This covers billboard maintenance costs in detail. Billboards are an efficient way to advertise your goods or services. When you’ve got a billboard, you’re going to be able to broadcast your advertisement to a diverse and large audience, which is always a perk. There are many different ways to advertise, but even with new advertising techniques emerging daily, billboards are still one of the most popular ways to market a business.
As with all advertising techniques, there are costs associated with having a billboard. Sure, there are costs when you’re constructing a billboard, but there are also expenses required of you after the billboard is installed. In order for a billboard to be as successful as possible, you’ve got to maintain it! Understanding billboard maintenance costs upfront helps you budget accurately and avoid surprises down the road.
To ensure that you’re informed about the costs of billboard upkeep, we’re going to describe all of the different costs that go into maintaining a billboard. By the end, you’ll understand the different expenses that are associated with billboard upkeep.
Why Do I Need to Maintain My Billboard?
The most important thing to discuss before getting into the different billboard maintenance costs is why you should even maintain your billboard in the first place. There are multiple kinds of billboards, but the most common types of billboards are traditional billboards and digital billboards. And with each kind of billboard, there are plenty of reasons you should maintain it.
To put things simply, you need to maintain your billboards for aesthetic, relevance, and safety reasons. If you have a billboard that isn’t attractive to the eye, then you aren’t going to be able to sell your ad space successfully. And if you have a billboard that is advertising an expired promotion, then you’re not going to attract customers. Finally, if you have a billboard that isn’t up to the safety code, then you can potentially cause harm. None of these scenarios are good, so it’s vital that you maintain your billboard.
The Costs of Maintaining a Billboard
We’ve established that it’s incredibly important to maintain your billboard, so here is a list of things that will cause you to have to repair your billboard.
A Faulty Catwalk: As with all things, you have to ensure that your billboard is up to code with OSHA guidelines. This means that if you’re installing a billboard, it must have a safely installed catwalk that remains maintained as long as the billboard is up. A catwalk will ensure that the billboard is safe for people who are routinely working on your billboard. OSHA’s fall protection standards are a good baseline reference when budgeting for catwalk repairs, since compliance directly affects how the work must be done. So, if something happens with your catwalk, you’re going to need to get it repaired. This can be a very expensive expenditure if not handled correctly.
A Large Storm: Of course, if a storm hits and causes damage to your billboard, you’re going to have to get it repaired. A storm could cause an array of problems with your billboard. Although a storm could cause only minor cosmetic problems, storms can also cause substantial structural damage. So, regardless of what a storm does to your billboard, you’re going to have to be prepared to repair whatever is needed to ensure that your billboard is as safe and successful as it can be.
Chipped and Peeling Paint: Both digital and traditional billboards are mounted on painted structures, which, over time, can corrode. This might not seem like a large problem, but if you have a billboard with peeling paint, then you’re going to seem unprofessional. If this is the case, then you won’t be able to successfully advertise your company, which defeats the purpose of having a billboard. You’re going to need to consult with painters and designers if your paint begins to chip, which will cost you money.
Perched Birds: This one might sound a little bit silly, but a real problem for billboard owners is that there are too many birds perched upon their signs. When birds get comfortable around the billboard, their droppings become a real nuisance. Not only do the drippings affect the billboard, but they also litter everything underneath. If they start to nest up on the billboard, that becomes an issue as well. So, you might have to pay to have a bird pan installed, which will help eliminate the bird concerns.
Lighting Problems: If you have a traditional billboard, then you’re going to need light illuminating it so that it can be seen in the dark. To be clear, there are many cars that travel on the highway at night. So, if you’ve got a billboard on the highway with a vinyl ad hung on it, you’re going to need lights so that commuters can see the advertisement, even when it’s dark. And if, for some reason, you’re having problems with the light that illuminates your billboard, you’re going to need to get it repaired. This can get expensive, especially if you have an automated lighting system.
Relocation and Removal: Although very rare, sometimes it’s necessary to move a billboard to a different location. For whatever reason, this is needed; it can be expensive to move a billboard. So, if you pay to create a billboard, just know that there is a possibility you will have to move it—or take it down. Whether there’s a new safety code in place or you’re just not getting enough exposure with a certain location, it’s costly to move or remove a billboard.
How to Keep Billboard Maintenance Costs Under Control
None of this means billboard ownership isn’t worthwhile — it just means maintenance needs to be part of your budget from day one, not an afterthought. Routine inspections catch small problems, like a loose catwalk bolt or a flickering light, before they become expensive emergency repairs. Working with a manufacturer that builds billboard hardware to last, and that stands behind it with real support, is one of the most effective ways to keep long-term billboard maintenance costs predictable.
Final Thoughts
The common saying, “you’ve got to spend money to make money,” is extremely relevant when it comes to billboards. Although it might seem daunting that there are expenses required to maintain a billboard, it’s worth it in the end.
Don’t fear the costs that are associated with maintaining a billboard. If you have questions about billboard maintenance costs, don’t hesitate to reach out to Formetco Hardware. Our team is equipped to answer any question that you have about billboard maintenance, and we’re eager to ease any of your anxieties about the expenses that come with billboards. Contact Formetco Hardware today.
This piece on billboard maintenance costs is part of Formetco’s ongoing content series. Formetco continues to share updates related to billboard maintenance costs as they develop.