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Help…
Hi guys/girls,
Christmas isn’t even here yet an I’m planning Januarys jobs – sad isn’t it !
Anyway, I didn’t have anything to do with this job when it was fitted, but the customer has asked me to quote for an investigation/repair or the illumination on this sign.
It has a flexible face (as you can probably see) which I have never had any dealings with, especially a circular one ! This face is illuminated with white neon inside the sign and there is also a red neon halo illumination. The red appears to still work but the white is mostly out of action.Any suggestions about the following-
1) Access is tricky due to the rough ground below – would a cherry picker be up to the job ?
2) How do you get access to the interior of a sign like this ?
3) How would you price up a job of this type ?
Any help appreciated….
Nigel
P.s. Sorry to post this in this forum – but am I right in thinking that you can’t post images in the general stuff ?
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6 Replies
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Hi mate
We have our own cherry picker so im not too clued up on up to date prices.. Allow £100 a day minimum rental though. Could be more..
You want a cherry picker with an extending boom & fly boom. Swivel bucket is also a help. You would park this on the concrete and boom out to the sign.Access to flex face signs is normally pretty easy. If it’s a proper one and not home made job. It should be on a hinge that pivets open to allow easy access for maintenance. Probably some screws on the lower area of the sign. Once released watch there isn’t anymore screws holding it firm before you start to tug it open. It can buckle the doorframe.
On some large signs they sometimes have a small crank that allows one operator to turn it and it slowly lifts the door open.
The good thing about flexface signs is they are designed for maintenance in mind. So I wouldn’t expect to many problems getting in.Lighting..?
Not a neon or electrical man myself.. If the halo is working then great.
If the white neon inside is done. Try taking the neon out and replace with fluorescent tubes and gear trays. Easy done.. Or simply install external “complete” fluorescent lights.
My guess is that the neon is still intact but maybe blown or the transformer has gone. Like I said. This isn’t my field.Pricing.
Well I think you should give two quotes.
One for estimated time to repair with minimal damage and another if the neon has to be replaced. Two hires of cherry picker, returning with replacement lighting etc.give it a good clean with soap and water.. watch the chemicals if any used. sometimes can effect the screen ink or digital print if made in this fashion
Hope this helps some
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Thanks Rob,
I assume what you say about the hinge type access would still apply to a circular sign of this type ?
Or do you think its possible that the whole face+frame comes off complete, in which case would you need 2 people in a cherry picker to handle it at this size (about 10-12foot diameter I think) ?The trouble with your fluorescent option is that the whole face is illuminated (including the red part), so you would struggle because of the shape, unless you fit progressively smaller tubes as you go out to the edge but this could get a bit messy with lots of different wattage gear trays. Worth giving some thought though.
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hadnt thought about that mate.. you could be right.
with regards to 2 men. i would make sure 2 guys on site anyway.
the cherry picker at the size you require will easily hold 2 men.flex face panels are normaly very light anyway.. but 2 men. yes!
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I think I would be asking myself why is the customer asking me to quote for this.
Ordinarily you would expect them to go back to the people that installed this in the first place, so you should ask yourself what are the problems associated with this sign?
One is obviously access – so make sure this job can be accessed without too many problems.
The other is the fact that this sign probably needs some investigation (and hence expense on your part) before you can properly define any costs involved in carrying out any work/upgrades they require.
With these facts in mind, make sure you price the work accordingly. If this means charging them to carry out investigative work then so be it.
Don’t let someone else’s problem become yours.
I suspect ease of access may be an issue here 😉
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Phill,
Good questions – They asked me to do a number of free standing directional signs initialy and when these were complete they said could I look at the main sign too.
Would like to think that was because I gave them better service than the other company (hope it wasnt anyone on the site 😳 )
As you say it could be a bit tricky, I wish I had Robs experience of this type of installation but its all an education I guess.
I will price the job in two parts, an investigation and a rectification (which will have to be later on obviously) I think to be safe I will allow a days labour for 2, plus the hire of the cherry picker.fingers crossed its not too windy or wet !
Nigel
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looking at your pictures again mate i think you are right. this is more a slid on lid than a door. you can see the large return/sides then a change of colour/shade of red.
if a door it could not pivet open freely with this size of return… 🙄
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