Valley City Sign

Sign projects can be quite involved, from determining the number and type of signs needed to determining sign code regulations and obtaining permits. No matter how large or small your project, it is advantageous to have an experienced person manage the whole process for you. While keeping your ideas and goals in mind, they should be able to analyze your site and guide you toward successful identification and wayfinding solutions.

The look of your sign is very important. It can give the customer an instant impression of the type and quality of your business. Your sign company should employ trained graphic designers who have been educated in how to most effectively communicate your image. Signage applications are unique in that the communication to the viewer needs to be instantaneous; therefore, careful consideration must be given to color, contrast, letter style and letter height, in a way that doesn't compromise the company's image.

A good designer should be able to combine the elements of legibility and image and create a design that also complements the environment in which it is located. A sign company that is up to date with today's technology should be able to provide detailed blueprints of the construction of your sign, along with color renderings and photo placements to aid in visualizing the end result before it's built.

Every sign company has its own unique way of fabricating signs, so how do you know what manufacturing method is better than another? Unless you want a very unique custom shape or design, aluminum extrusions are an excellent solution. Extruded sign systems were developed with many interchangeable parts to provide a variety of aesthetic qualities and to allow for easy future updating and service. Extruded aluminum cabinets are much simpler to assemble than custom signs, making them economical to build, and because all the parts are standardized you can be assured that any changes or additions to your project in the future will be consistent with your existing signage.

When extrusion cannot be used, the cabinet should be fabricated in a way that allows for easy servicing without disturbing the aesthetics of the sign. The aluminum should be thick enough to withstand denting, mitered corners should fit tightly, welded areas should be sanded smooth and all fasteners should be concealed as well as possible.

When checking the quality of materials being used on your sign, remember that cheaper is not always better. Because signs are exposed to a wide range of weather conditions, it is important to have materials that can hold up in these extremes. Sun exposure is a main concern because plastic faces can yellow and vinyl colors can fade from sun exposure within just a few years. Be sure these products have a UV protectant and a warranty to ensure a longer exterior life.

Wind is another big factor. Not only do the structural elements of the sign need to be adequate to combat high winds, but the face materials also need to be strong. Certain types of plastic can break or shatter more easily than others, and aluminum that is too thin will be more vulnerable to bowing and denting. When comparing sign companies, don't get caught up in prices only. A cheaper price can sometimes mean a cutback on quality.

Most sign companies do little or no body work to their signs because the extra effort of smoothing out the imperfections is rarely noticeable at the distances that most signs are viewed. Besides just making your sign look better, the body work process actually aids in the paint process as well, which is why we feel that this step should not be overlooked. A dual action sanding method removes the imperfections on the sign and prepares it for painting, allowing for a smooth, long lasting finish.

The paint process is one of the most important processes in the making of a sign. Along with a dual action sanding method, an aluminum sign cabinet should be treated with an acid bath and a primer to help the paint adhere to the sign. Only top-quality acrylic polyurethane paint specially formulated for exterior aluminum signs should be used. It holds up under extreme hot and cold conditions without chipping and it has a UV stabilizer that virtually eliminates fading. After each step of the paint process, the sign should be baked in a oven to ensure complete drying, curing and bonding. A clear top coating can also be added as an additional protectant.

An important electrical aspect of a sign is how the fluorescent lamps are mounted within the cabinet. For years, sign companies have been mounting the lamps vertically in their signs and many still use that method today. Mounting the lamps horizontally, however, has proven to help prevent shortages due to water or ice buildup in the bottom of a cabinet, which is where the sockets are located when the lamps are mounted vertically. Also be sure that the sign company is a UL-approved facility. UL-approved facilities undergo extensive testing to ensure that their signs are wired correctly and safely.

Most customers want some kind of guarantee that their job will be completed on time. The delay of your sign installation can sometimes cost valuable business, particularly during a grand opening situation. A highly efficient computerized scheduling process is the best way to forecast an accurate timetable for your project. This type of software monitors each step of the manufacturing process from the minute it hits the shop floor all the way through installation. Without a sophisticated scheduling procedure and progress reporting system, all that most companies can give you is an educated guess.

Be sure that the sign company you choose has an installation crew led by licensed sign installers. The State of Michigan requires any installer servicing or installing an electrical sign to have a Sign Specialist License. In order to be certified sign specialists, installers need to have 4,000 hours and two years of experience, attend a pre-qualification class prior to taking the State of Michigan Certification Test and be trained on the current National Electric Code.

To be sure that you are choosing a company that will give you the best possible product, you might want to ask what processes they go through to assure quality. How is your project managed once it hits the shop floor? A well-managed company will have specific systems in place to monitor the quality of work, such as reviews with each department prior to beginning and various checks throughout the construction process to ensure that each step is done correctly.