Custom Signs & Plaques

Custom Signs & Plaques

Exterior building signs, interior wayfinding, room signs, dimensional letters and plaques, planned around where each one will hang.

Start Your Design

Signs and plaques should be chosen by where they live and what they need to do.

A lobby sign, a room identifier, an outdoor aluminum panel, a dedication plaque, and a temporary site sign all have different priorities. The right product depends on viewing distance, mounting surface, indoor or outdoor exposure, how permanent it needs to be, and whether the piece is meant to guide, identify, commemorate, or advertise.

Identify

Room signs, directories, building markers, unit labels, and office identification.

Direct

Wayfinding, parking, directional signs, site navigation, and visitor flow.

Present

Lobby signs, dimensional letters, acrylic panels, donor walls, and display pieces.

Commemorate

Cast plaques, dedication plaques, memorial markers, and recognition displays.

Choosing the right format

Four ways to build a sign.

Flat panels
Aluminum, ACM, PVC/Sintra, acrylic, or Coroplast panels work well when the sign needs a clean face and simple mounting.
Dimensional pieces
Raised letters, logos, and layered acrylic add depth for lobbies, reception areas, and exterior brand presence.
Plaques and markers
Cast bronze, cast aluminum, engraved plaques, and recognition displays carry a more permanent or commemorative feel.
Changeable information
Directories, tenant lists, name inserts, and room signs should be planned so updates are not painful later.

Materials and lifespan

The material should match the environment and the expected life of the sign.

Temporary event signs, storefront panels, lobby displays, and permanent plaques should not all be built from the same material. Weather, sun exposure, cleaning, mounting hardware, impact risk, and replacement expectations all change the best choice.

Short-term use

Coroplast, temporary boards, event panels, and budget-conscious displays can be ideal when the message changes often.

Longer outdoor use

Aluminum, ACM, acrylic, reflective films, and proper mounting choices become more important for exterior signs.

Permanent recognition

Cast plaques, engraved plaques, donor walls, and dedication pieces should be planned for legibility, mounting, and long-term presentation.

What changes the price of a sign

Size, wall and hardware drive the price as much as the graphic does.

Size and viewing distance

Letter height, contrast, and layout should be based on how far away people need to read the sign.

Mounting surface

Drywall, brick, concrete, glass, metal, posts, standoffs, and exterior walls all need different planning.

Finish and hardware

Paint, print, laminate, engraved text, standoffs, posts, holes, frames, and changeable inserts can all affect the final build.

Artwork and approvals

Get the layout, files and site details right first

Readable layout

A sign can look attractive and still fail if the text is too small, too low contrast, or crowded at the actual viewing distance.

Logo and brand files

Dimensional letters and cut vinyl are cut from vector outlines, so a vector logo (AI, EPS, SVG or PDF) saves redraw time.

Site context

Photos, measurements, wall material, existing hardware, and nearby signs help avoid surprises before fabrication.

Sign planning

Questions that shape the finished sign or plaque.

Most sign questions can be answered from a few good photos.

Are plaques considered signs?
Sometimes they function like signs, but they usually belong in a plaque or recognition path because the material, finish, tone, and permanence are different.
Do I need a site visit?
Not always. Clear photos and measurements are enough for many projects, but mounting, exterior locations, or complex layouts may need more review.
Can you match existing signs?
Often, yes. A close-up photo of one sign with a tape measure in the frame, plus a photo of the wall it hangs on, is usually enough to start.
What affects outdoor lifespan?
Material, print method, laminate, sun exposure, mounting, cleaning, wind, moisture, and physical impact all affect how long a sign stays looking good.