Every fabricated order from this factory ships with the fixing accessories and a 1:1 scale mounting template. The template is the part that decides whether the finished sign looks straight, and it is also the part most likely to be thrown away with the packaging.
The four fixing methods
| Method | Used on | Needs | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back stud | Halo and channel letters | Drilled holes set out from the template | No adjustment once studs are resined into stone |
| Back screw bolt | Fabricated metal letters | Drilled and plugged wall | Bolt length must suit the wall build-up |
| 3M double-sided tape | Flat cut and lighter letters | Clean flat non-porous surface | Will pull paint off plasterboard later |
| PVC or foam bottom | Powder coated stainless builds | Flat surface | Adds depth behind the letter |
Using the template properly
- Check the template against the letters before drilling anything. It is produced from the same artwork, so any mismatch is a packing error worth catching early.
- Laminate it or cover it in clear tape if the site is damp. It is paper, and a wet template tears on the ladder.
- Tape it level with a laser or a long spirit level, not by measuring down from a ceiling that may not be level itself.
- Drill through the template, then remove it and clear the dust before offering up the letters.
- Keep the template after installation. If a letter is damaged later, the replacement has to land on the same holes.
Halo letters need a decision the others do not
On a backlit letter the stand-off distance, set by the stud length, controls how tight or soft the halo looks. It is a specification, not a factory default. The gap also has to be unobstructed: a deep skirting, a picture rail or a service run behind the letter will break the corona in one place and it will be the only thing anybody notices.
Illuminated letters: the cable is the weak point
The internal LED is waterproof. The hole in the wall where the cable enters is not, unless the installer seals it. That joint is where water ingress actually happens on outdoor signs. The transformer is supplied with the order; the mains run to it is site work, and the voltage should be checked against local mains before the crew arrives.
Leave the protective film on polished, mirror and acrylic faces until the letters are fixed and the drill dust is cleared. Removing it early is the most common way a letter gets scratched before anyone has seen it.
