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Discussion Forum

Signs

JMadson | Posted in General Discussion on September 7, 2007 06:33am

I’m in need of some quotes for new entrance signs to my subdivision. I have no idea what type of company to call for this though. They’ll probably be wood and around 4’x6′. Where does my google search start?

 

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  1. DanH | Sep 07, 2007 06:49pm | #1

    I'd look in the Yellow Pages under "signs".

    So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
    1. JMadson | Sep 07, 2007 07:02pm | #2

      Smart azze.

      I would guess that I don't want a regular sign company though. Isn't this almost more of a landscaping function? 

      1. pino | Sep 07, 2007 07:08pm | #3

        You'd still want a sign company, so long as there is some kind of lettering, carving, painting involved. Not all sign companies produce sandblasted or carved wood signs, assuming that's what you're looking for.Look around for someone that specializes in that type of work as opposed to the typical electric sign.EDIT I just looked at your profile and see you're in the Chicago area. Check out both of these companies. They both do very nice work.http://www.woodensignco.com/ http://www.customcarvedwoodsigns.com/

        Edited 9/7/2007 12:13 pm by pino

        1. JMadson | Sep 07, 2007 07:44pm | #4

          Perfect, thanks pino 

      2. DanH | Sep 07, 2007 10:50pm | #5

        You look in the phone book, weed out the companies that just do billboards or just do plastic lawn signs, and the check out the rest. Some may have web sites listed. Once you've found one company that sounds good you can harvest it for some search keywords (brand names or whatever) to use with Google. May have to do two or three iterations, depending, but it's standard info-mining techniques.Not being smart-adz, just sharpening the adz -- showing you how to approach this sort of thing.
        So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

        1. JMadson | Sep 08, 2007 02:16am | #7

          Just so you know, I meant that in a good way ;)

          That was actually an answer I was expecting. I've been lingering around here long enough to know what to expect from the basic questions.

          We actually throw out our yellow pages when it comes, takes too much space. But then I also hate the internets yellow pages. Ever tried to look up printing companies on the internet? It's a world of misdirection.

          Pino's links above are actually pointing me in the right direction. One of the companies actually has a sign just down the street from me. I now at least know what I'm looking for.

          Thanks everyone.

          Joe 

          1. DanH | Sep 08, 2007 03:16am | #8

            Well, I still find the YP occasionally useful. Of course, ours is published with the white pages and only about an inch thick. Would be a bit different if it were one of those six inch monsters, I suppose.
            So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

          2. junkhound | Sep 08, 2007 05:52am | #9

            One of the local Seattle suburban Masonry suppliers sells precut brick signs, up to 10 ft by 10 ft. Have seen a few go up, think they sandblast them at the ayrd, then send out the code marked pallets of bricks. 

            You could check with local masonry suppliers.

            BTW, please don't put a name on the signs like "Jericho ESTATES", the name on a McMansion berg of about 30ea $600K houses, each with all of 4000 sq ft lots!!  What a joke. Right across the street from a mini mall and gas station.

            Edit:  Thought I could find a pix of one of the signs, will try to remeber to take a Pix of the one just outside the gates of the Newcastle plant of mutual materials. 

            Edited 9/7/2007 11:03 pm ET by junkhound

          3. JMadson | Sep 08, 2007 06:31am | #10

            My neigborhood is 30 years old, the original signs need to go. Outdated, falling apart and in need of major repair. Unfortunately, I can't go with anything stone or brick. The signs are in the easement between the sidewalk and a busy street. The city doesn't want anything permanent (meaning no footings) so we have to stick with something woodlike.  

          4. DanH | Sep 08, 2007 03:42pm | #11

            Frankly, that's a nice-looking sign -- kind of "confident" looking. I'd just replace it with something similar, or fix up that one.
            So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

          5. JMadson | Sep 08, 2007 04:04pm | #12

            The signs are beyond disrepair. Rot, too much paint and rusted bolts. There's a point that you have to cut your losses and I think we're there now. There like a girl you meet at closing time. They look good from afar, but far from good. 

          6. lwj2 | Sep 08, 2007 04:39pm | #13

            JM, dunno what those are made from but you might think about using one of the more rot-proof woods, such as cypress or redwood when you re-make them.Leon

          7. DanH | Sep 08, 2007 04:47pm | #14

            Might consider the plastic composites.
            So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

          8. JMadson | Sep 08, 2007 04:53pm | #15

            They lasted 30 years, I think that's pretty good. But alas, it's time for them to go. 

  2. User avater
    EricPaulson | Sep 08, 2007 01:36am | #6

    Talk to your local headstone engraver.

    The very same (or similiar) techniques that they use on stoen also works very well on thick wood slabs.

    [email protected]

     

     

     

     

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