Frequently Asked Questions
What is HDU? Why use HDU instead of wood?

HDU is high density urethane. This synthetic renwable foam was originally designed by NASA for use on the space shuttles. Over the years it has found its way into several industries, signs being one of them. HDU is a completely closed celled material making it impervious to the outside elements. It is not affected by water and will not warp, rot or crack. It is designed to handle extreme temperatures both hot and cold. HDU is molded in large blocks and then cut down into sheets, making it very consistent and reliable for both blasting and CNC routing.

How do I mount my sign?

We offer all sorts of installation hardware and brackets along with posts to make your installation easy and long lasting. A wall mounted sign can be drilled through to anchors, provided that you use an adequate sized washer on the face. For signs mounted between posts, we offer pre-installed sign mounting brackets that are epoxied in place during production or, you can bolt through to an angle bracket. We offer aluminum composite backers for added strength and support on larger signs. Post sleeves are available and can be painted upon request . We can provide you with custom brackets and embedded hardware as well. From basic installations to the ultra-complex, we have the solution for you.

When should I not use HDU? What are its limitations?

While HDU is a tremendous product and has some great properties it does have its limitations,  HDU does not have any structurability to speak of so any signs that need to span a distance or handle wind load need to have reinforcing. We have standard brackets and hardware to apply to different sizes to address these issues. Obviously, if you were to mount the sign to a brick wall there would be no problem, but if you want to mount a 4’ x 10’ sign between 2 posts, we need to look at what structural options are available to create a long lasting sign for you. While HDU is highly durable, it can be susceptible to vandalism. In these cases, aluminum composite backers can provide additional support and protection. For high-traffic or vandal-prone areas, we may recommend alternative materials such as PVC or HDPE.

How do you ship?

Smaller signs under 3′ x 4′ will ship via UPS ground and signs over 4′ x 4′ will ship via carrier freight. We do our best to make freight shipments as easy as possible for you, but please be aware of the folling items:

    • All freight quotes are based on business to business with dock access.
    • Carries will charge extra for a business deliver with no dock and require a lift gates, as well as deliveries that  are “limited access” meaning they are not a commerical delivery or residential.
How deep will you route my sign?

We generally route signs with depths that vary from 1/8″ –  1″ depending on the design and application. Routing allows for precsion and consistency for a smooth background, whereas blasting will have varying depths depending on the material.

What thickness do you offer?

Our typical thicknesses are 1″, 1.5″, &  2″. We have 3/4″ material for CNC routing letters and can laminate sheets together to create any thickess desired. We can special order just about any size that you many need, up to 12″  thick.

Can I get my sign faster?

We offer expeditied services that can reduce production time to as  little as one or two weeks, depending on order details and our current production schedule.

What materials do you offer?

We offer HDU (high density urethane), PVC, EPS, XPS foam, Aluminum, and HDPE.

What sign fabrication do you offer?

We offer custom faux gradient/painting, geninue handpainting, smalts, metallic paint, real metallic gold leaf, reflective powder, and custom hardware.

What paints do you use? What paints can match?

We use Matthews Paint system. We have a large library of paint colors and can color match any well known paint brands such as Sherwin Williams, Pantone, and Benjamin Moore.

What kind of art file should I send?

We require artwork to be sent in vector formatting such as EPS, Ai, and PDF. Any different kind of file please conact us, so our team can determin if we can use it or not.

Do you warranty your products?

Yes! We provide a five year finish warranty on all carved and textured signs systems, covering defects such as cracking, peeling, and fading under normal conditions. We do not warranty signs that have been improperly installed or damaged from acts of God or vandalism.

What do you mean by "Production Ready"?

Artwork files should be final and require minimal to no revisions. Upon submission, please feel free to include any questions or concerns for review.  To help ensure a smooth process, please address the following common issues before sending your file(s).

      • Correct Artwork & Dimensions
      • Correct Colors
      • Symmetrical Contours (Sign shapes, Borders, etc.)
      • Square Lines & Corners/Smooth Curves
      • Centered Copy and Graphics
      • Correct Spelling and Verbiage in you Text
      • Merger/Weld Graphics & Text
      • Image Quailty for Digital Prints (pixelation, color quality, etc.)