NARRABEEN & NEWPORT · SYDNEY'S NORTHERN BEACHES
A-Frame & Corflute Signs
Sometimes the most effective signage is the simplest. An A-frame on the footpath, a corflute sign on a fence, a directional pointing customers around a corner — these are the signs that do quiet, consistent work every single day.
Custom A-frame inserts, corflute signs, and ACP site boards for businesses, events, real estate, and construction across Sydney's Northern Beaches — produced from our Newport workshop.
WHAT THEY ARE
1. What are A-frame and corflute signs?
A-frame signs: the pavement sign that keeps working
An A-frame — also called a sandwich board or pavement sign — is a freestanding double-sided sign that sits at ground level outside a business, event, or venue. They work at pedestrian eye level right at the point where someone is making a decision about whether to enter. Metal frames (aluminium or steel) are the most durable and popular choice for daily use. The printed insert panel that sits inside the frame is what we produce at MTM Signage.
​
What are corflute signs and how can they help your business?
Corflute is a corrugated plastic sheet — lightweight, weatherproof, and printable on one or both sides. It's the standard material for real estate signs, event directional signage, building site signs, and temporary promotional displays across Australia. Affordable, versatile, and genuinely weatherproof — not designed to last a decade, but for anything from a few weeks to a couple of years, they perform well and represent excellent value.
​
Alternatives to A-frames: other options at ground level
-
Corflute on stakes or pickets — ideal for events, open homes
-
Pull-up banners — taller, better for indoor or sheltered outdoor use
-
ACP site boards — more durable, for construction sites and long-term outdoor use
-
Poster/snap frames — cleaner look for retail and hospitality
WHAT THEY'RE USED FOR
2. What A-frames and corflute signs are used for
Small businesses
Cafés, retail, salons, and service businesses. An A-frame catches people at the exact moment they're walking past. One clear message per side, legible from 5 metres.
​
Real estate
Corflute is the standard for real estate across Australia — open home directionals, for sale boards, auction signage. Fast turnaround for listings that need signage by Saturday.
Events & community
Markets, sporting events, community days, fundraisers. Corflute on stakes for directing foot traffic, marking car parks, and identifying entry points.
HIRING SIGNS
3. Hiring event signs: what to put on them
What should a good hiring sign say?
A now-hiring sign is one of the most commonly requested A-frame uses we see. The most effective ones are simple — you have about three seconds of someone's attention, and a cluttered design wastes it. The essentials:
-
A clear "Now Hiring" headline
-
The type of role — "Kitchen Staff" is better than just "Staff Wanted"
-
One single next step — "Ask Inside", phone number, or QR code
-
Your business name or logo so people know who's hiring
When to use an A-frame for hiring vs other options
A footpath A-frame is most effective when your target candidates are literally walking past your business — particularly relevant for hospitality, retail, and service businesses where the candidate pool overlaps with the customer pool. A well-placed A-frame often surfaces applications from local people who weren't actively looking but saw the sign and thought "why not."
MATERIALS & SIZES
4. Materials, durability, and sizes
How long do corflute signs last outdoors?
Corflute is fully weatherproof — it doesn't absorb water, won't rot, and handles rain and humidity well. With UV-stable inks and laminate in a reasonably sheltered position, a corflute sign can last two or more years outdoors. Coastal Northern Beaches locations — salt air and strong UV — will see faster degradation. We use UV-stable inks as standard and recommend UV laminate for prolonged outdoor exposure.
​
Standard A-frame dimensions
A1
594 × 841mm
Most popular. Visible without taking up too much footpath.
A0
841 × 1189mm
Larger and more visible. Better for high-traffic or wide-frontage locations.
B2
500 × 700mm
Compact option for tighter footpaths or where council limits sign dimensions.
Also available
When you need something tougher — ACP site boards for construction
Corflute is the right call for most temporary and medium-term signage, but for building sites and construction projects that need signage to last the duration of a project — months, not weeks — aluminium composite panel (ACP) is a better fit. ACP is rigid, UV-stable, and handles the conditions of an active building site without fading, warping, or getting knocked out of shape.
We recently produced a run of 10 ACP signs for a building company across multiple Northern Beaches sites — a straightforward example of a job where corflute wouldn't have been the right choice but ACP delivered exactly what was needed. Common applications for ACP site boards include:
-
Builder and developer branding on hoardings and fences
-
Safety and compliance notices for the site entrance
-
Subcontractor and trade partner identification signs
-
Project information and development approval notices
-
Directional and access signs for site visitors and deliveries
-
Coming soon and marketing signage for off-the-plan developments
If you're a builder, developer, or project manager needing a consistent set of signs across one or multiple sites, get in touch with the number of signs, your standard sizes, and your artwork — we'll quote the run quickly.
​
For the full story on ACP as a material and its use in permanent commercial signage, see our shopfront signage page →
PRICING
5. Pricing and how to get a quote
Every job is different
A-frame and corflute sign pricing depends on the size, quantity, material, lamination, and turnaround time. ACP site boards sit at a higher price point than corflute given the substrate and durability difference. We don't publish set prices because a quote without knowing your size, quantity, and requirements wouldn't be accurate — but most standard jobs are quick to quote, send us the details and we'll come back to you fast.
​
What affects the cost:
-
Size — standard vs custom dimensions
-
Quantity — single sign vs a run of 10, 20 or more
-
Material — corflute vs ACP
-
Lamination — standard print vs UV-laminated for outdoor longevity
-
Single-sided vs double-sided print
-
Turnaround — standard vs same-day or next-day rush
Getting a quote
Contact us with the size, quantity, material preference, and a description of what you need — or send us your artwork if you have it. For event signage with a date or a building site with a project timeline, give us that upfront and we'll confirm what's achievable. We aim to respond within one business day and can often quote same day for standard jobs.
​
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know before getting in touch.
Corflute is a corrugated plastic sheet — lightweight, rigid, and fully weatherproof. It's the standard material for real estate signs, event directionals, building site signs, and temporary promotional displays across Australia. It handles rain, humidity, and wind well; the main limitation is UV exposure over an extended period, which causes fading without a UV-protective laminate. We use UV-stable inks as standard and recommend UV laminate for any sign intended to stay outdoors for more than a few months.
What are corflute signs and are they suitable for outdoor use?
How long do corflute signs last outdoors?
With UV-stable inks and a UV laminate, a corflute sign in a reasonably sheltered outdoor position will typically last one to two years before showing significant fading. In fully exposed coastal locations on the Northern Beaches — direct sun, salt air — expect the lower end of that range. For signage that needs to last longer, or for building sites where signs need to survive the duration of a project, we can produce on ACP (aluminium composite panel), which handles the same conditions significantly better.
What's the difference between corflute and ACP for site signage?
Corflute is a lightweight corrugated plastic — affordable, weatherproof, and the right choice for temporary or medium-term outdoor signage like real estate signs, event directionals, and short-term building site notices. ACP (aluminium composite panel) is a rigid aluminium-faced composite — more durable, more UV-stable, and better suited to signage that needs to last the full duration of a construction project, represent a builder's brand professionally on-site, or hold up to the rough-and-tumble of an active building site. We recently produced a run of 10 ACP site boards for a Northern Beaches building company — a typical example of where ACP is the right call over corflute.
How much do A-frame signs and corflute signs cost?
Pricing depends on size, quantity, material, lamination, and turnaround. A-frame inserts and corflute signs are among the most affordable signage we produce. ACP site boards sit at a higher price point given the substrate and durability difference, but for construction projects where the signs need to last and represent the business well, the step up is worth it. We don't publish set prices because a quote without knowing your specific requirements wouldn't be accurate. Contact us with your size, quantity, and brief and we'll come back quickly.
Can I use my own A-frame and just get new inserts printed?
Absolutely — this is one of the most common requests we handle. If you have an existing A-frame in good condition but need a new insert because the message has changed or the old one has faded, just measure the insert area and contact us with the dimensions. We produce inserts to fit most standard frame sizes as well as custom dimensions. It's one of the quickest and most cost-effective jobs we do, and it gives your existing frame a fresh look without replacing the whole thing.
What should I put on a now-hiring A-frame sign?
Keep it simple: a clear "Now Hiring" headline, the type of role if you're being specific, and one clear next step — "Ask Inside," a phone number, or a QR code if people will be stopping close enough to scan it. Resist the urge to include too much information — a footpath sign has about three seconds of someone's attention, and a cluttered design wastes that. Your business name or logo should be visible so people know who's hiring even if they don't stop.
Where do real estate agents get their corflute signs made?
Real estate agents across the Northern Beaches can come to us for corflute directional signs, for sale boards, and open home signage. We understand the turnaround expectations — a listing on Monday that needs signage by Saturday is a normal brief. We produce real estate corflute to standard industry sizes or custom dimensions, single or double-sided, with or without wire stakes or cable ties. If you're an agent or agency looking for a reliable local supplier, get in touch and we'll talk through your typical requirements.
Can I rent A-frame signs for a short-term event?
We don't offer A-frame rental — we produce custom printed A-frame inserts and corflute signs for purchase. For short-term events, the most practical option is usually a run of corflute signs on stakes, which is affordable enough to produce specifically for the event without needing to recover the cost through reuse. For events that recur, A-frame inserts can be reused if the design doesn't change between events.