Correx vs Foamex: Which Sign Board Is Right for Your Job?
· Shakeel Syed
Most Correx vs Foamex guides compare the materials. This one starts from the job your sign has to do. And because we charge the same for both, it is honest advice: we make the same either way.
Choose Correx for temporary outdoor signs: property, site, event, election and fence signs. Choose Foamex for signs seen up close indoors or somewhere sheltered: shop, office, reception, menu and exhibition signs. For a permanent outdoor sign, neither is ideal; aluminium composite lasts longer.
Correx vs Foamex at a glance
| Correx | Foamex | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Fluted (corrugated) polypropylene, a twin-wall plastic sheet | Rigid PVC foam board, a solid sheet |
| Our thickness | 5mm | 5mm |
| Water | Waterproof, does not rot | Water-resistant |
| Heat and sun | Copes well for temporary use | Expands in heat; can bow if screwed tight on a sunny wall |
| Close-up look | Faint flute lines visible | Smooth, solid, more finished |
| Typical outdoor life | Around 1–2 years, depending on exposure | Best kept indoors or sheltered |
| Recycling | Polypropylene, resin code 5, widely recycled | PVC, limited recycling routes |
| Price at Printing Central | £7 per sq ft (A1 £37.64) | £7 per sq ft (A1 £37.64) |
Which board for your job?
| Job | Choose | Usual size |
|---|---|---|
| For Sale or To Let board on a house | Correx | A1, the largest size within the 0.5 m² limit |
| Building site board or site rules on Heras fencing | Correx | A1 or A0 (site rules A2) |
| Wedding, fair or sports day direction arrows | Correx | A2 or A3 |
| Election or campaign sign in a garden | Correx | A2 or A1 |
| Grand opening or offer sign outside a shop for a month | Correx | A1 or A0 |
| Opening hours or door sign | Foamex | A4 or A3 |
| Reception or office wall sign | Foamex | A2 to A1 |
| Menu board or price board | Foamex | A3 to A1 |
| Exhibition stand panel | Foamex | A1, B1 or A0 |
| Sign in a porch or under a canopy | Foamex | Any |
| Permanent sign on a sunny outside wall | Neither: aluminium composite | – |
Is Correx waterproof?
Yes. Correx is polypropylene, which does not absorb water or rot. That is why it is the standard material for estate agent boards, site signs and event signs that stand in the rain for weeks.
Can Foamex go outside?
Yes, but it is happiest indoors or somewhere sheltered. PVC foam expands and contracts with temperature, so a Foamex sign screwed tightly to a south-facing wall can bow in summer. If it has to go outside, use fixings that let it move slightly rather than screwing it down hard, and keep it out of the worst of the weather. For short-term outdoor signs, Correx does the job at the same price.
Which looks more professional?
Up close, Foamex. Its solid, smooth surface has no flute lines, so text and photos look sharper at arm’s length. From a few metres away, which is how most outdoor signs are read, the difference between the two disappears.
Why we print both at 5mm
A lot of online printers sell Correx at 3.5mm or 4mm. We print every Correx and Foamex board at 5mm. The thicker board is stiffer, so it bends less in the wind on a fence and sits flatter on a wall.
Which is better for the environment?
Correx is polypropylene, resin identification code 5, which is widely recyclable. Foamex is PVC, which has fewer recycling routes. If your sign is temporary and you plan to recycle it afterwards, Correx is the better choice.
How do I fix each one?
Every board comes with your choice of eyelets or drilled holes in all four corners or the two top corners, included in the price. Use eyelets and cable ties for fences and railings, through all four corners and snug rather than over-tight. Use drilled holes and screws or stand-offs for walls and posts. Indoors, Foamex is light enough for double-sided mounting pads on a clean, smooth wall. Do not fix any sign to a lamp post without council consent; see our sign board rules guide.
Still not sure?
Ask yourself two questions. Will it be outside, exposed, for a limited time? Choose Correx. Will people read it up close, indoors? Choose Foamex. For sizes and prices, see our board sizes and prices guide.
[…] For signs inside a shop or office, Foamex looks smoother. Both are 5mm and the same price. See Correx vs Foamex and our board sizes and prices […]
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