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.

Contact: mark@augustasigncompany.com

Many times if the choice is between erecting an electric sign or wood sign at your business, the leading response would be to go electric, especially if a custom electric sign company is doing the selling.

Considering the lifespan of redwood and cedar signs, the potential for eye-catching designs with gold leaf, neat three dimensional aspects, and spot-lighting, wood signs should not be overlooked. I once sold an electric sign for a restaurant for a little over $10,000. The sign was neat and eye-catching, but a wood sign could have had the same or better effect for less. Here, even in the humid southeast, the finish of a painted wood sign should last ten years, essentially the same as a painted electric sign. And, just as the aluminum and steel components of electric signs last for decades with proper maintenance, a hand-painted wood sign will do the same.

I just got finished restoring more than a dozen signs that I had built in the early 1990’s and they all refurbished well, looking like brand new, and ready to go another 20 years between recoats.

Here are some things you can do with wood signs:

V-Carved letters for special lighting effects
Incorporate Gold or Silver Leaf into the designs
Utilize 3-D Carved pictorial elements
Add Multiple Level of Graphics for Shadow Effects
Utilize Natural, Transparent Stains in Backgrounds for Environmental Effects
Easy to Refresh and Maintain

If you or your organization needs help with selecting the right sign for your business, please contact us.

Read about my back-in-business story in the Waynesboro News Virginian Here!

Many things are the same and some things are different than before:

WHAT’S THE SAME?

Licensed Class B Virginia Contractor
Dedicated to Product Quality and Customer Service
Strong Sign Design Capabilities
Specializing in Hand-Crafted Quality, Custom Wood Signs
Good/ Better/ Best Options
Range of Customers will be from Small Entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 Companies
Many Returning Customers

WHAT’S DIFFERENT?

Many New Customers
No Sales Office; I come to you when you need help with a signage project
Smaller, More Selective Workload: Our products and services are valuable to your image and worth the wait in scheduling your project!