wood vs alu signs

[Rodney Gold]

The aluminium will be far more durable outside in harsh conditions , wood warps etc.

[Simon Clayton]

I’m doing wooden panels at the moment, it take tons more labour, don’t forget paint, roller, brushes, space in your workshop and drying time.
Job done in perspex with frame, i quoted £1100, same job but in wood £1590.00
don’t think because its wood that it will be cheaper

Simon

[Gary Davis]

thanks rodney and simon.

do you think 250 sounds about right for the alu one? including fitting (1hr)

[Simon Clayton]

sounds about right….. dependant on how much graphics are going on it and what the ground conditions are.
you don’t want to get to site and find, two inchs of top soil and 10 inchs of solid concrete

Simon

[Robert Lambie]

i agree with whats been said, skip the wood idea, go for an alluminium panel, channel and clips, steel plastic coated road poles. 3m high 76mm diametre.
charge about £250 as you have said.. it will last until its taken down again… 😉

i am guessing you are buying this sign in ready made with poles? £110 sounds steep? ide say £55 would cover all costs.

[Gary Davis]

Hi rob,

yes buying the sign in already covered with vinyl to face, 3ft x3ft with channels and 2m posts, and base plates for bottom of poles. I will apply single colour graphics to it.
Just checked and its 120 inc the vat!
Paying 43 for the panel alone?

Can you recommend a cheaper supplier of these?
And how would you generally recommend pricing the alu signs when buying in? +50% and materials and labour?

[Nigel Fraser]

…. sounds like a job for ashby to me http://www.ashbytrade.co.uk is that where you got your prices from already ? £120 inc vat and carriage doesn’t sound too bad to me but i guess it depends if you are having the poles powder coated etc. but it’s on a par with what i’d expect to pay i think.
I would say you are about right with your £250 but it’s always a bit of a nightmare if you hit a problem when you start to dig 😉

Nigel

[Gary Davis]

nigel thanks for the advice, out of interest are there regulations for digging on commercial premises? i presume they should have a map of underground services?
would you need planning permission to replace a sign with one of the same size?

[Robert Lambie]

for 3m poles you will only need to go down about 24inches…
go to you local plant and tool hire place and hire a ground cat scan. just wave it different directions over the area you are about to dig in and it will pick up any wiring etc. there is a demo done on these types of signs in demo section if you need more info.
as for planning, dont get involved. let your customer do that, the job becomes more hassle than its worth. go out, erect the sign properly and get paid.
if the sign has to come back down then they can pay you to do that aswell if it comes to it.

im sorry if this doesnt sound like the most professional advice, but thats the general attitude i have with this sorta sign. if you have to get involved with planning permission and the like, then you should be getting paid for that side of things too… which is fair enough if you are. 😉

[Gary Davis]

thanks for the advice rob, will have look at the demo once i got access.