Sign material

Expanded PVC

Solid plastic sheet that machines like butter and looks expensive indoors. Outdoors it moves more than people expect.

Also called	Sintra, Komatex, Palight, foam PVC
Thicknesses	1mm and 2mm for wraps and returns, 3mm and 6mm for general panels, 10mm and up where it has to stand on its own.
Outdoor life	One to three years for a printed panel, five or more if painted and out of direct sun. Indoors it effectively does not age.
Ballpark cost	Roughly 24 dollars a sheet for 1mm, in the region of 45 to 70 dollars for 3mm to 6mm.

Ballpark trade prices for a 4 x 8 sheet as of August 2026, before markup. Yours will differ by supplier, region and how much you buy at once — treat these as a sanity check on a quote, not a price list.

What it actually is

Closed cell expanded polyvinyl chloride, solid all the way through, with a smooth matte face that takes paint and vinyl without preparation.

What it is good for

→ Interior signage, lobby and office signs
→ Dimensional letters and layered signs
→ Cut lettering and shapes, because it machines cleanly with no chipping
→ Sign returns and fabricated boxes in the thin gauges

What to watch for

Thin PVC outdoors is the classic mistake. 3mm in direct sun will expand, cup and eventually crack, and it will do it within a season on a south facing wall. Go thicker or go to ACM.

It moves a lot with temperature. Fasten it so it can expand, use slotted holes on long runs, and never pin it rigidly at both ends.

It sags in heat. A large unsupported panel above a door will develop a permanent belly by the end of a hot summer.

It burns and gives off chlorine compounds. Check what local code says before using it in an interior fire rated area.

Printing and finishing

One of the easiest substrates there is. Prints direct, takes vinyl, takes paint, and cuts on a router or even a table saw with the right blade.

Pricing a Expanded PVC job?

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Expanded PVC — FAQ

Can expanded PVC be used outdoors?

It can, with care about thickness and fixing. Thin sheet in direct sun is where it goes wrong. For a permanent exterior flat panel, ACM is the safer specification.

What is the difference between Sintra and PVC?

Sintra is a brand name for expanded PVC sheet. Komatex and Palight are others. They are the same class of material with different finishes and tolerances.

Why did my PVC sign warp?

Almost always heat plus rigid fastening. The sheet expanded, the screws would not let it, and the panel bowed to take up the difference. Slot the holes and leave it room to move.

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