Subdivision Sign Options

Subdivision sign options can range from brick monuments with metal letters, to stone bases with sandblasted cedar signs, to MDO plywood signs set in decorative iron work on a single post, which happened to be the type we just finished in Waynesboro, VA. Darren Crosier, owner of Crosier Landscaping in Staunton, approached Augusta Sign Company, formerly Tree Street Signs of Crimora founded by Mark Hackley in 1991, to help with a subdivision entrance renovation last summer, and we just recently completed the project.

The existing sign was identical but it set below the grade of the main road making it difficult to see. Crosier’s company was hired to re-landscape the entrance and along with it they were contracted to raise the sign from a 6′ height to a 10′ height above grade. Working with the City of Waynesboro, approval was granted for the changes. The sign renovation was a 3 step process:

Step One involved removing the old sign and replicating it. I purchased a sheet of 1/2″ thick MDO plywood, traced the old oval shape and cut the new shape with a jig saw and easing the edges all around with sandpaper. After priming and painting the oval, I traced the old graphics using paint thinner and brown Kraft paper, an old sign painter’s trick! The thinner makes the opaque paper transparent to do a tracing. After it evaporates you can apply black pencil to the back and trace onto the new sign or in this case onto beige vinyl that I hand-cut in the shop and applied to both sides of the sign, an exact replica of the previous sign. Step Two involved rehabbing the sign frame: I sanded, primed and repainted the ironwork structure with semi-gloss black spray enamel.

Step Three was obtaining a new 6″ X 6″ post and 2″ X 8″ boards to surround 5′ of the bottom, then stain with 2 coats of solid color oil stain made by mixing 70% Penetrol with 30% of the green enamel used for the sign.

The sign was picked up by the customer and installed by his crew, then I went back and made a few necessary touch ups after all the work was done.

 

 

 

Mark Hackley is owner of Augusta Sign Company, Waynesboro, VA  22980

540-943-9818

HOW TO BRAND AN OFFICE ENTRANCE ON A BUDGET

How to brand an office entrance on a budget is a logical question to ask. I was contacted by the Albemarle County folks recently to provide new branding and wayfinding for their newly renovated Executive Suite in Charlottesville. Working with their facilities management group, we were able to come up with an economic solution, yet add some pizzazz to a new office renovation project. The project will have a glass dividing wall, a three dimensional County Seal, and a column of directional signs when complete. I installed the seal today. The best tips: Use the plastic drywall inserts that thread into the sheetrock and accept screws; these are far superior to traditional toggle bolts for medium to lightweight wall-mounted signs and displays. Also, make sure to clean PVC well with alcohol and a scrub pad to clean off any oils that come along with most PVC plastic materials. This assures a long-lasting bond between adhesive tapes and the PVC substrate. Use spot lighting for best effect!

 

Mark Hackley is owner of Augusta Sign Company, Waynesboro, VA  540-943-9818

 

Cost of Wall Mounted Letters?

What’s the cost of wall mounted letters? Three-dimensional wall letters range in price depending on several things. Your sign company’s project manager can work with you to determine these factors:

1. Size
2. Material
3. Thickness
4. Interior or Exterior Usage
5. Height Above the Ground
6. Logos Involved?
7. Mounting Method

Once all 7 questions are answered, a sign estimate can be prepared. As far as materials are concerned, there are many options. If the signage is on an interior wall, the material of choice may be some type of plastic. Outdoors, plastic is also a good choice, but you may want to make a different statement by using metal letters. Plastics are limited to paint color finishes, but metal letters can make more of an architectural statement. Some examples include: satin aluminum, gold leaf, stainless steel, brushed aluminum, copper, and bronze. Wall signage can also be hand painted directly onto the wall.

The examples here show a range of wall signs in a city’s downtown landscape. Make sure you select a licensed sign contractor to reduce risks of ending up with non-effective, unsafe, or unattractive signage on your building. Remember, you only get one chance to make a good impression!

The thickness of lettering can add charm but can make a difference in readability and you must consider the effect of shadows on your wall letters. Any logo can be reproduced in dimensional material and mounted on a wall. Augusta Sign Company has more than 30 years experience in designing, manufacturing and installing wall graphics, and is available for consultation anytime!

Mark Hackley is the Owner of Augusta Sign Company of Waynesboro, VA

[email protected]   540-943-9818

 

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: [email protected]