Double-sided Wooden Sign with Panels

[nolanola]

Hello,

So I have a client who wants a double-sided wooden sign with 6 panels on each side. Parts of it may be painted. The actual sign would be about 5' x 4', but 9' x 4' when the legs are included.

I've attached an image of a sign that is similar to what they have in mind. They don't want the roof type part on their sign, but might want some other decorative touch on the top of the sign.

I just wanted to get some opinions on how much I should charge for this -- install included. What do you guys think?


Thanks so much!

 

[J Hill Designs]

Hello,

So I have a client who wants a double-sided wooden sign with 6 panels on each side. Parts of it may be painted. The actual sign would be about 5' x 4', but 9' x 4' when the legs are included.

I've attached an image of a sign that is similar to what they have in mind. They don't want the roof type part on their sign, but might want some other decorative touch on the top of the sign.

I just wanted to get some opinions on how much I should charge for this -- install included. What do you guys think?


Thanks so much!

cant even wager a guess. so many unknowns and variables.

anywhere from $1800 to $5500

 

[Gino]

Yeah, ya really need to give more information or this will be very vague.

 

[nolanola]

Thanks so much Gino and J Hill! I'll give you all the info I have:

All the information I have is that photograph, the 9' x 4' dimensions, that she wants it wooden and partially painted. They will probably match the paint to the trim on the building.

It's just gonna be a big wooden sign with 6 panels on each side - I'm guessing those would be about 5" or 6" high. There won't be any logos, just text with varying sizes. The building title might be a serif with the others as a sans serif.

I guess pricing really depends on how we go about it, I'm assuming we'll create the sign with some combination of wood, paint, and vinyl, have it cut how they want it and then create a stand to support it and put those together. If anyone has any other suggestions that would be highly appreciated and pricing estimates even more so.

Again, thanks for all the help so far!

 

[J Hill Designs]

still not enough, sorry.

serif vs sans, logo's vs no, have very close to ZERO bearing on cost
construction method, materials, cost of goods in your area, your shop overhead, installation method/site condition, etc etc etc.

dont forget permitting

sometimes you just have to work out the cost and hope you don't screw yourself.

In order for me to quote it to MY client I would have to have a rough idea drawn up.

It's just how it is.

 

[Gino]

The size sign of 4' x 5' with the posts making it around 9' tall is not much at all to figure out. Cost of your materials, prepping and painting time, cutting, vinyl, cost of vinyl, cost of electric for tools, assembly, permits digging setting along with overhead, profit, slop costs and all your other incidentals is what you need to figure out. It's not hard at all. However, you have shown relief letters, panels are made of what and attached how ?? How ornate will your proposed posts and panels be ?? Do you need an engineer's drawing to have it accepted by council ?? Your time for talking with the customer and coming up with rough drafts until the final one is decided upon.

Like mentioned, you'll be between $1,500 and $6,500 til it's all said and done. Is this a quote or do you have the job and trying to figure out how to go about it ??

 

[BIG EASY DOES IT]

Not enough to quote really. You gotta do some more book work. Figure out your sizes. What your going to use to fabricate. What those materials will cost. The labor included. If you give a quote just based off what you have now your going to be screwed.

 

[visual800]

I would do whole structure out of aluminum with aluminum panels. installed would be about 2400.00

 

[J Hill Designs]

I would do whole structure out of aluminum with aluminum panels. installed would be about 2400.00

LOL the footings needed for a 9' tall sign would put the install alone at ~2000 here (would need engineering etc)

 

[visual800]

LOL the footings needed for a 9' tall sign would put the install alone at ~2000 here (would need engineering etc)

you silly califonians and your high priced lifestyles! you can buy a 1200 sq ft home over there for $500k over here that would buy a mini mansion

 

[nolanola]

We are having a meeting with the clients tomorrow.
I was thinking about offering them using two 4x4 red wood posts, sandblasted HDU and CNC routed wooden panels.
What do you think?

Thank you.

 

[sagesign]

I would use a minimum of 6x6 posts and you will need some type of framework if you go with HDU.

 

[Gino]

Why so many different mediums ?? Your proposal sounds odd. HDU is a bad idea, even with a frame. 6" posts for sure, but you also need stability for the backboard. Use redwood for this, too.

 

[nolanola]

What medium would you use?
They want to look like wood.

 

[Gino]

What medium would you use?
They want to look like wood.

Then use wood. Just do it correctly. Wood could easily last 20 years. Your vinyl stick-ons will fatigue long before a well-made sign. If you don't know what you're doing, research how to do it and go from there. Incidently, why are you approaching something, you know nothing about ?? And don't say ya gotta start somewhere.

 

[Marlene]

What medium would you use?
They want to look like wood.

you do know that there is wood out there? redwood with redwood panels. how are you mounting the panels to the main sign? I would have the background sandblasted with the sign areas left raised and smooth then attach panels to those areas

 

[nolanola]

how should I build a wooden panel 4x6 feet?
Should there be a frame in the middle and the wooden panels (made of glued boards) attached to it from both sides or one solid panel?

That is how they expect it to look like:

 

[Marlene]

how should I build a wooden panel 4x6 feet?
Should there be a frame in the middle and the wooden panels (made of glued boards) attached to it from both sides or one solid panel?

That is how they expect it to look like:

glued boards??? get a nice 48" x 96" x 2" or more kiln dried redwood, sandblast it. have you ever made a sign like this? if not, spec it out and send it off to be subbed out for production

PS, yes I know redwood is glued together to make a larger panel. would I glue my own?? not a chance

 

[Gino]

Just about every sign we've ever made of redwood, we glued it together. I did them myself. I probably have 90 pipe clamps from 36" up to 96". Sandblasted redwood signs was our specialty in the 80s, 90s and early 2000s. As the economy fell off, less and less people got them. We're doing one right now, that we did 25 years ago and still looks great, but the name has changed, so we're doing it over. The posts didn't weather as well, as we hafta replace them.

Whether you buy a premade blank or make it yourself, you will not need a frame, if you use 8/4" At that size, I would not use 6/4". I'd still use 6" x 6" posts for that size. You'll need roughly 4' to 5' in the ground..... in cement. You'll need more up the sides than you show on your drawing. You can dig two separate 28" holes or use a slab. Your installation will be 1/2 of you're overall cost. Then you hafta apply for permits and see if it will fly wherever this is going. Blast about 1/4" to 3/8" deep and go to it. Make your tenant panels either out of the same wood or just use MDO and vinyl 'em.

I still think you're wa-a-a-ay in over your head, based on the questions you are asking. You do hafta start somewhere, but this is like jumping in the deep end of the pool before you know how to swim. A simple sandblasted sign for a store front and whatnot, but wind load, digging deep holes, gluing, sandblasting, painting, etc..... and all you have is a little cutter. Ain't gonna happen, unless you partner up with someone who can lead you around. Good luck.

 

[Marlene]

Just about every sign we've ever made of redwood, we glued it together. I did them myself. I probably have 90 pipe clamps from 36" up to 96". Sandblasted redwood signs was our specialty in the 80s, 90s and early 2000s. As the economy fell off, less and less people got them. We're doing one right now, that we did 25 years ago and still looks great, but the name has changed, so we're doing it over. The posts didn't weather as well, as we hafta replace them.

Whether you buy a premade blank or make it yourself, you will not need a frame, if you use 8/4" At that size, I would not use 6/4". I'd still use 6" x 6" posts for that size. You'll need roughly 4' to 5' in the ground..... in cement. You'll need more up the sides than you show on your drawing. You can dig two separate 28" holes or use a slab. Your installation will be 1/2 of you're overall cost. Then you hafta apply for permits and see if it will fly wherever this is going. Blast about 1/4" to 3/8" deep and go to it. Make your tenant panels either out of the same wood or just use MDO and vinyl 'em.

I still think you're wa-a-a-ay in over your head, based on the questions you are asking. You do hafta start somewhere, but this is like jumping in the deep end of the pool before you know how to swim. A simple sandblasted sign for a store front and whatnot, but wind load, digging deep holes, gluing, sandblasting, painting, etc..... and all you have is a little cutter. Ain't gonna happen, unless you partner up with someone who can lead you around. Good luck.

that is why I didn't say glue them yourself as it takes the right products, the knowledge and such to do it right. I've seen piles of planks on the ground from those who think they can do it themsleves and had no clue.