What is Involved in Making Channel Letter Signs
Channel Letter Signs are a popular, eye catching option for businesses looking to get noticed more at night and during the day. This type of signs offers cost-effective LED Illumination, bold and visible fonts and many color options to help your sign stand off your building facade. Most channel letters are lit, however you can have non-illuminated channel letters as well.
Channel Letter Sign Options
You have a few decisions to make to create your Channel Letter Sign. Here is what we need to know from you to build your sign:
What Mounting Method do you want for your sign letters?
Direct Mount/Remote Mount
You can directly mount each letter to the building creating a nice clean visible appearance. The down side of this application that we will need to put a number of holes in the building. Each letter/logo element will have mounting bolts as well as a wire or whip that goes throw the building. This can result in 3 or more hole per sign letter, depending on their size.
Raceway Mounted
Your letters can be mounted to a raceway which is basically an aluminum conduit. The letters are attached to the raceway which is generally about 6-8″ tall. The whips are gathered inside the raceway and come out at one location for entry into your building. We generally Pantone match the color of the raceway to the building so that it blends in and doesn’t interrupt the look of your sign.
Backer Mounted
In this case, a decorative panel is made that is a shape or larger piece that the overall sign. Similar to a Raceway Mounted set of Channel Letters, all wiring is inside the backer allowing for less holes in your building.
What Colors will the Sign Be?
When purchasing Channel Letter signs, you will select your colors for each component including: the Return (the sides), the Trim Cap (this holds the face to the sides), the Face Colors of the Letter, and the LED Lighting. Using a combination of colors or all one color changes the look and allows for you to get creative.
The faces of your channel letters can be stock acrylic which comes in several colors, or it can be coated in a translucent Vinyl color, or even a full color print on vinyl. Depending on your logo and branding, this allows you to match up your sign to your logo colors.
Combining your Sign Letters with a Custom Shaped Logo will further help your sign stand out.
What Color Lighting for the LED that lights your sign?
LED lighting comes in a variety of colors. The professionals will chose the right color LED lights to make sure you color lights the right color. White is very common with colored faces. LED lighting is also available in changing colors to create a really exciting look.
NOTE: Many towns don’t allow color changing lights that blink or change colors often, so be careful choosing this solution.
You can combine color options, faces, trim and returns on your sign to create the look you want.
Finally, some important items to check off your list when choosing a Channel Letter sign:
1) Make sure that lighted letter signs are allowed by your local bylaws.
2) Keep in mind that the wall the sign is attaching to should have sufficient blocking to support your sign. Particularly if the letters are large or if it’s on a raceway.
3) Be sure you have access in your ceiling, etc. to bring the wiring into the building. Steel beams and other issues can make it difficult to bring the wiring in and attach the sign.
4) Get a Permit. Enlist your sign provider to help you with permitting if you’re not sure how to do that. You will need both a Sign Permit and Electric Permit.
5) Hire an Electrician. Many sign companies do not do the final hookup of the sign to your electrical connection. You should hire a Licensed Electrician to pull the electrical permit and wire your sign.
6) Consider Adding a Timer and a Dimmer to your sign.
That should just about do it! All your decisions are made, now it’s time to get that sign up on the wall and let everyone know you are in business.
