Sintra Board vs Foam Board

What do malls, sidewalks and science fairs have in common? If you guessed the signage, you got it right. Signages are everywhere you turn, they basically work as a GPS, telling you where to turn and where to get what you’re looking for without getting lost in a mall maze.

As popular as signs are, only a few people care to delve deep into what they are made of. Although not completely necessary, it's sometimes best to know, especially if you’re thinking of running a signage business. Sintra boards and foam boards are quite popular in the signage business, and we’re here to tell you why.

PVC board or Sintra board as it is commonly known as is a registered PVC board that has been used in signage businesses for more than 20 years. The process of printing on Sintra is the same as printing on acrylic or metal.

Sintra is the brand name for the high-quality PVC board, that is specifically made of moderately expanded closed-cell polyvinyl chloride, better known as PVC, in a homogenous sheet. The board is made from a lightweight material with a low gloss matte finish.

It is incredibly durable, which is especially why it is used for advertising, photo-mounting screen printing, and more importantly outdoor use. Other signage options are usually compared to Sintra, thanks to its high quality and common use.

Foam boards also commonly referred to as foam core, is a display and printing material that consists of a dense foam core sandwiched between two sheets of matte paper. Foamboard is made from polystyrene, which is one of the most popular types of plastic that is also used to make Styrofoam.

Thanks to the polystyrene core of foam board that is 95-98% air, foam core boards are incredibly lightweight.

So, to Print on Sintra board or Print on Foamboard?

Sintra board printing is a little bit more expensive than foamboards. Foamboards are on the ultra-light side while Sintra board is not as light. Foamboard has a paper exterior while Sintra board has a PVC exterior. One of the major differences between the two is that Sintra boards can be used outside, unfazed by the elements, on the other hand, boards need to be kept indoors and can only be used outside temporarily.

In terms of finish options, Sintra board has a matte finish, lamination, custom cut, die cut and double-sided print and can last for up to 10 years, while foamboard has double sided, lamination and heavy duty. So, if you’re in need of an outdoor or indoor print, both are good options.