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monolith concrete foundations? & 3D lettering
Hi everyone, been reading the demo’s and has got me interested in the bigger sign work. This is really only out of interest as dont really do work of this scale and would like to learn how its done.
Firstly ive been looking at lots of signage (as you do!) recently and noticed the large monoliths (i believe there called) outside large supermarkets and filling staions etc seem to be bolted to the ground?
Having read robs demo on putting sign post up i was interested to know what kind of foundations these signs have, is it a steel frame buried that the sign is then bolted to? They all seem to have stood up to the recent windy weather so fugured the foundations must be pretty hefty!Secondly, i recently had to turn down a job as the customer requested 3D stainless steel letters that are raised and internally lit. Is this a very involved job or could the letters be bought in pre-wired with lighting???
Lastly (if youve got this far!) ive read how letters are positioned on locators demo and cant wait to have a go, but how are the ones that are just stuck to the wall aligned? As you have no locators to mark with?
any advice would be great.
cheers -
8 Replies
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quote :but how are the ones that are just stuck to the wall aligned? As you have no locators to mark with?When i get these to do i get the company who cut my letters to make a template out of 3mm foamex and position the letters inside the cutouts (does that make sence?) usualy u can get away with using scrap material so the material is cheap and it’s offset to the job anyway.
Or u could use masking vinyl with a small 2mm boarder, weed out the letters stick that on then glue your letters inplace and remove the cut mask.
thats what i do anyway 😕
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The pole signs you’ve seen bolted to the ground, are attached to a root cage which are usually a framework of angle with threaded bar protruding to attach the base plates, this is set into as you say a hefty piece of concrete, usually of what seems an enormous volume. The dimensions of the footing are usually determined by an engineer, which is why they don’t usually fall over in the wind.
The built up letters, depending on how they are illuminated are not rocket science but are more involved than most types of sign, these types of sign are our main business, so would be more than willing to advise you.
The flat cut non locator letters bonded with vhb,we normally just use a straight edge with the spacing marked on it. -
Mort,
that sounds a complected way of lining op your 3D letters!
the firm i get mine from charge 10% on top for a brown paper template(which includes the locator’s)
which has all the locator’s marked on each letter.
all you do is choose a non windy day and tape the template onto the wall
line it up & then drill your holes through the template, put your plugs into the wall & screw the locator’s in. all thats left before you mount the 3D letters is tear down the template.3D letters without locator’s are just the same but the outline of each letter on the brown paper is cut out carefully with scissors for you to fit the 3D into
long john -
thanks guys, mort that answers my question thanks!
long john i was referring to positioning flat cut lettering without locators,thankyou though for advice on positioning of locators.elitesigns, i would of liked to have taken the 3D letter job on but my main concern was installation of them and all there lighting, could you say provide them mounted (to alupanel or aluminium -not sure what the standard is for these!)and already wired up to there transformer.
I could then just mount the panel complete with letters?
Or is this the wrong way to go about it?
As for the illumination im not very familiar with the different types but from the customers spec the letter would be internally lit and on locators so they have a backlit ‘halo’ effect if that makes sense! -
the supplier of the letters will create you a template to go by for the letters, just remember to ask for one as they tend not to include unless asked for.
internally lit letters arent that hard, i did some recently using led’s, “see recent post on this, via search engine”
as has already been said, the way these signs are fitted are completely different to the way a 3m pole would be fastened… it’s always stated in the drawings the depth etc these signs should be set, your better getting an excavator in to dig coz by hand you will be there for ever 😕 but its not impossible… ide imagine each leg of the sign taking about a cubic square metre of premix concrete from a concrete truck, spilled into the holese with steel grid frame for reinforcment. as craig says the pins will be sitting proud from the concrete. you will also need a hi-ab truck rented to transport and lift the sign into position.
you will also need a trench excavated to run from a power source out to the sign via armoured cable etc… again, if you are doing this yourself, make sure a proper spark is there to make sure you have done everything right and let him do all the wiring…hope this helps some…
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thanks rob, had a look at the LED job you posted, did you fabricated the brushed letters yourself? If not could you recommend a trade supplier of these?
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for those stainless builtup jobs i have been using phoenix signs 01843 228682
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You could have a relatively small sign already assembled almost ready to go, but the problem with for example a shop fascia sign with s/steel built ups, the weight of the finished sign wouldn’t be easy to lift.
Letters mounted to panels like you suggest, we normally have all the back trays fitted and cabled as much as possible, then fit the glass and letters on site.
Regarding which way to go on illumination methods we always use neon for all but the smallest of letters, because we have our own glass shop, but if you’re not familiar with neon installs you’re probably safer sticking with led’s, one problem with them is for large letters with white illumination they get incredibly expensive. Its worth experimenting with led’s aswell to make sure you get the disired results.
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