How Much do Window Signs Cost?
How much do window signs cost? Lettering and emblems on glass windows was being done at business store fronts and office doors long before I came along in the 1960’s. As I watch old movies from the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, it’s always interesting to see how signage has evolved, sometimes not for the better once vinyl came along; sometimes much better with computer-aided design technology.
Before the computer age, everything was either hand lettered or silkscreened. Just before computer software for vinyl cutting came along, there was a short period where die-cut vinyl lettering was popular, but other than that windows and door glass was hand painted. When I say painted, that could also include gold leaf, and other types of gilded lettering. Back in the old days, lots of time went into the design and execution of hand-painted graphics.
Today, many of the old time looks can be replicated in modern computer cut vinyls, but they really look authentic and last the best when hand-pained topcoats and undercoats are implemented. I recently lettered an entrance door for an attorney in Staunton and we chose 23K gold leaf that’s processed like vinyl; meaning it can be computer cut. I designed the lettering on the computer,
cut the letters in the real gold leaf, then made a pattern for the black backer lettering outline and drop shadows, and hand-painted those first. Then I applied the leaf and varnished with a clear coat. The finished product looked great!
But how much do window signs cost? It depends on the level of design, the size of the windows, the graphics materials used, the height above the ground, inside or outside of glass, and the distance from the shop. To give you a ballpark estimate for window lettering, the cost of the “Urban Studio” example done anywhere in the Augusta County, Virginia area, would be in the $375-$500 range. The “Chandler’s Bar” example, plain white vinyl on the outside of glass with no clear coating would be in the $100 range plus trip charge to get to and from the job site. Hand-done window lettering is becoming a lost art, but Augusta Sign Company of Waynesboro, Virginia, can still handle that type of sign service at a reasonable cost. Ask your sign partner if they know how to hand-letter signs if you are looking for a professionally-done job that will look great and last a long time!
Mark Hackley is President of Augusta Sign Company, Waynesboro, VA, and was the former founder of Tree Street Signs and most recently an Account Executive with Holiday Signs of Richmond.
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