Designing a Sign:
It is vital to make sure that your sign
can be read. Speed of traffic & distance to viewer are the main criteria in sign selection & are based on “Rule
of Thumb” guidelines which are universal to the sign industry.
Walking Traffic – If you are
mainly in a neighborhood, you do not need a large sign, & your codes may restrict the sign of sign you can have. You will
need:
3” Changeable Letters
3’x4’ to 4’x6’ sign.
No lighting or even Cast Lighting should be considered for code issues.
25 to 45 mph Traffic – 4”
letters are a minimum, and 6” letters should be considered if there is a lot of “sign competition” in the
area, or the sign is set back from the road more than 30ft. You should consider:
4” to 6” Changeable Letters
4’x 6’ to 4’x 8’ sign.
Again, you may still be in a light
restricted sign area, however a lighted sign will always enhance you signs ability to be read.
35 mph to 50 mph Traffic - 6” letters are a minimum, and 8”
letters should be considered if there is a lot of “sign competition” in the area, or the sign is set back from
the road more than 30ft. You should consider:
6” to 8” Changeable Letters
4’x 8’ to 5’x 10’ sign.
55 mph Traffic or higher - 8” letters are a minimum, and 10” letters should be considered. Remember,
at 55mph, not only is text harder to read, the view has less time to read the message. A few lines of text is all you will
need, so make sure the Graphics portion of the sign is prominent & the changeable message is kept to a minimum. You should
consider
8” to 10” Changeable Letters
5’x 8’ to 6’x 12’ sign.
You may also consider elevating the
sign, or if budget allows, opting for LED messages to captivate your audience.
Orientation:
It is important to make sure the
sign is read perpendicular to the direction of travel, whenever possible. Some churches inquire about a single sided sign,
for cost savings…unless you are certain about your visitors ability to see your sign directly, be safe & stay with
the double faced sign.
Graphics, Fonts & Logos:
Keep it as simple as possible. Remember,
that readers only have a few seconds to read the information, so fewer words are better, for example:
“First Presbyterian Church of Springfield “ could be:
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN (In Large Bold Print)
Church of Springfield (In Small font)
Most people will understand that
you are a church, and if your church is in Springfield, this is something that can go without taking up too much space. The
idea is to “Identify & Separate” first!.
Fonts: As far as fonts go, again,
simple & easy to read is best. Decorative fonts are nice, but hard read from a vehicle. Trade names like “GE”,
“Home Depot”, these names are presented in Bold, simple fonts.
Logos: Most churches will use the
standard denominational Logo, & honestly, these make a huge impact identifying your church. If your church has a custom
logo, make sure it is going to be clearly displayed. Consult the Graphic designer with your sign company to discuss ways to
make your logo most readable.
Mounting of Sign
- Using the Sign Companies Structure: Most Sign Companies will provide sign that already come with Structural Columns,
or sometime referred to as erecting equipment. In general, this is the most cost effective way to go, and typically one of
your strongest options as well. You (or a contractor) will have to pre-pour a reinforced concrete pad for the sign. Steel
Bolts will be provided for you & set in the concrete when it is poured. Two things to avoid when choosing the structure
(1) Aluminum Columns should NOT be used: (a) since the strength of aluminum is about 70% that of steel (b) aluminum fatigues
over time much sooner than steel (c) though it will not rust, it does react adversely to concrete. (2) Direct bury methods
should also be avoided for the following reasons (a)
- Create your own Masonry Construction
- Attaching to the Building
- Attaching to an existing Structure
