who are the best suppliers for free standing site sign?

[Mike Rogers]

Hi

First of all I would check what components are needed :

Dibond or Coloured foamex – I would go for dibond but the tracking on the reverse would probably support a foamex sign.
Tracking for the back – two pieces per sign lengthwise
76mm Clips x 4 per sign i.e 2 per pole
76mm diameter poles x 2 per sign.
Plastic Caps for tops of poles

Here in North east we use company that supplies poles by the metre and the tracking in 3 or 5 metres lengths plus the clips so depends whether you can find similar company locally. I think the poles worked out at about £8 per metre and the tracking I forget but about £3 or £4 per metre and the clips about £3-4 per pair. We charged about £16 per metre for the poles and about £6 per metre for the tracking and £6.95 per pair for the clips.

Ideally get the contractor to fit the poles if you can – even if he puts up wooden sleepers then thats all up to him and if they blow down your OK.
If you fit ask about anycables/pipes underground where the sign goes and be prepared to find them even if you are told there is none. The last signs/poles we did on a building site were 3 x 5 metre poles with a 4metre x 2 metre dibond sign – the contractors were red hot on Health & Safety – Had to do an H & S Induction and needed hard hats, high visability jackets and safety boots and asked loads questions about experience, date of births and nearly inside leg measurement – the site guy was a ‘jobs worth knob’ who enjoyed making people squirm. The site was closed the day we fitted the sign to the poles but still had to go through induction and wear all the gear despite no other workmen being there.

The last company I was employed by despite my expressed concerns just used VHB tape to put tracking on back. They should be popped riveted as well. We usually fit full length tracking about 6″ in from top and bottom – on the 2 metre sign above we put a 3rd tracking along the centre.

I would try and sink the poles 30″ + in to ground with recommended concrete mix for poles. Ensure they are straight vertically and all same height. Some companies put concrete mix in dry and leave a couple of days to soak up the water from the soil although I prefer to put the concrete in moist so you know the mix will go off right through.

Do you want the sign to be above the 7 foot fence if so you will need at least a 4 metre pole with 3+ metres above ground to get bottom of sign over top of existing fence.

How strong is the existing fence can you not fix to that – just a thought.

I am sure others do things slightly different but the main thing to worry about especially as we seem to be getting stronger winds with climate change is the fitting of the poles in to the ground.

Hope this helps or at least sparks off some comments

Good Luck

Mike

[Jon Fields]

Mike..Thanks for your reply.Very informative. I would prefer the contactor fits the sign. I was wondering if there needs to be any “supports” behind the poles to make it more secure..Ashby’s are quoting for the materials..so all we need to do is letter it accordingly, however the contactor is wanting some advice re siting the poles etc..To be double safe I have considered offering this to another sign company that I know would be right up there street..then maybe i ll sleep.. (sleep)
But I have studied many of these and the construction of them looks pretty straight forward.i suppose it’s due to the size and height of it.that is making me more cautious.

thanks

Jon

[Mike Rogers]

Jon

All I can tell you is that most of the poles I have seen or help erect have just be inserted in a prepared hole filled with concrete and no supports. The guy who did the last one for me dug a hole (with shovel and something that looked like chopsticks with two spade ends on the bottom which closed together to lift out the soil) about 34″ and about 12-15″ diameter put the pole in and filled with concrete/gravel. We were lucky in that near the bottom was good quality ballast from the adjacent new footpath which would have helped the concrete get a hold especially as it was a devil to dig through. These poles were rock solid and rose 4 metres above ground. I personally would not have done that job myself although for a 2 metre high sign would have no hesitation.

The contractors had a smaller sign on poles next to this one but they must have dug a trench presumably with a jcb and filled it with concrete so it was 2ft wide and about 4 feet long probably 2′ deep with the poles sticking out. If your client has a jcb he could dig a deep enough trench and you would just have to stick the poles straighten them and fill with concrete

Even with someone else doing it I still lost a little sleep because of the height of the sign and checked my public liablity insurance was up to date a few times. My advice is get your experience on a smaller sign another day – on this one get someone else to fit the poles and watch them.

By the way I got a quote of a local builder to fit the poles and he wanted silly money over £550 yet the guy who fitted it was a landscaper who has done similar work in the past for another sign company who charged less than £175. HSS rent out hole diggers at about £70 a day which made a hole about 700mm deep I seem to recall whioch at one stage I contemplated. A bit like a cork screw with an engine on – saves some back breaking work.

Perhaps I should have mentioned I checked the site before quoting where the poles were going to be to see what the ground was like – soil or old foundations or even swampy.

Mike

[Mark B]

I am also in the North East Mike
Whats the company you use for poles, clips etc
I have also been asked for a free standing sign and having great difficulty find someone who can supply the parts at sensible prices or is £600 the norm for 4 x 2.5m poles?

mark

[Mark B]

I am also in the North East Mike
Whats the company you use for poles, clips etc
I have also been asked for a free standing sign and having great difficulty find someone who can supply the parts at sensible prices or is £600 the norm for 4 x 2.5m poles?

mark

[Mike Rogers]

Mark

The company is called ADS Metal Services of Chester Le Street (they used to be called Klockners)

I thought I had an invoice at home with prices phones numbers etc. but must be at office

If you have trouble getting numbers let me know on sales@prestigesigns.co.uk and I will dig out for you.

We just opened a trade account but until then they fax you a pro forma invoice which you then post back with cheque and delivery follows soon after that.

They do various size poles coated and galvanised and a range of clips sizes.

Need any more info just ask

Mike

[Mark B]

Thanx for that, found their web address it’s http://www.asdmetal.co.uk but not working at the moment, I’ll give them a ring Monday.

Thanx again

[L J.]

I have used Klockners (asd) for a couple of years now, cannot fault them. The depot i use is the one at Sheffield. Actually got invited to look around a couple of weeks ago. I was amazed how many different sign makers use them, going by all the piles of posts, panels etc lying around waiting to be delivered with address labels on.
It was good to see all the available types of posts & panels they have available, cheap as well.
I have found in most cases it is cheaper in the long run to use white anodised road traffic quality ally panels for most outdoor signs instead of perspex or foam board. The customer likes the idea & you can jack up the price as well. These panels don’t actually cost much more than foam board & certainly a lot cheaper than perspex.
When you order the panels don’t forget to ask for radius corners (H & S)

L J

[Jon Fields]

Is it possible to make the sign in two pieces..1.2 x 1.2 (x2)..if so how would it join together..

Thanks again..some very useful helpful reponses.

Jon

[Jon Fields]

OH YES..forgot to ask what kind of price should I be quoting for this job assuming i am not fittng it..

Jon

[L J.]

quote solution signs:

Is it possible to make the sign in two pieces..1.2 x 1.2 (x2)..if so how would it join together..
Jon

I have made a sign similar size but in portrait (very tall).
this was made by asd in 2 halves. the bottom half had an additional piece at the back on top where the top section just sat in the slot, perfect.
It should be very similar on the landscape one but you would probably need a post directly behind the join.
L J

PS price: i would need to phone asd 1st then at least triple the price if not fitting.

[Mike Rogers]

Jon

Pricing – you will never get the same figure twice.

Depends on customer as well plus you are doing two signs so price for two might reflect saving in materials etc.

Dibond – we charge up to £5.50 square foot. I managed to get a 4m x 2m x 3mm sheet white dibond for £148 so cost worked out at £1.90 sq foot if my maths right so there is a lot of flexibility for profit there.

Tracking – We charge about £2.50 per foot fitted – (pop rivetted to sign)

Clips – £6.95 per pair 76mm

Poles – All Signs safety catologue from memory have retail at 1.5 metre – £35 ish and 3 metre £57 ish so I would say charge around £16 – £18 per metre for your pole. Depends on what you buy pole in at but you should get at about £8 – £10 per metre.

Caps about 90p each – All Signs brochure

Plus the cost of your graphics at whatever rate you charge and add a bit in for delivery to site even if just a £10 – no body does free delivery these days in whatever industry

Hope this helps but as it has been said before on these forums there are flucations in price in different regions. The last company I worked for effectively charged on the basis of cost plus 80% – lost a few but got more than she lost.

I cannot remember who it was but many years ago a guy not in the sign industry said he charged on the basis of cost plus 30% for him and 30% for the tax man always stuck in my mind that. I transgress.

Hope this gives you a starting point

Mike

[Jon Fields]

Yes thanks mike it does give me a starting point, and a lot to consider..
LJ do you have a Contact for ASD if possible..what kind of turn round do they have?

Jon

[L J.]

they seem to deliver twice a week to a given area, mine is wed / fri

Steve cooper @ 01142 341561
hope this helps.
Tell steve, john from rainbow graphics gave you the number, then he might charge you twice as much 😀

usually 3 days turnaround

L J