Can Magnetic Signs Withstand the Elements?
Yes, magnetic signs are designed to be weatherproof for outdoor use.
Since magnetic signs are intended to be placed on vehicles for mobile advertising purposes, all magnetic signs are weatherproof in their own right. Magnetic signs have to be durable enough to withstand the elements, be it sun, rain, snow, etc. to warrant their overall purpose. And although magnetic signs are weatherproof, that doesn't necessarily determine how long they will last out in the elements.
Some sign companies laminate their magnetic signs while other companies don't. The magnetic sign companies that don't laminate their magnetic signs tend to typically sell them for less money and may even give you an option to add a laminate to your magnetic signs for an additional cost. Magnetic signs that aren't laminated will still be weatherproof but have a shorter lifespan of maybe 1 to 2 years versus magnetic signs that have been laminated which may last upwards of 3 to 5 years (maybe even more.)
Sign companies that utilize a laminate, to protect the magnetic sign print, may run a little higher price-wise because there is an extra material component that has to be figured into the magnetic sign price. But consider this, for a few extra pennies in the beginning, a laminated magnetic sign will last longer because the lamination protects the print from UV sunlight, scratching and abrasions. The protective layer of lamination on a magnetic sign is actually what increases the sign's weatherproof capabilities print-wise. In most all cases, the magnetic sign material itself will outlast the printed portion of a magnetic sign and will eventually need to be replaced.
Also, as with any product, you want to make sure that the product is maintained and stored properly. Magnetic signs that need to be cleaned periodically (front and back) especially if the customer is continually removing and installing their magnetic signs. If dust and debris are allowed to accumulate over time it could cause adhesion problems, which has nothing to do with weatherproofing, but sometimes customers have magnetic signs that fly-off because the back is dirty and think that either heightened heat conditions or snowy cold conditions played a part in the loss of the magnetic sign.