RE-PEEL OR REPLACE?
Looking for a simplified way to use old electric sign cabinets? I bet I have had a dozen calls about sign face replacement since I restarted my commercial sign company here in Waynesboro, Virginia two years ago. Many people who go into business for themselves will rent or purchase a former commercial building. When they get the building, most times they also get the old signage. Jurisdictions usually make businesses remove or reverse or otherwise block out the old sign faces in electric sign cabinets until new owners or tenants come along.
BRAND NEW BRAND
So what do you do when you need to replace or repaint the old sign faces? If the cabinets have working circuitry and functional lighting, then the best bet is to replace the faces so they will light up your brand at night. But if the old signs are REALLY old or non-functional, many customers choose a simplified way to use old sign cabinets: they simply replace the translucent plastic faces with opaque metal faces and spot-light their signage later as budgets for advertising grow with the new business.
WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE?
Here’s a recent example of this exact process. The new insurance company opened in a former flower shop building. He had old electric sign cabinets, some without internal lighting at all, some with non-working electrical components. My customer utilized the simplified way to use old electric sign cabinets by replacing the old plastic faces with metal signs that slide in and out just like the old plastic ones. They were economical compared with buying custom-formed plastic faces and they look very nice. Plus, he has the option to light up later by installing exterior spots.
If you are just starting a business, or buying an existing one and you need to re-brand your brick and mortar location in the western/central Virginia area, give me a call or e-mail to discuss!
Augusta Sign Company has been in business since 2015 and before that, Tree Street Signs was in business since 1990 serving Waynesboro, Staunton, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, and Lexington, as well as many areas in between these cities and many other places within a few hours of Waynesboro.
Mark Hackley, Owner
540-943-9818 mark@augustasigncompany.com
Need help installing interior signs out there?? Last week I got a call from the local Window World retail store asking if 
metal, and wood at schools, medical offices, corporate headquarters, government facilities, and pretty much anywhere people want to show off their brand to the visiting public!
I started and ended the year off doing what I like best: restoring old wood signs. Some of the signs weren’t worth restoring and needed to be replaced, but usually if they were built from woods like cedar, redwood, or mahogany, then restoration was the best option for my customers. MDO plywood signs that aren’t framed may not be good restoration candidates and replacement is usually best. Such was the case with a sign I replaced as a signage subcontractor for a local landscaper. Last January, I replaced the oval panel for the 
Unframed edges will allow moisture into the panel over time. It doesn’t take Mother Nature very long to penetrate and destroy unprotected edges! For metal signs, I try to make sure the framing and support structures are strong enough to help the signs stand up to the sometimes harsh Augusta County winds and rains and other forces of nature.
and fire lane signs and striping for the parking lot after the fire inspector recommended them.
business or non-profit with limited capital for signs, banners can be a good option to get your name out there for a few years. If your banner is not being used for temporary advertising, you’ll probably need to investigate whether a sign permit for the banner is required.
When I owned and operated Tree Street Signs in Crimora in the 1990’s, I did my share of vehicle graphics. Lettering the vehicles for service contractors with fleets of commercial trucks was a large portion of the workload. Now that I downsized with Augusta Sign Company, my shop can only facilitate small vehicles. The fleet of cars I lettered for Valley Vital Care fit perfectly in my 14′ X 30′ garage. I can also handle decals and magnetic signs easily from my smaller shop, and have done many of these for customers over the past year. In warmer months from spring through the fall, I can also letter larger trucks and vans in my side lot, and I also utilize my customer’s places of business to install vehicle graphics year-round on larger units.
doing signs on a part-time basis. During my period of hesitancy, one thing pastors and counselors would tell me over and over was, “You can make a mission of your business.”
