Augusta Sign Company

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Updating an Office Park’s Street Appeal

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Updating an office park’s street appeal is not something I do everyday.

Since I’m a one-man sign shop, I’m usually bouncing around working on a variety of projects like a ping pong ball. But since several of my customers operate in the commercial or residential real estate sectors —some as developers, some as property managers— I occasionally have an apartment complex, subdivision, office complex, industrial park, healthcare center, etc. to work on.

AFTER-The completed updated office directory sign at Stoneridge.

One of these clients, Property Management of Virginia, approached me early on in 2020 to update a directory sign at Stoneridge Office Park in Waynesboro. The existing directory sign had been in place for decades and needed work. After surveying their site I recommended a complete replacement of the sign panels and structural posts on the dated directory, and also a repaint for their entrance sign at the main entrance. I figured since 20,000-plus vehicles pass their entrance sign every day, it should always look its best!

BEFORE-The old directory as it looked before the renovation process.

The old, deteriorated directory sign was installed on two rusted steel poles imbedded in the concrete core of a brick base that was about 6 feet wide. At first I considered refurbishing the steel posts and using them as the support for the upgraded directory panels. After much thought and discussion with

One of the rusty uprights we replaced with maintenance-free aluminum posts.

one of my architectural sign component suppliers, I chose to replace them with two end-mounted aluminum posts, a much more maintenance-free solution for my customer. Also, by moving the posts outward I was able to increase the mass of the sign leaving more room for branding the “Stoneridge” name at the top.

The previous main sign did not reflect a positive street-side image and needed some work.

The faded, peeling and cracking road sign needed to be re-set and reinforced within the existing stone wall and then repainted. We removed the routed aluminum face and transported it to the shop where we removed the existing finish, primed, and repainted the sign with a high quality industrial enamel supplied by Burk’s Paint and Wallpaper in Waynesboro. We took advantage of good fall weather to re-install the main sign panel, then went right to work on building the new directory.

The updated main entrance sign on Route 250 West, Waynesboro, VA.

The posts and crossbeams were custom-made to fit into the sides of the existing brick foundation. Made from aluminum with a powder-coat finish, the posts are maintenance-free and provide a strong platform for the

Making the 60 individual tenant panels in the shop.

two fairly heavy directory panels. We cut the two large round-top sign panels and smaller individual tenant panels in the shop and applied printed 3M vinyl for the background color and graphics. There were a total of thirty changeable tenant signs per side, attached with stainless steel fasteners which can be easily changed as tenants come and go.

Fabricating the directory sign on the shop table.

All in all the project improved the look of the office park, but there’s room for improving many of the other signs in the complex. Perhaps that will be in our project pipeline for 2021!

Putting the final fasteners in the newly renovated main entrance sign.

Mark Hackley owns and operates Augusta Sign Company serving Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County, Virginia…and beyond.

Contact Mark at 540-943-9818 or mark@augustasigncompany.com

Restoring the Billboard for Silver Lake Mill, Dayton, VA

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FRESH LOOK NEEDED

I remember meeting with Cheryl Lyon in my shop sometime early in the spring of 2020 after she sought out my company from a Facebook referral. She laid out across my shop table drawings and photographs of an existing billboard sign in Dayton that had deteriorated and wanted to hire me to upgrade it, sharing her artistic shematics for a new look.

Laying out the ACM panels for the billboard veneers on the shop tables.

The original mill on Silver Lake was built in 1822. It burned in 1856, was rebuilt, and was burned again during the Civil War in 1864. It was last operated as a mill by Rockingham Milling Co., which ceased operations around 1990 after constructing a new facility near Harrisonburg.

The top ACM panel cut to shape on shop table.

HISTORY RESTORED

Lyon, a member of the board of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society, heard the mill was up for sale and thought it would be an awesome building for her growing specialty glass ornament business and purchased it around 1999. Soon afterwards she had an advertising sign erected by another firm to direct local customers to her business, which was a distance off the main road, Route 42. In order to erect an off-premise sign she had to coordinate construction of the sign with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) as well as the Town of Dayton and Rockingham County.

The primed aluminum ball finials waiting for the 23K gold.

After years of wear, the original sign lost its luster, hence her trip to my shop for fresh ideas. When Cheryl first approached me I was just finishing a custom church sign in Bridgewater and getting ready to start a huge job for the Blue Ridge Tunnel on Afton Mountain. I suggested she get in touch with me in June.

Inspecting the 3M digital print on the shop floor prior to application to ACM.
Loading up the trailer on installation day!

JOINT PROJECT

When June rolled in, Cheryl and I were able to complete the sign design work and applicable permitting via emails. I used help from Lisa Brady, a free-lance artist and graphic designer in Bath County, to provide several design concepts. Cheryl took care of the permit research. I always like it when customers secure their own sign permits. Especially in this case where so many agencies are involved in the permitting process. I was able to help with the cost worksheet needed by VDOT and also coordinated inspections with Rockingham County, but Cheryl did all the heavy legwork.

Doug Sheffer helping me with the installation; shown trimming one of the posts to fit grade.

Finally, in October, Cheryl was ready to pull the trigger on making a sign purchase. Once I received her deposit, I quickly ordered materials and began to fabricate the new sign. We took advantage of great weather, disassembled the old sign, and dug the 24 inch diameter by 4-foot deep holes for the new posts. We covered the holes with plywood covers and returned the next day to set the posts while finishing the sign in the shop.

Plumbing the posts and getting ready to install the new billboard sign panels.

TALKING SHOP

We laminated new 3mm thick Aluminum Composite Material (ACM) panels to the existing boards. Then we applied digitally printed 3M vinyl graphics to the ACM on one side and reinforced the joint between boards across the back. We fastened refurbished steel angles to the new 4 X6 X 15-feet long treated posts, and loaded up the trailer.

Doug attaching the 23K gold leaf finials.

Upon reaching the jobsite on the third trip, we hoisted the large 7-feet high X 7-feet wide sign up and between the posts, and fastened them securely. To finish it off, we attached the two 23K gold leaf ball finials to the top of each post and hung a separate directional arrow sign from the bottom of the main billboard.

The sign now up, but braced until the concrete cures. We used about a ton of gravel and concrete to pour the two footers. I think this sign will be around for a while!

On the fourth trip after a week’s time to let the concrete footers cure, we dismantled the bracing and touched up the posts.

NOT A RUN OF THE MILL PROJECT

The finished product!

All in all it was a very fun and interesting project and awesome weather to work in. I truly appreciated the chance to play a part in directing the public to the historic mill! It is reminiscent of the Savage Mill in Savage, Maryland, located about 5 miles north from where I grew up. That was also an old mill turned into a glass ball ornament factory before later becoming an artisan center. The reason I am familiar with it is because my Grandpa Hackley used to work in the original cotton mill before it too became an ornament business. He made Christmas balls there up until his death at age 79. Grandpa died instantly from a heart attack at the Savage Mill in 1964!

I hope I will go that way…while doing something I enjoy most…making signs!

Mark Hackley owns Augusta Sign Company, Staunton, VA