16' Storefront Sign Substrate? Acrylic Letters

[captivatesd]

Hello Everyone,

I have a client (Bicycle Shop) that I usually do vinyl and print work for that opened a new location and wants a large storefront sign mounted to their brick facade. I usually do vinyl and graphic design but have a shop and a woodworking background and have been wanting to offer more options, since this is a friend of mine I figured it was a good opportunity to explore this option. I found a nice option of Acrylic letters in the font and color they want from http://www.woodlandmanufacturing.com/ but am not sure what to use as a substrate for the backing. I know there are a lot of options but I want a classy look and a durable sign. I found acrylic sheets in the preferred white background in lengths up to 8', if I choose that how to I join the two pieces and mount the sign, perhaps a steel structure? Are there any better options for a 16' sign? If acrylic, any suggestions on thickness and a good vendor to get to NJ.

I am also completely open to ANY critiques of the design.

Any help is much appreciated as a I new to this topic. I attached a .jpg of the design.

Thanks so much,

Dave

 

[Moze]

I would do a .125'' aluminum panel with a 1'' aluminum angle frame. Paint it all white with Matthews or similar and attach the letters to the panel. Clip-mount the panel to the brick.

 

[WeekendDirectionals]

For someone on a business start-up budget, we did one on metal max (Grimco's DiBond equiv) with vinyl overlay. We did two pieces of substrate thick, sandwiched so seam would not be a problem to obtain that length. We bought oracal 3651 vinyl from signs365. Customer did the light afterwards as they have an electrician friend.

 

[Billct2]

Acrylic makes a nice background, but it has the be secured by a retainer or other method that allows it to expand & contract, so i don't know that I would use it on your first build, especially when a circle is involved. Instead I would probably use ACM on an aluminum tube frame, then fsten the circle to that, with some spacers to add a little dimension. Then your acrylic letters can be thru bolted w/studs to the background. You don't say whether you're using flat or formed letters. If flat have them set up with mounting blocks, if formed install with a slight space so debris isn't trapped by the the letters.
The design doesn't do much for me but that's for another reply.

 

[Rick]

Does it have to be mounted to a backer?

Can you mount directly to the brick, then the money you save, you can make the copy painted acrylic, and the logo brushed stainless steel or something... thats classy (whatever that means), clean and durable...

You can take Moze's idea, and stand off the panel away from the wall. On the face, have a 1/2" thick pvc panel and attach the letter to that to give it even more dimension. There is a lot you can do.

on the design... I think more ideas would be in order. This looks 70's porn... bad 70's porn... not that I looked at 70's porn, BUT IF I DID!!!! bad 70's porn would have looked like that...

 

[captivatesd]

Thanks!

I really appreciate all the advice everyone! This gives me a lot to work with. I like the idea of the ACM or Aluminum, I definitely have a LOT to learn before I branch into this area. I also agree that the design leaves a lot to be desired, I am unfortunately stuck with their font and basic logo but I am going to propose some other options.

Thanks again,

Dave

 

[visual800]

We would weld up a 1" aluminum frame and face it with .040 aluminum with routed and latex painted pvc adhered to it