Outdoor Signage Considerations
By: Christine Mercado
Thinking about investing in a new school sign? It may seem like a daunting task with endless options and price ranges, but here are some key points to get you started.
1. Where will we buy the sign?
A key aspect of finding the right sign for your school really does start with the company you choose. This plays a huge roll in the seamlessness of the entire process. Placing your trust with a particular sign company can be easy if you have evaluated the company beforehand. Here are some questions to ask yourself before working with anyone:
Is this company respected in the school market?
Get references from a company you are considering. Look at examples of their signs at other schools in your area. Talk with other school volunteers who may have served on a sign committee and dealt with a particular company.
How long have they been in business?
A reputable sign company should have built many relationships over the years. In addition, a company that has the endorsement of your denomination should speak volumes. Being a Christian school, it will not only show that the denomination as a whole has confidence in the sign company but that the sign company has earned the endorsement and has a vested interest in maintaining that relationship. Endorsements should be older than six months; ideally, look for endorsements that are decades old.
What is their warranty? Does the company stand behind its products?
Customers you speak with should have peace of mind about this. In addition, consider the amount of customer care provided by a company. Going hand in hand with experience is the warranty and service after the sale and the financial state of the company standing behind all of this. A lifetime warranty is nice, but only if the company is around to support it.
2. What sign is best for our school?
Before choosing a sign according to its possible appeal or aesthetics, check zoning regulations. Zoning laws in your area will dictate many of your sign decisions. In particular, the three big issues of size, site and setback are largely answered by local regulations.
Calling the local planning and zoning department is an important step on the path of choosing a school sign. Every block within an area may be different. Even a school or other organization down the street may be under different regulations than your school if it is in a different zone. Once you determine the regulations for zoning in your area, your sign choices are significantly narrowed down.
Zoning usually determines size and placement and sometimes more. On occasion, zoning controls the aesthetics, but almost always governs size safety, wind load and location. For example, while wind load is an important issue in Florida, where communities must deal regularly with the threat of hurricanes and tropical storms, seismic codes must be adhered to in other areas, such as California, where the threat to a sign comes from potential earthquakes. These various codes determine the height of signs and how they are put in the ground-amount of concrete, strength of steel legs, size of base plates, etc.
All of these issues are easier to deal with early on in the sign buying process, which is why it is recommend that you talk with zoning experts first.
By telephone, you can usually get general regulations and parameters simply by providing your school address. Going to meet with someone in person will result in more information, such as the rules regarding newer technology. Some areas don't allow electronic displays. Others may allow them but don't allow the sign to use animated graphics. Before falling in love with a sign's design and colors, be sure to check with zoning and avoid wasting months of work.
3. Where should we put the sign, and how big should it be?
Placement is critical. While corporations already know this, schools often don't consider it. Passing drivers cannot read a sign that is parallel to the road. Perpendicular signs are much more readable. Opt to place the sign on the busiest street bordering school property and make the sign double-sided for twice the impact.
Again, zoning regulations will dictate many of your placement decisions. For example, sign setback from the right of way will be regulated, as this is an important safety and visibility issue for passing traffic. In addition, watch out for viewing and site obstructions such as trees or telephone poles.
Other factors in determining where to place a sign revolve around the traffic in the area. The first thing a sign company should ask you is what the speed limit is and if that's realistic. Know what the "actual" traffic speed is, not just the "posted" speed, in order to determine the correct letter sizing for a sign. Whether or not your sign will be at a stoplight or stop sign should also be considered.
Schools can learn from the advertising industry how to ensure that their sign is generating enough visual impact to be read. The five-second rule dictates that driving readers must be able to see copy five seconds away and be able to read it before they drive past it. Be careful not to purchase a sign that has letters (or a matrix if you're looking at an LED sign) that are too small to read for the location and speed of the traffic that's going by. You'll just end up with a very expensive marker that won't be the communication tool it was intended to be.
Here are some basic guidelines to follow, although other factors do come into play:
* 3-inch characters up to 15 mph
* 4-inch characters up to 30 mph
* 6-inch characters up to 45 mph
* 8-inch characters up to 55 mph
* 10-inch characters up to 70 mph
Letter size dictates cabinet size. Parameters there limit messages to seven to 10 words maximum in order to maintain interest. People generally won't read more.
4. What is the quality of the materials?
A sign is an investment, plain and simple. It will last and look good as long as the materials it is built with are intended for its usage. That said, be sure to understand the differences between commercial-grade and institutional-grade signs. Higher quality in sign features make the difference between a sign that lasts decades and one that lasts only a few years. Schools typically want an institutional-grade sign because it lasts an average of 25 years. Other commercial-grade signs, such as business signs, may only last between five to seven years. The durability of an institutional-grade sign is reflected in a higher price-sometimes twice the price of a similar commercial-grade sign.
For institutional-grade signs, look for key quality components. A solar grade SGC 100 Lexan face means your sign is virtually unbreakable. It is the premier grade of Lexan available in the market today, and it's the same barrier used around hockey rinks and the windows at your local bank. There is no "equivalent" material. It also means that your sign will never yellow, crack or fade with age and it's graffiti-resistant.
In addition, quality 3M vinyl applied to the inside of the header will give you the laser-sharp graphics you want for your school name and mascot. Unlike painted graphics, they will never fade or discolor or provide an uneven distribution of color when the sign is illuminated at night.
Finally, a graffiti-resistant DuPont industrial powder-coat finish means color and gloss retention for many, many years and also carries the same graffiti-resistance as the rest of the sign.
A fade-resistant painting process and high-grade materials are some of the features of a sign that will cost more, but last much longer.
Finally, you need to consider how strong the sign is. Does it have the benefits of aluminum with strength of steel? Your sign will be out in the elements around the clock, and its structural integrity will decide how long it performs. Will it withstand freezing temperatures, high heat and high winds? How will it deal with rain and moisture? Look for signs that are built to withstand these elements, including hurricane-force winds between 120 and 150 miles per hour.
If you find that your school will need financing, your supplier should provide you with a list of options. This is one indicator that a particular company will be a good match for your school. You should request an interest-free financing program that fits your budget. The convenience and flexibility of paying for your sign over time through a payment program, especially for LED signs, can make all the difference.
The bottom line for schools is to consider the sign as an investment in image and communication. The sign will reflect your school and give a first impression to those driving by. You can ensure that impression is a positive one with a quality sign that communicates effectively.
Christine Mercado is the assistant manager of marketing for Stewart Signs. www.stewartsigns.com.
Product Roundup
Signs Plus
School signs are the ideal tool to increase communication with students, faculty, parents and everyone who passes by the school each day. A school can share its message with the community, announce events, invite volunteers and recognize achievements. Signs Plus offers many different makes and styles of school signs, ranging from traditional outdoor manual signs to more advanced LED moving message signs. Since 1988, more than 10,000 organizations in all 50 states have trusted Signs Plus for their sign needs.
www.signsplussigns.com
MPC Signs
With more than 55 years of experience, MPC Signs manufactures a wide variety of internally illuminated message board signs, way-finding signs and electronic message centers for schools. Utilizing all-aluminum construction, the signs are built to exacting standards. All signs are UL listed, thus, insuring the highest quality of materials and workmanship. MPC Signs makes the experience of buying a sign very easy. The "Create Your Own Sign" CD walks users through the process of designing a sign. An on-staff graphic designer will help schools with the design process at no charge. Installation is quick and easy.
www.mpcchurchsigns.com
Best Sign Systems and Courtesy Sign Company
Best Sign Systems, Inc. has expanded its product line by acquiring Courtesy Sign Co., Inc. Best is a nationally recognized manufacturer of custom architectural signage that has experienced explosive growth over the past several years. Best is well-known for its exclusive Graphic Blast engraving process. In addition to architectural, industrial and commercial signage, Best is an industry leader in manufacturing tactile and Braille signage conforming to ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) signage. Courtesy Sign Co. is well-known for specialty screen-printed signage for safety, industrial and traffic applications. Courtesy's powder-coated signs provide a high-quality sign product.
www.bestsigns.com
INNERFACE
Since 1971, INNERFACE has been a "client-focused" industry leader providing complete solutions for: Interior/Exterior Signage; Touchscreen Systems; Wayfinding; Environmental Graphic Design; and Budgeting, Installation and Maintenance. They provide a 100 percent guarantee on all products and services.
www.innerfacesign.com
Stewart Signs
A Stewart School Sign provides the essential means of communication between the school and its community, parents, students and teachers. Since 1968, Stewart School Signs has been providing quality signage to educational institutions across America. With more than 30,000 satisfied customers, their signs have proven to not only meet but exceed customers' high expectations. The company has recently added more than 40 new models to their Cornerstone line. They strive to provide each customer with the highest quality product at a reasonable price. Rest assured that when you choose a Stewart School Sign, your investment will last for many years into the future.
www.stewartsigns.com
SIGN*A*RAMA Messenger Sign
The downfall to changeable copy signs has always been that they are a prankster's dream, susceptible to embarrassing rearrangement and theft of letters. The new patented Messenger sign from SIGN*A*RAMA is designed so that pranksters cannot tamper with it. The two-part system has a removable letter cartridge and a fixed sign track. Simply insert each individual letter into the removable letter cartridge to form your message. Then, slide the cartridge into the sign track and lock it up. This lightweight, all-aluminum system allows the user to bring the letter cartridge indoors, encouraging frequent and effective message changes even in adverse weather conditions.
www.signarama.com
