Our team at Dawn’s Sign Tech wants to make the Sign process as simple as possible for our customers. Below are questions we frequently receive. We hope this FAQ section helps you find some answers but it does not, reach out to us directly and we can help answer any questions!
1. Do I need a Permit for My Sign?
Usually, you do not need one for an interior sign, but sometimes your landlord would like to be made aware before we install.
For exterior signs, every town has different rules, but they all require that a permit be pulled. Some towns do not allow self-illuminated signs close to residential districts or in particular Zones or even, at all. Some towns will also require Design Review Board or Historic Commission approval before we can apply for the permit. If your sign is outside the parameters of what the town allows, then we have to go through Planning or Zoning Board of appeals (usually about 120 day process and approx. $1000 in additional fees) before we can apply for a permit.
2. What Should My Sign Be Made Of?
That will be dependent on how you want your sign to look, what the town allows and what your budget is. Read your lease carefully before you sign. The landlord may require that you have channel letters, but you didn’t budget 5K for your sign. Aluminum Composite Material (ACM) is a very cost effective and durable product but it also very thin and light weight so if you want something with a profile then you may need to look into having a box made or using a .75” pvc instead. The choices are almost endless.
3. What is the Best “Bang for the Buck”?
When it comes to a classy, clean look for a reasonable price, dimensional acrylic letters are economical and beautiful. The product we use comes with a lifetime warranty. They can be painted to match your color scheme, they can have a metal laminate (interior only) to give you that metal look without the metal price. There are many metal options for interior and exterior use as well and though they cost more than the acrylic, they are still a reasonably priced option. Some of those options can also be illuminated: halo (back lit), front lit and even side lit.
4. How Long Does It Take to Make the Sign?
There are many variables that will play into this: material availability, time of year, weather (being able to install or getting paint to dry in a timely manner), etc. Most signs will take 1-3 weeks in the off-season (winter) and 2-4 weeks during peak season. Carved signs will take 4-8 weeks to produce since they are labor intensive. Extruded aluminum frames will take 4-6 weeks due to low inventory.
5. Is Vehicle Lettering and Window Lettering Removable?
Yes, vehicle lettering and window lettering can be removed. It may not seem like it but a little heat, a scraper, a gentle touch and some adhesive remover will do the job.
6. What is the Difference Between Design Services and Layouts?
Design services usually means someone needs a logo designed from scratch or a complex design and text for something like a trade show or post cards. It is time consuming, and a lot of back and forth. For this kind of work we usually refer our clients to a graphic designer. They charge less than we do per hour (lower overhead), they are faster (we are surveying, pulling permits, fabricating and installing) and they can be more focused on you and what you want.
Layouts mean taking your existing logo and some minor direction from you on what you want your sign to say or look like. If a standard layout takes 15-20 minutes, we don’t charge for that time. However, if there are multiple revisions and multiple people involved we do charge for any time over the 20 minutes.
7. Why Can’t You Give Me a Quick Price Over The Phone?
Sometimes we can if it is for a product that has standard sizes, materials and costs, like coroplast yard signs. But if you don’t know the exact size, material or how high it needs to be installed there are a lot of variables that we have to take into consideration. And that takes time for us to research. The availability and price of many of our materials like extruded aluminum is fluid and changes almost daily. The cost of getting a bucket truck on site or an auger affects the price vs using shovels or a ladder. Transporting aluminum posts is easier than transporting granite posts. Dimensional letters are priced on the thickness and height of the material, not on the overall size, so there is a lot of information we need to be able to price your sign.
8. How will I Know What Material I Should Ask for?
You don’t have to know, that’s what we are here for. If you have a budget and an idea of what you want, we can make recommendations of what materials we can use, and show you pictures and samples of other work so you no longer have to guess what your sign will look like. We have samples of everything here so you can have a good close look and ask additional questions that will eventually bring you to the sign you imagined.
Contact Us Today!
Ready to get your business sign? Dawn’s Sign Tech is located in North Andover, MA, and can help your business get the sign it needs! Contact us to get the process started!
