What Is HDU?



High density urethane (HDU) is a foam product that was designed specifically to make signs. It is flexible, durable, and can be made to look just like wood. The term "foam" may make you think about porous material full of air, but it is much thicker than most types of foam.

Traditionally, sandblasted signs were made of high quality wood. These are attractive, but they can be quite expensive. Wood also shows wear and tear over the years, and the added cost of replacing them every few years makes them even more expensive.

The Effects Of Water

The greatest advantage of HDU over wood is that it is naturally waterproof. Water is the number one destroyer of wood signs. Humidity bends and warps wood, and it can be noticeable in just a few short years, depending on the climate where you live. When a wood sandblasted sign is chipped, this allows water to get inside, and it can begin to deteriorate from the inside out.

HDU doesn't have this problem. It is naturally waterproof because it is a petroleum based material. This means that HDU lasts longer than wood and doesn't need to be replaced over time.

The Effects Of Wind

Although HDU is durable, it is lighter and more flexible than wood. This means that it can be effected by wind. If you have a long, thin HDU sign that is stretched between two posts, windy weather can bend it and permanently damage it. This is one thing to keep in mind when deciding whether it is right for you.

The Effect On Your Company's Budget

In order to have a durable sign made of high quality wood such as redwood or cedar, you can expect to pay quite a bit of cash. There is no way to cut corners on wood costs; buying cheaper means that you will have to replace it in a few years. In order to have a good, sturdy wood sign that won't bend and warp, you have to pay big bucks.

The reason for high density urethane foam's popularity is that it is a cheaper alternative to using high quality woods. The material itself is cheaper, and you'll save money by not having to get it replaced. You will also save a few bucks on shipping, since it is a much lighter material.

High density urethane foam is flexible and can be shaped into whatever you want it to be. This makes it easier for the sign company, and also cuts costs on manufacturing.

High density urethane sandblasted signs are the new thing in affordable, quality signs for businesses and offices. Check out HDU, and you'll see why so many businesses are going with the foam instead of traditional wood.