On this page 7 sections
Storing PVC banners well comes down to one sentence: clean it, dry it completely, roll it loosely with the print on the outside, and keep it lying down somewhere dry and not too warm. Never fold it hard and never put it away damp. Get those right and the same banner goes back up next year, and the year after. The rest of this page is the detail, plus what to do with boards, roller banners and flags.
What actually ruins a banner in storage #
Banners rarely wear out on the fence. They get ruined in the cupboard. Three things do nearly all the damage:
- Damp. Roll a banner up with a film of rain still on it and you’ll open it to black spots, a musty smell and layers stuck together.
- Sharp folds and pressure. PVC bends happily, but a hard crease stays in the print for good. So do the dents from a cable tie end or a box of kit left on top.
- Heat and cold. A summer van softens PVC; a freezing shed stiffens it until it cracks when you unroll it.
Storing PVC banners properly is really just dodging those three.
First ten minutes after it comes down #
The job starts on site, not at home. Before the banner goes anywhere:
- Get the muck off. Mud, bird droppings and road grime bake on in storage. A soft cloth and mild soapy water do most of it; our guide on cleaning a PVC banner covers the stubborn bits.
- Cut every tie. Snip cable ties flush and pull out any cord. A hard tie end rolled inside will print a dent through every layer it touches.
- Carry it loosely. If it’s still wet, drape it or loosely bundle it for the trip home, then dry it properly before it goes away.
Storing PVC banners and mesh: step by step #
This works the same for 440gsm PVC banners and 260gsm mesh banners. You’ll need a clean floor or big table, a cardboard tube a bit longer than the banner’s short side, two soft ties or wide elastic bands, and a marker pen. Allow about 15 minutes.
- Dry it all the way. Hang it over a line or lay it out indoors until both faces and the hems are bone dry. Hems hold water longer than the flat face, so feel along them before you carry on.
- Lay it face down. Spread it on a clean floor or table with the printed side down. Sweep the surface first; grit on the floor becomes scratches on the print.
- Roll from a short end, print outwards. Starting at a short edge keeps the roll as long as the banner is tall, which means fewer layers. Rolling with the print on the outside stops the printed face being squeezed into tight curves. Keep the edges lined up as you go.
- Keep it loose. Aim for a roll about as thick as a drainpipe, not a broom handle. Tighter rolls hold a curl and are more likely to crease.
- Tie it softly. Two soft ties or elastic bands near the ends. No tape on the print: when tape comes off, it can take ink with it.
- Tube it and label it. Slide the roll into a tube, or wrap it in clean paper, and write what it is, its size and the date on the outside. Next year you’ll find it without unrolling six others.
- Lay it down somewhere sensible. Store the tube flat on a shelf or rack, away from radiators and sunny windows, with nothing heavy on top.
Short on space and have to fold? Make one or two soft folds with a rolled towel inside each, never pressed flat, and only for a short while. Anything over 3 m (about 9 ft 10 in) on a side is a two-person roll, so grab a helper.
Good and bad places to keep them #
| Spot | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Dry cupboard or office store room | Good | Steady temperature, easy to reach |
| Under a bed in a heated house | Good | Flat, dry, nothing stacked on it |
| Van or car boot | Bad | Hot in summer, and kit gets thrown on top |
| Garden shed or damp garage | Bad | Damp and cold: mould and stiff, cracking PVC |
| Loft | Bad | Roasting in summer, freezing in winter |
| Stood on end in a corner | Bad | The bottom edge crushes and the roll slumps |
Boards, roller banners and flags #
Foamex, Dibond and Correx
Rigid signs such as Foamex boards want to be stored flat, face to face with a sheet of clean paper between each, or upright in a rack that supports the whole board. A Foamex board leant against a wall for months can take on a bow. Keep them away from heat, which can warp them, and from tools that can gouge the face.
Roller banners
A roller banner is its own storage: the graphic winds back into the base. Wipe it before it goes in, keep the base lying flat and store it indoors. Our guide to setting up a roller banner shows how to pack it down without catching the graphic.
Flags
Flags must be completely dry before rolling or folding. Keep the sleeve, pole sections and base together in one bag, and empty any water base before it goes away. Packing down is covered in putting up a feather flag.
Making reuse easy next time #
- Design for next year. Keep dates and prices off a banner you’d like to use again. Put them on a small board or sticker instead. Event banners without a year on them can come out every season.
- Keep a list. A note of what you own, its size and which cupboard it’s in saves reordering something you already have.
- Unroll it a week early. Check for marks, damage or a missing eyelet while there’s still time to fix it or reorder.
Storing PVC banners carefully is also the greenest thing you can do with them. Using one banner for five years beats replacing it every spring. Recycle Now has general advice on cutting waste, and our article can PVC banners be recycled gives the straight answer on what happens at the end.
If storage went wrong #
If a banner came out of the cupboard creased, marked or mouldy and needs replacing, or you’d like a size that fits your storage better, send the details through get a quote. UK mainland delivery is £7.95, free on orders of £100 or more after discounts; see the delivery page for the rest.