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Banners for windy sites should nearly always be mesh. A solid banner on an open fence behaves like a sail, and the gusts pull on every eyelet and cable tie until something gives. Mesh is woven with small holes, so much of that wind simply passes through. Solid PVC is still the better buy anywhere sheltered or seen up close, because it gives brighter, crisper print. The rest of this guide covers the grey areas, the finishing and the fixing.
Three materials, three jobs #
In the UK, “vinyl banner” and “PVC banner” mean the same thing: a solid sheet of PVC vinyl. Mesh is PVC too, just woven with open holes. The third option drops PVC altogether.
- PVC banner, 440gsm: opaque, bright, sharp. Brilliant on shop fronts, walls, railings, at events and indoors. Being solid, it catches the full force of any breeze.
- Mesh banner, 260gsm: lets air through, so fixings take far less strain. Colours look a touch softer if you stand nose to nose with it.
- PVC-free banner, 400gsm: for anyone who would rather avoid PVC. Suited to indoor displays, retail and exhibitions, or short outdoor stints, in the same sizes as our PVC range.
A word on gsm, which is grams per square metre. Heavier is not the same as better. At 440gsm the PVC is weighty enough to hang flat and hold eyelets well. The 260gsm mesh is lighter on purpose; its job is to breathe, not to be stiff.
Why banners for windy sites fail #
Most torn banners do not rip in the middle. They go at the corners, where the load from a flapping sheet ends up. A solid banner tied too tight has no give; tied too loose, it snaps back and forth on every gust. Either way the eyelets and ties take a beating, and on a light temporary fence the banner can start to pull on the fence itself.
That last point matters on building sites. A big solid banner adds enough wind load to affect how a temporary fence stands, so check with whoever put the fencing up before you fix one on. The HSE has guidance on construction site safety, including keeping temporary structures stable. Our help page on banners on Heras fencing goes further.
If PVC really has to go somewhere exposed, give it plenty of ties, keep it taut, and take it down before a storm.
Where solid PVC is the right call #
Close-up reading is the big one. Mesh holes break up fine text and thin lines when you are right next to them; step back a few metres and they vanish into a solid image. So for reception banners, indoor events and anything read at arm’s length, PVC looks noticeably crisper. For a fence banner read from a passing car, mesh is perfectly good.
Light behind the banner is the other. PVC is opaque, so a floodlight or bright window behind it barely shows. Mesh is partly see-through, and back-lighting glows through the holes. Lit from the front, both look fine.
Getting the best out of mesh artwork #
- Use chunky fonts. Hairline strokes and small print get lost in the weave.
- Go for strong contrast, such as white text on a dark ground.
- Keep photos simple, one clear subject rather than a busy scene.
You can upload your own print-ready file, lay it out in the free online designer, or pass it to our paid artwork service (1 design and 2 rounds of changes). Every uploaded file is looked over by a person at no charge. Bleed and safe areas are covered in the artwork guidelines.
Hems, eyelets and ties #
- Hemmed edges are folded and welded for strength. Worth having on anything going outside.
- Eyelets go round the edge and in every corner. On long-term outdoor banners, metal eyelets outlast plastic ones.
- Cable ties can be added in bags, so you are not hunting for them on the day.
Leave at least 5 cm clear between your text and the edge, so no hem or eyelet cuts into a word.
Fixing banners for windy sites so they stay put #
- Corners first. Tie all four so the banner hangs square before you do anything else.
- Top, then bottom. Work along the top edge, then the bottom, tying every eyelet you have.
- Snug, not stretched. Pull each tie just enough to take out slack. Over-tightening loads the corners.
- Check after the first blow. Look it over after the first windy day and replace any ties that have snapped.
Cable ties, rope and bungees all work. Bungees are the secret weapon for a solid banner on an exposed railing, because they stretch a little with each gust instead of jerking the eyelet. More tips live in our guide to hanging a banner.
Location by location #
| Where it is going | Pick |
|---|---|
| Shop front, wall or window | PVC |
| School, church or club railings | PVC; switch to mesh if the railings face open ground |
| Heras fence on a building site | Mesh, for example Heras fence banners |
| Scaffolding | Mesh, for example scaffold banners |
| Stage, reception or indoor event | PVC or PVC-free |
| Sports ground perimeter | Mesh on long open runs; PVC on short sheltered ones |
Sizes #
PVC and mesh share the same stock sizes, from 4 ft × 2 ft (1219 × 610 mm) up to 9 ft 10 in × 6 ft 7 in (3000 × 2000 mm). Popular picks include 6 ft × 3 ft, 8 ft × 3 ft and 10 ft × 3 ft, and each has a mesh twin, such as the 6 ft × 3 ft mesh. For help sizing, see standard banner sizes.
Delivery #
Banners are made to order and dispatched from the UK. UK mainland delivery is £7.95, and free on orders of £100 or more after discounts. Anything over 3 m on any side adds £15, which catches the 10 ft × 3 ft (3048 × 914 mm). Details on the delivery page.
Quick answers #
Can you see through a mesh banner?
Up close, a little: that is how the wind gets through. From normal reading distance the holes disappear, which is why mesh works on fences and scaffolding facing a road.
Will mesh outlast PVC?
On an exposed fence it often does, because less load reaches the eyelets and ties, so the corners are less likely to tear. In a sheltered spot, PVC lasts just as well. Sun, wind and how well it is tied decide the rest.
Can mesh be printed both sides?
No, mesh is printed on one side, and thanks to the open weave a faint reversed image shows from behind. For a message that reads both ways, use two banners or a solid PVC one on each side of the fence.
Is PVC ever fine on Heras fencing?
For short spells in a sheltered spot, yes. For weeks on an open site, choose mesh.
Mesh or PVC: which costs less?
It depends on size, finishing and quantity. Each product page updates the live price as you change options, so compare the two at the same size before ordering.
Still unsure about banners for windy sites? Tell us where yours is going and how long it stays up, through the contact form, and we will recommend one.