Large scale building sign from Signs Express
News

Inform, persuade and identify. Just some of the key reasons for investing in your outdoor signage. With so many options to choose from, what are the best types of exterior sign for your business?

First, think through the following: 1. What do you want your signage to achieve? Each sign that you install should have a purpose. Knowing why you’re putting up a sign and what you want it to achieve is an important starting point for any project to ensure you end up with the right solution. Some common reasons for installing exterior signage:

  • Advertise your business/location or showcase your brand (e.g. fascia signs)
  • Communicate key messages (e.g. panel and post sign)
  • Engage and grab attention (e.g. illuminated signage)
  • Promote a product or service (e.g. banners or flags)
  • Welcome (e.g. monolith/totem)
  • Inform (e.g. health and safety notices)
  • Direct people to correct locations or navigate them between areas of a building (e.g. wayfinding signs)
  • Create a sense of familiarity or association (e.g. bespoke shaped sign)

2. What are your surroundings? Your surrounding environment can have a huge impact on your sign’s effectiveness and is an important consideration during the specification phase.

Polished finish Polished finish

For example, if you’re planning on using a gloss finish or polished material, your sign could display a reflection of your surroundings making it difficult to read. However, it also creates a sleek and modern look and so is a very desirable choice of finish. If you’re in a location with passing traffic or footfall at night-time, you may also want to illuminate your signage, which can help to differentiate your building from others in the vicinity. Lighting up your sign can also make a strong statement about your organisation. The location will also determine how much space is available and how the signage might need to be fixed. For example, wall mounted, fixed into the ground or freestanding.

High level building signHigh level building sign

If you’re set back from the road, you’ll want your sign to be positioned for maximum visibility and you could also look to add further signs to other aspects of your building for prominence from all angles. Certain types of signs and graphics may require planning permission. More information about this can be found here. 3. How much do outdoor signs cost? As there are so many options available, there is an outdoor signage solution to suit any budget. This will be discussed at the point of your enquiry so the specification of your signs can be customised to your requirements and available spend. When thinking about your budget, consider the lifetime value. Many of the signs we supply will be in situ for several years, so it is worth investing in a quality specification and a supplier you can trust. In some cases, you’ll also need to allow for installation costs in addition to the manufacture of the signage.

Acrylic plaqueAcrylic plaque

That said, a simple but stylish acrylic plaque, for example, can be supplied for as little as £50. Soft signage, such as banners and flags, are also very affordable advertising solutions. With so many variables, our outdoor signs are always fully discussed and scoped with you and quoted before orders are progressed. Let us help you choose the right outdoor sign With over 65 sign centres across the UK and 30 years’ experience, the breadth of expertise available at Signs Express ensures our customers’ needs are front of mind when specifying our products. Building signs, fascia signs and retail signs, to name just a few, are completed in their thousands each year by Signs Express. You can be assured that quality materials, adherence to health and safety along with stringent quality control are befitting of our role as one of the leaders in the industry. We’re also proud to be full members of the ISA-UK, powered by the British Signs & Graphics Association. There are too many signage options available to include all of them within this blog, so we’ve included just a few of our highlights. Looking for big impact, large scale signs which can be illuminated too?

Shop fascia sign Shop fascia sign

One of the most common options for outdoor signage is a fascia sign. This often includes a large panel or tray fixed to a building. Vinyl lettering, bespoke to your organisation, can be printed and applied for a cost-effective finish along with a variety of lighting solutions including spotlights or trough lighting. Fabricated individually cut letters, logos and shapes are another common, high impact, type of signage. These can be supplied flat cut or built-up for 3D effects and can also be illuminated using LEDs to provide a stylish outdoor sign solution.

Flex face signFlex face sign

Looking for a larger than average sign display? Consider a flex face sign. Comprising of a tensioned banner fixed to an aluminium frame, this sign system creates a lightweight and attention-grabbing building sign without any joins, plus it can be illuminated too. You’ll normally see these at larger out of town retail parks. Do you need a solution secured into the ground? Traditional panel and post systems most commonly comprise of a horizontal panel fixed to two posts installed into the ground and are available in many different shapes, sizes and materials. They are frequently used as entrance or directional signs and are a very versatile choice.

Illuminated monolith signIlluminated monolith sign

Alternatively, monolith or totem signs are structures which can be fully customised in shape, size, finish and specification making them a really attractive and popular option for customers who want to add the wow factor to their premises. Perhaps you’re looking for a temporary or short-term advertising option which complements your branding? Banners can be suspended from buildings, fixed via frames or directly to a substrate. Alternatively, a freestanding a-board is a very common mobile advertising tool. Promotional flags have also grown in popularity and can be weighted or fixed into the ground for stability.

HoardingHoarding

Hoardings offer privacy and security for construction and redevelopment sites whilst providing excellent advertising real estate for impactful marketing messages too. Replacing or refurbishing an existing sign? In some cases, it is possible to refurbish an existing sign with new branding, but this will only be agreed following a full inspection and site survey to ensure the integrity of the existing signage. We’re often called in by clients to offer advice and replace an existing sign. This opens a world of possibilities for our customer and we welcome the opportunity to show some examples of our work and talk through ideas with you. A solution designed just for you Whether you’re an independent business owner, a local authority organisation or a multi-site national business, Signs Express’ bespoke service is matched to your needs. More information on the wide range of outdoor signs available can be found on our website. Contact your local centre to arrange your no obligation quotation.

More like this

What our customers say

Rated 5 stars out of 5
We recently had Signs Express Gloucester install a new sign and window logo to our restaurant Caffè e Vino in Tewkesbury. From the first mo...
Davide Ventola
Google
Rated 5 stars out of 5
I don't normally write reviews, but felt i had to, in this case . ive just had 2 of my vans signwritten by signs express. the service ive h...
Richard Jones
Google
Rated 5 stars out of 5
Friendly staff who assisted at all stages from the planning to the final instalment of the signs! Highly recommend this local business for...
Farouq Ginwalla - i-phix
Google
Rated 5 stars out of 5
We needed an urgent job doing to replace part of our showroom entrance with red vinyl. Spoke to Lee and he managed to get someone down to i...
Baylis UK - Baylis UK
Google
Rated 5 stars out of 5
A great design and installation, I am very pleased with the results… When I started out self employed 6 years ago I tried a few different a...
Rick Owen
Google
Rated 5 stars out of 5
Fantastic service start to finish. Communication and drafting design ideas from Lee in the office was great, and a terrific fitting of the...
Chris Hughes
Google
Rated 5 stars out of 5
As a customer of Signs Express for over 15 years i can honestly say they have always gone above and beyond, above and beyond on every reque...
John Dowds
Google
Rated 5 stars out of 5
Absolutely delighted with the sign writing on the van - Lee is always so helpful and it’s better than I imagined it to be. Thank you 
Louise Taylor-Mackay
Google
Rated 5 stars out of 5
These guys are brilliant from initially sending through some artwork ideas to the final finished Van branding, everything was handled smoot...
Paul Rogers - Y100 Property Maintenance
Google
Rated 5 stars out of 5
Absolutely amazing business!!! Tom and his team were 1st class. Customer experience was excellent. They were quick, thorough and very exper...
Robert Miskin
Google
Rated 5 stars out of 5
We engaged Signs Express Harlow to design and fit signs above our business units, and we're very pleased with the outcome. Tom and Stuart w...
Joel Kingsbury - Utilities Support Engineering
Google
Rated 5 stars out of 5
Lee and his team have carried out over 20 van livery’s for us at Rickard Interiors. All carried out in a professional manner and a finish w...
Terry Rickards - Rickard Interiors
Google
Rated 5 stars out of 5
Excellent service from start to finish very pleased with what they all done to my van W.S.TODD PLASTERING 👍 
Wayne Todd - W.S.TODD PLASTERING
Google
Rated 5 stars out of 5
Good quality signwriting on our customers" vans. Quick response to all enquiries and excellent work carried out thank you Julie MPH Vehicle...
Julie Beighton - MPH Vehicle Solutions
Google
Rated 5 stars out of 5
Signs Express wrapped our three work vans the beginning of this year. We couldn't be more delighted with the outcome. A long process to ens...
Pheobe Clutton - Urban Creation
Google
Rated 5 stars out of 5
Great service from the team which included a site visit and installation of 3 pieces of signage. Very happy with the end result, thanks guy...
Jay Brooks - WeDoData.
Google
Rated 5 stars out of 5
We have used Signs Express Bristol twice in the last 3 years and can't recommend them enough. They helped tweak our design to ensure it wou...
Lisa Beard - Crossway Preschool
Google
Rated 5 stars out of 5
Great company, Roman was extremely helpful, nothing was too much trouble & very responsive with any queries we had. Highly recommend!! 
Elisha Wallace - C&B HIS Ltd
Google
Rated 5 stars out of 5
Right from first contact Signs Express Bristol have been helpful and efficient. The designs were sorted to exactly how I visualised them an...
Darren Mead - Clayro Ltd
Google
Rated 5 stars out of 5
Really friendly and professional people. It was a pleasure working with them. Created my signs and kept me informed at every stage allowing...
David Houghton - Drive 53
Google
Rated 5 stars out of 5
Ben did an amazing job providing the signs to go above our letting agency office PJP Patrick James Property in Bristol. Great value, great...
Damian Rooney - PJP Patrick James Property
Google
Rated 5 stars out of 5
We recently had internal and external signage created for our care home in Bristol, and the team was incredibly accommodating and helpful t...
Aastha Gupta - Cedar Care Homes
Google
Rated 5 stars out of 5
Absolutely fantastic! I needed a speedy service and they couldn’t be more helpful. Thank you Dan, Jay and Carly - really appreciated your h...
Julie Halliwell
Google
Rated 5 stars out of 5
Super fast service and great quality sign. Certainly will be using again. 
Oliver Coysh - Exploding Bakery
Signs Express