Most people only think about a sign when it’s missing, or when it’s crooked. A shopfront without one looks half finished, and one that’s hanging badly looks worse. Sign installation services sound like a small thing, someone turns up with a ladder and a drill, job done. But the truth is it’s a lot more than that, and plenty of business owners find out the hard way. This post goes through what’s involved, what to ask, what can go wrong, and why the fitting matters just as much as the sign itself. Let’s be real, a great design bolted on badly is still a bad sign.
What Does a Sign Installer Actually Do All Day?
Put simply: they keep your sign on the wall. I know, a bit of a no-brainer, right? Well, quality sign installers will do a site survey before even touching your sign, and will consider the wall type, the height it’s to be positioned at, the route (if illuminated), the power, and whether the surface can handle it. Brick, render, steel cladding, glass, each needs specific fixings, and if you get this wrong you’ll have cracked render, water behind the panel, or worse still, a fallen sign in a storm. Then they will consider the not-so-exciting parts of sign making that you probably never thought about, like routing the cable for illuminated signage, sealing the drill holes, checking they are level, and making sure they are plumb.
Why is planning prior to anything else?
Prior to the first drill hole going in, it’s planning. Measurements, mostly. Then more measurements. A sign 20mm out on a fascia looks odd, and you can’t put your finger on it but you know it is. Planning also includes the more mundane, such as access scaffolding or a cherry picker for higher signs, traffic control if the shop’s on a busy road, and ensuring the job’s done at the right time so as not to leave you off air for two days. Some jobs also require permission from the landlord. This stage is often left out by cheaper companies and it shows. Good planning saves you money, even though it feels slow at first.
Do You Need Permission Before Putting Up a Sign?
Many a time, yes. Planning rules in Ireland are council specific, location specific, building type specific. Protected structures and town centre conservation areas can be more restrictive, and actually recommending permission for projecting signs over a footpath can be a bit of a minefield. Size, lighting, height, all have a say. Don’t assume everything’s OK because your neighbour does it. They may have had permission, they may be doing it illegally and just haven’t been caught yet. A good installer will be familiar with your council or at least point you in the right direction. Honestly, it’s much cheaper to check than to take down and re-install later.
How Does Custom Signage Ireland Businesses Rely On Get Made?
The world of signage covering Ireland can include all sorts of signage from painted fascia boards to backlit signage, projecting wall mounted signage to hanging signage, company vehicle graphics and vehicle signage, window vinyls to large freestanding signage totems. All of this signage begins with the need and the brief and is then followed by a design process, the design process then culminates in a mock-up so you can see the actual signage on the actual building before it is created. Materials matter here; weather is a given with Irish signage with it being so wet and windy the salt air near the coast, so Irish signage needs to be created accordingly.
What do you need to look for when choosing a signage company?
Ask to see previous work. Actual photos, not just a nice picture from the internet. Ask if the same team will install the sign as create it, or you risk fingers pointing should it not be quite right. Ask if they have insurance, and have them tell you how they work at height, that’s important. Ask about their aftercare, if an LED strip goes in 8 months time who will be back out to fix it, a company that won’t answer you on that isn’t worth having. Cost is important of course, but prices that look too cheap probably are, so see what is and isn’t included.
Illuminated Signs, Are They Worth the Extra?
Depends on your hours. If you go after dark a lit sign is basically free advertising every night and in winter that’s most of the day! LED has by far surpassed the traditional neon and fluorescent in use as they are cheaper to operate and last a lot longer. Halo lit letters are more attractive but have a higher price point – just a nice glow around the edge. Simple face lit channel letters are the most used. The bit that most people forget is the electrics – they have to be wired up by someone qualified and it has to be to a standard so it’s not something you DIY on the weekend! Once it’s installed you probably won’t think about it for years!
Can You Install a Sign Yourself to Save Money?
You can attempt to. Small things, a floating board against a plain wall, at ground level? Maybe. Anything heavy, high up, or illuminated? No. Ladders are responsible for hundreds of injuries every year, and a hefty panel doesn’t just fix itself when you make a mistake. And what about insurance? Who pays if your DIY sign comes crashing down on somebody? It might be cost-effective to hire an expert sign installation company-because they have the safety measures, the warranty, and the fittings, but also the time you’d spend monkeying around is time you’re not getting paid for. Invest in your other parts instead, your marketing, your stock-just not something that looms over your people.
How Long Does a Sign Last, and What About Upkeep?
An outdoor sign can last 10 years or more if you look after it. No jargon or nothing fancy- clean it a couple of times a year, check all the fixings, top up the lights, keep the vinyl clean from algae on shady side, wash the salt off if you’re near the sea, give it a new lick of paint if it’s showing its age. It may seem like a lot of hassle, but it’s nothing compared to how good your sign will make your business look in the eyes of the world- even if it can be hard to believe people notice that stuff in the first place!
So, Is Professional Installation Worth It?
Yes. Not even a short one. Your sign may be the first thing a potential customer reads about your business – the first thing they ever see; sometimes before they see your prices, your products, your opening hours. So invest in custom signage Ireland companies can be proud of, then invest again to get it fitted correctly, safely and within the law. Think it through, do the research, find someone who’ll answer the phone once the sign is up. That’s really it. Not complicated, just difficult to get right until you’ve done it once and made the mistake.
