Things may have changed, however an Englishman’s home is still his castle, and house signs remain one of the finest ways of giving where you live its unique appeal, especially if your home has a similar look to the other buildings in your street. And, if your house has a name which is special to you, there’s no finer way of showing it off than with a customised sign.

One study has actually shown that the correct house sign can pro-actively enhance the market value of a home.

Wooden house signage with hand-carved letters, images or numbering is, of course, enormously popular and looks fantastic. Oak, for example, is incredibly durable, and, one of the best timbers available for home signs. Over time, it acquires even more character, without ever rotting. For a smarter look, you may want to consider a varnished finish. Cherry and cedar can also be used in signs on the outside of houses.

With custom signage, you can copy logo’s or photographs on to your sign, or create something new to suit your tastes. You can let your creativity run riot!

Lettering can be hand-carved in a traditional way, and you can add colour to them to improve clarity. You will have to decide on a typeface – Roman Trajan is one example of a very popular typeface for wooden house signs – and whether you have capital or lower case letters, or title casing. Of course, you’ll want visitors to find your house easily, so clarity is very important.

If you are going for gold lettering, make sure the final sign is gilded with real gold leaf, and never gold paint.

If you want an alternative to wooden house signs, think about stone such as marble, slate or granite. But bare in mind that carving can be limited to simple drawings. But it’s hard to think of a more durable material.

Ceramic often gives a traditional feel, and lasts very well when mounted on a wall, but there is less scope for carving and sculpting. If you drop it as you’re mounting it on the wall, a ceramic house sign may shatter.

For a more contemporary feel, consider an acrylic sign. Acrylic may not be the most long-lasting product, and there’s less scope for sculpting and carving, but it is light and inexpensive.

Similarly, cast metal signs such as those made from aluminium, brass or iron may loose their tarnish after a few years. The artwork you can have on these signs tends to be limited, since a custom made mould is required, but metal remains a popular choice because of its appealing and striking appearance.

Whatever you decide on, it should suit the appearance of both your home and its neighbourhood. To assist you, look for professional makers of custom made home signage, and ask for a full-colour print-out so you have an accurate idea of how the finished product will look.

Only with the experts can your creative flair be transformed into a true work of art!!

So street signs are a bigger part of the history of Britain and our cultural life, than you could have thought.

(Did you know, for example, that in 1940 they were removed under the threat of an invasion?)

And they should always do much more than only tell a visitor where they are – street signage can actively enhance an area’s unique atmosphere.

Road signs in Great Britain broadly comply with EU standards, although some are particular to this country. They are governed by a set of complex and detailed guidlines, and made using specialist computer software.

Street signage, on the other hand, are not legally considered as road signs. This means that city councils and other bodies responsible for them have a great amount of flexibility in how they are designed and where they are placed.

Street signs can be attached to a building, wall, signpost or lamp column.

As a convention, the typeface Transport is often used on street name signs. That mixed-case typeface is utilised on all other permanent fixed road signs except route numbers on motorway signs.

There are two versions of it: Transport Medium (for light words on dark backgrounds) and Transport Heavy (for light backgrounds and darker text).

In addition, it is also quite usual to see street signs with the serif font created by David Kindersley in 1952.

Of course, the great thing about having custom street signs for your area is that you could have far more control over the entire process. And it’s only by customising yours that you can really have it looking exactly the way you would want it. You’ll need to think about keeping your bespoke signage sympathetic with the location.

A street of lovely village cottages, for example, should be signed quite differently to a street near a bustling city or town centre. And, if you are in Wales, you may want to consider having your street names in both English and Welsh.

Look for a custom manufacturer with a vast experience, and ask to see customer testimonials and samples of previous work.

And find out how the maker guarantees the quality of the work. What will they do if you are unhappy with the work they make? Ask about the equipment they work with – will they use the latest digital technology to create the perfect street sign?

Lastly, your budget is going to be one of your considerations. But you might be pleasantly surprised to find just how affordable custom street signs could be.

You will be able to find out more about street signage, and begin researching custom sign makers, online now.

For most land-based businesses, custom signs are one of the most important ways of getting their brand head and shoulders above the competition, especially in a busy high street. Because, of course, the main point about bespoke signs is that they are unique. Especially if a new brand is establishing itself, this kind of signage are very important.

A modern bespoke sign can do a huge amount of hard work on your business’ behalf, and it is astonishing just how much it can contribute to the way your organisation is perceived, and to the building up of a strong company. These signs are tailored to individual businesses’ budgets as well – another benefit if you do not have a huge amount to commit when you’re looking to buy signs.

They are increasingly used in a wide array of settings, including shops and window signs, banners at trade shows, display banners, building signs, advertising and commercial signs. Its vital that you choose a sign maker interested in more than doing a ‘rush job’ and finishing the job as quickly as possible. The best sign makers take real pride in their work, and the time to discuss the needs of their clients. There is a huge amount of expertise involved in creating the ideal custom sign, including mathematical and engineering as well as creative skills.
While it may be tempting to imagine you can produce a custom sign yourself, the reality is that without the right knowledge, you’ll definitely struggle. Equally, if you are thinking about having custom signage, consider precisely what you want it to say, and how that message will be conveyed.

Like anything else, when it comes to custom made signs, the devil is in the detail. You’ll need to think about what colour to have, and consider what images, if any, you would like on the sign. The typeface you choose also plays a vital part in the finished design; neglect this detail at your peril. While it could seem tempting to go for capital or bold letters, overdoing both can tire the readers eyes, so treat with caution.

Another thing to steer well clear of is curved, scrolled script. This will look great on a gilt-edged invitation card, but isn’t clear enough for a sign which needs to be understood rapidly. With literally hundreds of typefaces to choose from, the choice can feel overwhelming. But, essentially, typefaces can be divided into a few broad categories, including whimsical, child-like, classic, professional or retro. The choice will depend on the feel of your particular company.

For most professional sign makers, sans serif fonts are the they choose. Whilst a serif style adds little lines to the tops and tails of letters, sans serif fonts do not, making your sign far easier to read.

custom signs uk

Signs are one of the most effective ways of grabbing clients’ attention, whether you want people to spot your business, position or latest deal. You might also require event signage, in which case they of course have to be clear so that people can be guided around effectively. Health and safety, as well as emergency signs, need to have high visibility, while for example signs in the reception area of your company give one of the very first impressions visitors will have of your organisation.

Far too many businesses lose trade and therefore income with ill-thought out signage which have been put in the wrong location, or are poorly designed, spelt or delivering the wrong message.

When you are thinking about signs, there are numerous things to take into account, from whether to go for a traditional or contemporary look to where you are going to position your signage and whether you would like it to be illuminated or not. So not only do they not get spotted, or get seen for all the incorrect reasons, but the money spent on their signage is effectively wasted. If you decide to go for the illuminated option you may have to think about planning permission, and sign making experts can assist.

You also need to consider whether you want to go for built-up or flat-cut letters, or LED or 3-D ones, as well as whether or not these can be lit. At this time, you must consider what colour to have, another vital aspect of all signage.

When you start to look into it, you understand how many different materials there are for signs from vinyl to acrylic, plastic and Perspex or metals including steel and aluminium. Then there is wood, polystyrene and sign making foam, to name a few others! A custom signage company can help you choose, depending for what you need your sign, and what you want it to say about our business.

That is why its essential to go for bespoke signs crafted with precision tools and the best possible materials, to your specific specifications, and with more than a dash of creativity!

Whichever custom signs company you go for, ensure they take through the time to discuss what you require in detail, and can offer the individual attention and quality finish your business needs and deserves, from initial survey to concept and design right the way through to installation.

Equally many providers of custom signs in the United Kingdom use the latest technologies, such as digital printing, to tailor make the perfect product to get your business seen.

Only with spot-on custom-made signage can you spread the message you want, to enhance your brand and organisation. Its a good idea to start looking around at existing signage (they are everywhere after all) to get a feel for what you think works and what doesn’t.

Whether you’re a small company or a large company, whatever you need your signto say, ask the experts before you do anything else.

Archer Safety Signs are specialist suppliers to the Construction Industry and the Public Sector … supplying the UK and internationally. Click here for more information about our custom made signs.

Take some time to think about your custom sign carefully ...

Know that you require a custom sign for your business, but you’re unsure how to approach it?

Here are five crucial elements you need to be aware of in order to create the ideal custom business sign:

1. Message

What message are you wanting to communicate, and how could you do that in the most concise way possible?

Bear in mind, signs tend to be read at a glance, so it’s crucial to get what you want to say across as quickly as you can.

It’s also important to ensure it is clearly understandable, and doesn’t mean people are left wondering what you meant or feeling otherwise confused.

2. Type

What type of sign is it? For example, you might be:

• Warning people
• Selling something
• Giving something away
• Reminding people
• Creating your business ’branding’ or identity

3. Colour

What colours will you use on your custom sign? Think about the importance of colour to signage in general – for example, red background signs grab people’s attention and can be used to warn or even order people to carry out a certain action (like a Stop sign), yellow can sometimes be used in a similar way, whereas signs with a white background tend to be informational (for example,street or directional signs). Blue signs can look authoritative and perhaps trustworthy.

Or perhaps you intend your sign to match the colours that are used for say your business logo - or if your business logo is to be used on the sign, a white background might be the most appropriate way forward.

4. Size and Shape

Signs come in all sizes and shapes and can often be made to your specified shape, but you need to think about the what your sign will be used for when deciding on the shape.

A rectangular sign is usually the most appropriate for businesses to use for various purposes, but it’s possible that say a circular sign might grab more attention depending on how you intend to use your sign.

In terms of size, think about where your sign will be positioned - and not just the size of the sign itself, but also the size of the lettering. Is it intended for your sign to be studied by people up close, or does it need to be readable by people some distance away.

5. Contact Details

You might need your sign to include your contact details – if so, have a think about which contact details you want to be on there, and which you will exclude.

The most obvious one of course is your telephone number … but will you also include say an email address, a website, and/or your physical address?

You might even want to add on the address for your Twitter account? (Increasing numbers of business people are adding their Twitter address to their business card for example - would you want it on your custom sign?)

Hopefully this post gives you lots to think about when ordering your custom sign - go through each point carefully to work out what your requirements are for your own sign.

Is there anything else you can think of that needs to be considered when ordering your own custom sign?

A selection of traffic signs you might wish to order

It’s often a daunting process when placing an order for traffic signs, especially if it’s the first time you’ve ever done it. But in fact, it’s a whole lot more simple than it may appear to you at first – just ensure you approach a quality supplier, and they will generally guide you through the whole process, and be able to advise you as appropriate.

Just a quick note to start with though – please bear in mind the following guidelines only apply to those placing an order for road signs from the UK. If you live elsewhere, you need to ask your own regulatory authority to get the right advice.

So what is the main mistake that can be made when placing an order for traffic signs for placement onto a public highway?

In brief, ordering road signs from a company which doesn’t manufacture them in accordance with Department for Transport rules. (Told you it would be simple, remember?)

Most companies of course will do so if they are intending to remain in the sign business for any length of time, but it remains your responsibility to always make sure that the signs you receive will fully comply with all the relevant regulations and rules.

In fact, a reputable UK-based road sign manufacturer will have signs for sale that comply not just with British but also with European Quality Standards, so remember to ask about this before choosing your supplier.

The most reputable suppliers will be able to provide every sign detailed in The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 publication – so you’ll literally just need to inform them as to precisely which sign(s) you are seeking.

To produce the signs, your supplier will need to refer to working drawings, relevant sections of the Traffic Signs Manual and additional sources of relevant information supplied by the UK’s Department for Transport on their web site – there are precise specifications for elements like the alphabet to be used (lettering style and so on), distances between arrows and other images on a sign, the spacing between lines, and more.

However suppliers with many years of experience in the sign industry will know exactly what they are doing and will doubtless have supplied the same or similar sign several times before, so you can simply leave it in their capable hands.

Most suppliers nowadays use digital printing technology to produce custom signs onto the required material, and delivery times are often rapid.

As you’d expect, the same regulations do not apply for traffic signs that are private road usage, but if traffic safety is your responsibility, it would seem logical that the same rules are adhered to so as not to cause driver misunderstanding.

Hopefully with the above information you should now be able to buy the traffic signs you need with full confidence.