Temporary outdoor signs: Correx boards, arrows and lamp post signs

Most temporary outdoor signs in the UK are printed on Correx, a light, waterproof fluted plastic board that is cheap to print, easy to fix with cable ties and stands up to weeks of rain. It is what you see on event directions, open day arrows, site notices, campaign boards and lamp post signs, and choosing the right format and thickness is most of the job.

This guide covers the main formats, when to use each, how to fix them and the permission questions to ask before anything goes on a lamp post or fence.

Why Correx for temporary outdoor signs #

• Waterproof. The board is plastic, so rain does not soften it the way it does card.
• Light. Easy to carry in bulk and to fix with cable ties or tape.
• Cheap enough to be temporary. It makes sense to use a board for a weekend and recycle or store it afterwards.
• Printable both sides. Useful for signs seen from both directions.

For signs that need to stay up for a long time or look more permanent, a rigid board such as Dibond is better. Our guide to Foamex, Dibond or Correx compares the three, and what is Correx explains the material in detail.

Thickness: 3.5 mm, 5 mm or 5.5 mm #

Our Correx boards come in 3.5 mm and 5 mm; the street and event formats also offer 5.5 mm. Thinner board is lighter and cheaper and fine for small signs on railings. Thicker board is stiffer, flexes less in wind and suits larger signs and anything on stakes or posts. For A1 and above, go for the thicker option.

The main formats #

Format	What it is	Use it for
Flat Correx boards	A4 to large custom sizes up to 2440 × 1220 mm	Notices, site signs, event boards, open house signs
Venue arrow signs	550 × 210 mm arrows	Directions to a venue, wedding, open day or car park
Lamp post wraps and toblerones	Boards creased to wrap round or sit on a lamp post	Campaigns, events, road-side directions (with permission)
Fence top signs	Long boards, 3410 × 525 mm	Along the top of site hoarding or fencing
A1 triangle signs	Three A1 faces in a free-standing triangle	Pavements, event entrances, forecourts
Bollard covers	Printed wraps for bollards	Events, campaigns and site branding

The street and event formats are in our street and event Correx range.

Planning direction signs #

Direction signs are the most common temporary outdoor signs, and they fail when there are too few of them. Walk or drive the route before you order and count every junction where someone could go wrong. Put a sign before each turn, not at it, so drivers have time to react. Add a reassurance sign after long straight stretches, and a final sign at the entrance itself so people know they have arrived. On a busy route, fix signs at the height a driver sees naturally, around the level of a car window, and keep them clear of junction sightlines. Keep the design to the event name and an arrow; nobody reads more at 30 mph.

Order a few spares. Arrows get knocked, turned round or taken, and you do not want to discover a gap on the morning of the event.

Fixing methods #

• Cable ties through drilled holes, to railings, fences or posts. Choose drilling in the options.
• Creased formats (lamp post wraps, toblerones, bollard covers) fold round the post and are tied on.
• Stakes pushed into the flutes of the board for signs in grass verges and gardens.
• Tape or pads on walls and doors for short indoor-outdoor use.

In wind, a larger board acts like a sail. Use thicker board, tie at every hole, and keep large boards low where you can.

Permission #

This is where temporary outdoor signs get people into trouble. Lamp posts, street furniture and highway verges belong to the council or highway authority, and many councils do not allow signs on them without permission, or allow them only for certain events. Private fences and walls need the owner’s permission. The government guide to outdoor advertisements and signs explains which temporary signs are generally allowed; ask your local council for anything on the highway.

Take signs down promptly after the event. It keeps the council on side and you can reuse the arrows next time.

Temporary outdoor signs by job #

Open days and events

Arrows from the main road to the car park, a large board at the entrance with the event name, and A1 boards for parking, toilets and first aid. Double sided arrows cover both directions of traffic.

Building sites and works

Correx site notices, contractor boards and fence top signs along hoarding. For regulated safety messages, use proper safety signs; our site sign ranges carry the standard symbols.

Property and lettings

A Correx board on a stake or tied to railings is a cheap way to show a property is available. Check the rules for your area, as some areas restrict letting boards.

Campaigns and community groups

Lamp post wraps and toblerones are designed for campaigns and local events, but they are the temporary outdoor signs most likely to need council permission. Ask before you print.

After the event #

Collect every sign, including the ones at the far end of the route. Wipe them down, let them dry and store them flat, and they will be ready for next time. Correx boards that are too tired to reuse should go to a recycling point that takes rigid plastics, if your area has one.

Design tips #

• High contrast: black or white on a strong colour, or the reverse.
• Very few words. Event name and arrow for directions; headline and phone number for notices.
• Arrows large and unmistakable. Order left and right arrows, or double sided arrows, so one design covers both directions.
• No dates if you want to reuse the signs.
• Test one sign on site before ordering the full run: stand where drivers or walkers will be and check it reads.

Delivery and timing #

Street and event Correx formats are made to order and take around 10 working days to dispatch, so plan ahead; flat Correx boards are quicker. Street Correx (fence tops, triangle signs, lamp post wraps and signs, bollard covers) is exempt from the oversize charge. Other boards larger than A0 add £15 once per order. UK mainland delivery is £7.95 per order and free when your goods total is £99 or more after discount codes.