When a Cayman business needs a rigid sign, the choice usually comes down to three boards: coroplast, PVC and aluminum composite. All three can be printed single or double sided, ordered up to 4 ft by 8 ft and fitted with the same mounting hole options. So the real decision is about the board itself: how it looks up close, how stiff it is, how much it weighs, and whether the sign comes down after an event or stays on the wall.
The three boards at a glance
Coroplast vs PVC vs aluminum composite is easier to settle once you know what each board is built for:
- Coroplast is a light corrugated plastic sheet. It is the most economical rigid option and suits short to medium term outdoor use, such as site signs and events.
- PVC board is a solid plastic sheet with a smooth face, offered in 3mm, 6mm and 10mm. It is a common choice for indoor signs that need a clean, finished look.
- Aluminum composite is a flat panel with thin aluminum skins over a solid core. It stays flat at larger sizes and is intended for permanent outdoor signage such as parking and property signs.
Styrene and foam board signs, A-frames, window vinyl and vehicle graphics are also in the range: see signs and large format printing in the Cayman Islands for the full line-up.
Coroplast: light and practical for temporary jobs
Coroplast is built a little like a cardboard box in plastic form: two flat faces joined by thin ribs, or flutes, running through the sheet. That keeps it light enough for one person to carry a stack of event signs.
Up close, you can see the flutes along two edges and a faint ribbed texture across the face. From the roadside or across a car park, nobody notices, which is why it works so well for signs read at a distance and taken down afterwards.
The trade-off is stiffness. Coroplast is firm along the flutes and flexible across them. On a large board fixed outdoors, the sign can bow in a breeze, so consider a stiffer board if a big sign has to sit perfectly flat. Size and order a Coroplast Sign online.
PVC board: a smooth, solid face for signs seen up close
PVC board is solid rather than fluted, so the face is smooth, the edges are clean and no texture shows through the print. Choose it when people will be standing near the sign: in a reception area, beside an office door or on a shop counter. It is heavier than coroplast at the same size, and the weight rises with thickness, but it is still easy to handle and fix.
Choosing between 3mm, 6mm and 10mm
- 3mm is the lightest. It suits door signs, wayfinding and anything fixed flat to a wall, where the wall gives it support.
- 6mm feels noticeably firmer and holds its shape better at larger sizes, a sensible middle ground for reception signs and indoor menu boards.
- 10mm is a substantial board with real presence, for signs that lean on an easel or shelf, hang free, or need to look solid from the side.
PVC sits between coroplast and aluminum composite in feel and finish. Planning to use it outdoors? Tell us where the sign will go and for how long, and we will confirm whether PVC suits the spot or aluminum composite is the better fit. Pick a thickness on the PVC Board Sign page and enter your size to see the price.
Aluminum composite: flat, rigid and made to stay up
Thin aluminum skins bonded to a solid core keep the panel flat and stiff across a large area, with a crisp face and a clean, thin edge that reads as a permanent fixture.
It is heavier than coroplast or thin PVC, so plan for proper fixings. This is the board we point people towards when a sign is meant to stay outside: parking and property signs, a tenant panel on a plaza fascia, or the name board at the entrance to a strata or office building.
Configure an Aluminum Composite Sign (Dibond) online. For standard parking and directional signs, the .040 Aluminum Sign is a solid aluminum alternative in three fixed sizes, 12 in by 18 in, 18 in by 24 in and 24 in by 36 in, priced each.
Matching the board to common Cayman jobs
A useful rule of thumb for temporary versus longer-term signs: the shorter the job and the further away the sign is read, the stronger the case for coroplast. The longer it stays up and the closer people stand, the more PVC or aluminum composite makes sense. Some typical pairings:
- Construction hoarding and development site boards: coroplast, with holes in all four corners.
- Directional signs for a charity walk or school fair: coroplast, double sided if people approach from both directions.
- Office door and wayfinding signs: 3mm PVC.
- Reception and lobby signs: 6mm or 10mm PVC, or aluminum composite for a slimmer, sharper panel.
- In-store promotions: PVC, or coroplast if the promotion only runs for a few weeks.
- Parking, property and storefront signs: aluminum composite, or the .040 Aluminum Sign for standard sizes.
Sometimes a rigid board is not the answer. If the message belongs on your shopfront glass or work van, compare vehicle graphics, window graphics and magnets. If you need something bigger than 4 ft by 8 ft that rolls up between uses, see our guide to choosing banner material for Cayman weather.
Holes, mounting and installation
All three boards share the same four hole options, so the sign arrives ready to fix. Choose by what it is being attached to:
- None: for a frame, an easel, mounting tape, or drilling on site to line up with existing fixings.
- All Four Corners: the everyday choice for walls, fences and hoarding. Fixing every corner helps the sign sit flat and flap less in the wind.
- Center Top and Bottom: holes centred on the top and bottom edges, which suits a single post or narrow upright.
- Top Corners: for hanging from hooks, chain or cord, such as a sign suspended from a ceiling or under a canopy. Pair it with double sided printing when both faces will be seen.
Practical mounting tips
- Match fixings to the surface: masonry fixings for block walls, screws for timber, cable ties for chain-link hoarding, bolts or brackets for posts.
- Use washers on coroplast and PVC and do not overtighten. Coroplast crushes if a screw is driven too hard.
- Keep logos, phone numbers and key text clear of the corners where holes and fixings sit.
- During hurricane season, plan how temporary signs will come down quickly if a storm is forecast.
For a polished interior look, with the panel held slightly off the wall, Aluminum Standoff Hardware can be ordered alongside your sign. Tell us which sign it is for and we will confirm it suits.
Sizes, artwork and ordering
All three boards are priced per square foot: enter your size on the product page and the price updates. Each can be ordered up to 48 in by 96 in, in either orientation. Need a larger size? Email or WhatsApp us to discuss your project.
Artwork needs no crop marks and no bleed. Upload it as a single-page PDF, and keep text, logos and any critical design elements away from the outer edge so nothing important sits on the trim. For a double sided sign, supply the front and back as separate PDF files.
Turnaround is 6 to 10 business days from artwork approval. Rush work may be available. Please WhatsApp or email us to confirm availability. We deliver across Grand Cayman.
Talk to Creative Exposure before you choose
Still weighing up the boards? Send us a photo of where the sign will go, the rough size, how long it needs to stay up and what it will be fixed to. We will recommend a material, a thickness where it applies and a hole layout that suits the job.
You can request a quote for your sign, email sales@creative.ky or message Creative Exposure on WhatsApp. Already know what you need? Browse the rigid signs in the Creative Exposure Print Shop and configure yours online.