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Using Dimensional Wood Signs-Advantages and Disadvantages

January 12, 2024 By jalexspringer

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STRATEGIZE WITH WOOD

Using dimensional wood signs as part of your organization’s marketing strategy may be a successful approach of blending the distinctive character of carefully handcrafted custom wood signage with your own distinctive image and brand. If your brand would benefit from the ambiance of natural, stained, or painted dimensional wood signage products carefully designed and finished in Virginia, you may want to consider the advantages and disadvantages of wooden signs.

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THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX

If you picture your building or office as a “box”, then thinking outside the box relates to your exterior signage attached to the outside areas of your building or campus. The wooden signs that I manufacture are typically 1.5” thick cedar panels with lettering/logos/emblems carved into the outside face of the boards. They can be fabricated at any size, and sized to fit the area in which they will be attached to the wall or ground-mounted support in the case of free-standing monument and post and panel type signs.

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In the case of wall-mounts, signs can be mounted flush to the wall or can also be hung perpendicular to the wall using scroll brackets. For free-standing signage, the wood signs are typically attached to some type of post system or low-wall of masonry or wood. Sometimes the wood signs are set into recesses in masonry structures for a permanent impression. Sometimes to save cost, flush vinyl graphics can be substituted for recessed or raised graphics (see Claybrook sign, a few snapshots down.)

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As mentioned earlier, the major up-side of exterior wood signs is connecting with customers. If your brand is aligned with “natural”, “earthy”, “down-home”, “old-fashioned”, “high-quality”, “rustic”, or “hand-made” messaging, then wood designs can help promote that overall feel. You may wonder how a wood sign can project both a high-quality and rustic image simultaneously: it depends on the finishing of the end product. Hand-painted and polyurethaned precision carved lettering and branding can produce a nostalgic feeling that signals a high-quality brand in the customer’s mind.

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Consider a quaint New England town with hand-carved wooden signs adorning the picturesque streetscape! A dentist office, a law firm, a gift shop, a bed and breakfast, a book store: they are all inviting you to come in and experience top-notch service and attention. Another advantage to v-carved wood signs is, if utilizing 23 karat gold, they can really catch your eye and draw attention. There aren’t many sign lettering options that surpass the quality of signs with real gold leaf.

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The biggest potential down-side of exterior wood signs, especially in areas south of the Mason-Dixon Line, is exposure to the elements: humidity and UV exposure being the two biggest threats to the longevity of wooden signs in Virginia, where most of my customers operate. The cost of regular maintenance is a definite consideration when planning to purchase a wood branding image. Cleaning the signs each spring and fall can extend the overall impact of your investment and lengthen their effective lifetime, and repainting or re-finishing wood signs on a three to five-year maintenance schedule is recommended. The initial cost of designing and building wood signs is also greater than using alternative signage materials, but the value of visual impact may be higher than other material options.

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INSIDE THE “BOX” APPLICATIONS

Wooden signs are great for outdoor applications, but don’t overlook their suitability for interior signage projects as well! I have not regularly promoted interior usage, but have worked on a few projects where the customer determined the look of the natural wood fit the identity of their product better than other traditional wall lettering options like dimensional metal letters and flush vinyl graphics. A few years ago I worked with Jon Styer, who at the time was the brand administrator for Eastern Mennonite University, to create an interior wall sign for the university’s coffee shop. An awesome graphic designer, Jon was able to blend the natural aura of stained cedar with a clean, clear, glossy acrylic cover that formed the background for the vinyl branding. It was a neat approach that utilized wood, plastic and vinyl lettering. Usually a sign is made of one or the other substrates, but this case blended all three signage materials into a great looking sign that was spot lit from above.

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YOU MAKE THE CALL

If you’re looking for a way to incorporate natural or painted wood signs into your business or organization, please reach out to Mark Hackley, owner, Augusta Sign Company, serving a large geographic area of Central Virginia seeking quality signage products and services. Using wood signage for branding certainly has advantages and disadvantages, but perhaps Mark can help you determine if wood is a good fit for your signage needs. And how much does it cost to go with wood versus less expensive urethane and aluminum composite options? Mark will be happy to meet with you to discuss!

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Contact Mark Hackley, Augusta Sign Company- 540-943-9818; mark@augustasigncompany.com

Filed Under: News and Updates Tagged With: Carved Wood Signs, interior signs, Sandblasted Signs, VA, Virginia, Waynesboro, Wood Signs

Decals – an easy way to brand your retail store

February 15, 2017 By Mark Hackley

Decals – an easy way to brand your retail store

Last week I was contracted to make and install about 30 decals of a well-known brand of residential and commercial paint. The owner of two retail stores, one in Waynesboro, Virginia and one in Staunton, had renovated their store interiors, repainting the shelving fixtures in an updated color. When they repainted the store fixtures, they painted over the old logos, so they hired me to make new ones.

The shelves ranged in width from about 48″ to 65″ and the decals were designed to fit all widths. I provided a scaled sketch and presented a color swatch of the decal color. The customer could not get a copy of the logo in vector format, so I was able to vectorize what they provided as a jpg. The project took about 10 days to complete from the time I received their proof approval and deposit check, taking about a week to get the vinyl material, a day to cut and prepare the graphics, and a few days to schedule and make the final deliveries and installations at both stores.

Even though it was an interior application, I used high performance 10-year exterior Avery vinyl film for the decals so they will last a long time.

Mark Hackley, President of Augusta Sign Company, Waynesboro, VA  22980.  540-943-9818

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Custom Stickers, interior signs, Logo Decals, Vinyl Decals, wall graphics, window graphics

Interior Sign Systems from Ordinary to Different

September 6, 2016 By Mark Hackley

Pretty Neat Interior Signs in Waynesboro and Augusta County, Virginia

www.augustasigncompany.com-waynesboro-va-22980-interior-signs-signage-office-signsAugusta Sign Company of Waynesboro makes interior sign systems from ordinary to different; simple white on brown rectangular signs to signs of custom shapes and colors. Most of the interior sign systems we make are made in-house from PVC material, usually 2mm or 3mm thick. The signs are typically mounted in wall-installed metal frames or hung from simple scroll brackets for an interesting look. The lettering is typically flush vinyl; cut or printed.

BLUE RIDGE AREA FOOD BANK OFFICE SIGNS

Here are a few recent examples of interior signage projects I have donewww.augustasigncompany.com-waynesboro-va-interior-signage around Waynesboro and Augusta County.  The first project for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank in Verona, VA falls into the “ordinary” group. Not wanting their signs to be too gaudy, the director there chose a simple two-color monolithic design, white letters on brown. The system consisted of entrance way and hallway directional signs and office door signs intended to help new volunteers find their way around a little easier. Investing in better signage is a good way to spend extra year-end capital, and that was one of the reasons for the idea. Also, the Food Bank recently completed a large building renovation project and it was good timing to add new signage.

WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OFFICE SIGNS

The previous year I had built several new exterior signs for Westminster Presbyterian Church in Waynesboro, VA. Continuing our relationship, the pastor called on me again for ideas on improving their interior signs at the church office. She had seen some neat signs on Pinterest and she shared the link with me as a good starting point. I chose to use 1/4″ thick white PVC with digitally www.augustasigncompany.com-waynesboro-va-custom-indoor-office-signsprinted graphics as the sign material and after discussions with the customer, decided to cut them in the same shape as their exterior signs to keep things consistent. The end product was really different. The hangers were plant hanging brackets I picked up at Lowes. All the office name signs were double-sided and were centered over the office doors; the directory was single-sided and inset into the existing reception counter, in view immediately as visitors enter the office.

If you’re in the market for interior signs, contact me anytime. Both of these multi-sign systems (30 plus signs for the food bank’s system and at least a dozen for the church’s) were designed, manufactured, and installed at a cost of less than $2,000. Considering the number of signwww.augustasigncompany.com-waynesboro-va-office-door-signss, interior signs are a cost effective way to spruce up your internal image for both staff and guests!

Mark Hackley owns Augusta Sign Company in the Tree Street area of Waynesboro, VA

540-943-9818

 

Filed Under: News and Updates Tagged With: custom signage, interior signs, office signs

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