Choosing a sign board: three questions that pick Foamex, Dibond or Correx for you

Choosing a sign board is easier than the names make it sound. Ask where it goes, how long it stays and what it gets fixed to, and one of three boards drops out as the answer. Inside, or outside for a short spell: Foamex. Outside for years: Dibond. Outside for weeks or months without spending much: Correx. Below is the reasoning, so you can spot the odd case where the obvious pick is wrong.

Question 1: inside or outside? #

Foamex is rigid PVC foam with a smooth white face. It prints cleanly, cuts cleanly and is light enough to stick up with pads. Indoors it is hard to beat. Outside it is fine for an event or a short campaign, but PVC foam softens in heat, and a board left in strong sun for months can bow.

Dibond is two thin aluminium skins bonded to a plastic core. The metal keeps it flat, and it will not rot or rust, so weather is not really its problem.

Correx is fluted (corrugated) polypropylene: the same stuff as estate agent boards. It is waterproof and the lightest of the three, which makes it happy outside, as long as it is fixed well enough not to flap.

Question 2: weeks, months or years? #

This is the step people skip when choosing a sign board, and it is the one that wastes money. A car park rules sign that needs to look sharp for years belongs on Dibond. Signs for a two-day festival or a six-month building project do not need aluminium; Correx will see the job out. As a rough order, Correx usually costs least, then Foamex, then Dibond, and each product page shows the live figure for your size and finish so you can compare.

Question 3: what is it fixed to? #

• Smooth indoor wall: double-sided foam pads or adhesive are fine for a light Foamex sign.
• Brick, render or timber: drilled corners and screws hold better, and spacers keep the board flat against an uneven surface.
• Fences, railings and Heras panels: drilled corners and cable ties are the fastest route. This is Correx territory.
• Anything Dibond: screw it or rivet it, or use a frame. It is heavier for its thickness than the others, so never rely on sticky pads alone.

The three boards side by side #

	Foamex	Dibond	Correx
Made of	Rigid PVC foam	Aluminium skins, plastic core	Fluted polypropylene
Thickness options	3, 5 or 10 mm	3 mm	3.5 or 5 mm
Finish	Smooth, flat, clean edges	Very flat and rigid, premium feel	Light, flutes visible on the cut edge
Outdoors	Short term; can bow in heat	Years; stays flat	Weeks to months; waterproof
Weight	Light	Heaviest of the three	Lightest

Production times vary with board, size and finish, and are listed on each product page before you order.

Foamex in a bit more detail #

The thickness changes how the board feels. 3 mm is right for wall signs and notices. 5 mm is stiffer, so it suits larger boards that might otherwise flex. 10 mm feels solid and is used for free-standing displays. That makes Foamex the usual base for door and information signs and indoor safety signs. Sized boards start at A3 Foamex and run up through A1 Foamex and beyond.

Dibond in a bit more detail #

Dibond is the board for signs that have to look good outside for a long time: shop and business signs, car park signs and outdoor safety signs. Because it is stiff, it wants a solid, flat surface or proper fixings: screws with spacers, rivets or a frame. The cut edges are clean, so it is a good call for anything at eye level where people will notice the finish.

Correx in a bit more detail #

Correx earns its keep on street and directional signs, construction site signs, event arrows, election boards and promotions. Tie it on with cable ties through drilled holes, or put it in a frame, so it does not flap.

One thing most people do not know: the flutes all run one way, so the board is stiffer in one direction. On a tall board tied to a post, flutes running up and down resist bending better than flutes running across. Sized Correx boards go from A4 to A0.

Choosing a sign board by job #

The job	Board	Reason
Office door or wall sign	3 mm Foamex	Light, flat, goes up with pads
Shop fascia panel or outside wall sign	3 mm Dibond	Stays flat outdoors for years
Car park rules and bay markers	3 mm Dibond	Rigid and weatherproof on posts and walls
Site fencing	Correx or Dibond	Correx for one project; Dibond if the sign travels from site to site
Event directions	Correx	Light, waterproof, fine for a few days
Point of sale or exhibition panel	5 or 10 mm Foamex	Stiff and smooth, looks solid indoors

Finishing extras #

• Lamination in gloss or matt guards the print against scuffs and cleaning, handy in busy corridors and kitchens.
• Drilled corners make screwing or tying much quicker.
• Profile cutting cuts the board to the outline of your design.
• Double-sided printing for boards that hang or stand where both faces are seen.

Sizes and delivery #

All three boards come from A4 to A0, plus a range of square and landscape sizes. For very large site panels, look at printed hoarding boards. If your sign carries a safety message, our guide to safety sign colours and shapes explains how board size relates to reading distance.

Boards are made to order and dispatched from the UK. UK mainland delivery is £7.95, free on orders of £100 or more after discounts. Boards bigger than A0 add £15 for oversize handling, though street Correx is exempt. See the delivery page for islands and Highlands.

When the sign comes down #

All three contain plastic: Correx is polypropylene, Foamex is PVC, and Dibond pairs aluminium with a plastic core. Your local tip may take rigid plastics or mixed metals; the council website will say which. Businesses have a duty of care for waste like old signs, which the GOV.UK overview of managing business waste sets out.

Quick answers #

Can Foamex go outside?

For a short while, yes. Months of strong sun or heat can soften it and make it bow, so a permanent outdoor sign belongs on Dibond.

Why does my Correx board bend on the post?

Usually the flutes are running across rather than up and down, or there are too few ties. Turn the flutes vertical on tall boards and tie every corner.

Is there a free check on my artwork?

Yes. Every uploaded file is looked at by a person before anything is made, and the artwork guidelines list what we need.

Still choosing a sign board? #

Tell us where it is going and how long it needs to last, and we will point you at the right board. The contact form reaches a real person, and for a batch of mixed signs you can ask for a quote.