signs glow as a result of the gases inside the glass tubing. The glow they create is very different from the bland lighting made by other types of signs. The glow is bright and visible, yet mild and mellow at the same time. It gives off a unique look, which is one of the reasons these signs are so popular.
Many other types of light-based signs can sometimes be difficult to look at. Especially during the night times, they can be a bit hard on the eyes when you’re close. This problem doesn’t exist with neon signs.
They Can Be Customized Extensively
Neon signs are made of glass, and glass can be molded in any shape that you want. This makes neon signs very customizable. They can be customized to any shape and style that you require.
Many businesses use them for the simple “Open” and “Closed” signs while others create large elaborate signs that are installed near the top of the building for maximum visibility.
This is one of the reasons neon signs were so popular back in the day and why they are still around. There aren’t a lot of other types of signage options that allow you to go crazy with customization while also retaining a unique type of aesthetic.
They Provide Excellent Visibility
Another answer to the question “Why is neon popular?” is their excellent visibility.
These signs can be spotted from a very long distance. A business set up at the side of a busy road could set up a large neon sign and let commuters know of its presence from about a mile away. In the same way, if there is a business located in the midst of hundreds of other shops, a uniquely colored, customized neon sign is all that it needs to stand out.
The visibility of neon signs is heightened during the night time when they can glow brightly against the dark backdrop.
Neon Signs Are Very Vibrant and Eye-Catching
Due to their style of glowing and the bright colors that they give off, neon signs are very vibrant. Between simple signs and dull digital ones, a vibrant neon sign can be very eye-catching. It can attract customers and perform better advertising for the business.
They Can Last for a Very Long Time
Provided that you take proper care of them, neon signs can last for a very long time. You can, with proper maintenance, make a neon sign go for as long as 10 to 15 years.
Neon signs have a relatively simple working. There are no tiny LED units at work nor are there any complicated combination of electrodes working behind the scenes. Rather, the sign consists of glass, gas, and electrodes at the ends for the current to pass between. That’s it.
In LED signs and screens, there are no many tiny components involved, and each of them can become a cause for the whole thing to stop working. Their maintenance can be multi-faceted and often expensive.
On the other hand, with neon signs, there are just a few things that can possibly go wrong (and the chances of that happening can be reduced if you use them carefully). Their maintenance is also relatively simple and doesn’t usually cost a lot.
What are LED Neon Signs? Are They the Same as Traditional Neon Signs?
Nowadays, many people use LED neon signs instead of the traditional ones.
LED neon signs are made to look like traditional neon signs, but they don’t have any “neon” component in them to justify the name, except for the vibrant color. These types of signs are usually made of plastic or acrylic and use LED units to light up the sign.
People usually go with these types of “faux” signs because they are safer to use (no glass is used in the construction) and are much cheaper (since it’s just LED lights and not rare noble gases).
LED neon signs don’t look as good as traditional neon signs. They don’t give the same type of glow. While they can be prominent, they don’t really stand out from the rest…because the rest of the signs are usually also LED-based.
The reason why we’re mentioning these types of signs is to point out that the reasons we’ve listed above don’t apply to them. Rather, they apply to the traditional, old-fashioned type of neon signs.
How Much Do Neon Signs Cost?
The cost of neon signs can vary greatly depending on a number of different factors. If you want to buy a simple, pre-designed sign, such as one that says “Open” or “Closed,” it can cost you somewhere between $50 to $100.
However, if you want to go with a completely custom sign with a custom color combo and detailing, etc., the price can go up to $1,000 or even $2,000.
Here is a brief description of the various factors that can affect the cost of a neon sign.
- Size: The size of the neon sign can affect the cost. Bigger signs require more materials and are more expensive.
- Color: If you want a specific shade (or shades) in the neon sign, the gases required for it can be hard to source and the mixing process can require a skilled expert. The cost of the gases plus the cost of hiring the expert can make the neon sign quite expensive.
- Shape and design: Intricately designed custom neon signs can be costly. Crafting the sign’s shape out of glass requires skill and expertise—and that doesn’t come cheap. You can expect to pay a pretty penny for a custom design.
Tips to Care for Your Neon Sign
Before we give this post a wrap, let’s talk about some tips that you can follow to take care of your neon sign. These types of signs are still quite popular and buying one for your business, or even your home space, can be a good idea.
But once you do buy a sign like this, here is what you should do to make sure they last long:
- Be extra careful during the transportation and installation. You may not realize it at the time, but the sign can pick up some damage during these initial stages, which can evolve to be a bigger problem afterwards.
- Don’t unplug the signs unnecessarily. If you turn the signs on and off unnecessarily, you can wear down the electric components keeping it running. When you have to take the sign down for repairs or cleaning, then it should be turned off. But other than that, keep it on.
- Do routine checks for leakages/breaks. Sometimes, a light crack in the glass can cause the gas to leak. This can cause your sign to get dimmer, and in a closed space, it can also be a health hazard. By doing routine checks, you can make sure this problem doesn’t arise.
Final Thoughts
Neon signs are popular due to their unique style of lighting, customizability, durability, and excellent visibility. They have been a popular choice for businesses in the 20th century and they still remain so due to their premium, retro look.
If you are thinking about buying a sign for your home or business, you should definitely try it out. However, before making your purchase, make sure to understand the costs (as we’ve explained above in the post).