Customers form an opinion of a shop long before entering or reading reviews. A shopfront sign is a large factor in this process and usually happens in the span of seconds. In the case of hand-painted signage this means that the sign requires special attention from the business owner.
Sign Frontage Says Things Without Words
Any hand painted signage speaks volumes about the company it represents. Hand lettering implies care, time and dedication to make something good. All those qualities are very important for cafes, barbers, florists and independent shops.
The style of lettering is an equally important factor as the words. Graceful script is suitable for bakery and boutique shops, whereas block letters go better with workshops and hardware shops. Using the wrong style sends a confusing message to the passerby.
Consistency is the key to a successful sign. A painted window will have much more impact if it goes well with menus, employee uniforms and the company website. The sign becomes a part of brand identity instead of just a decorative element.
How Painted Signs Stand Up to Australian Sunlight?
UV exposure in Australia is among the most intense in the world and signs are not an exception. North and west walls receive the most damage during the summer period. All materials used in a shopfront undergo changes because of exposure.
Vinyl graphics usually show visible signs of wear and require replacement as they age. Lifted edges, cracking and uneven fading become common. Replacing a vinyl sign means removal and recreation of the whole graphics.
A painted sign done on a properly prepped surface reacts differently to sunlight. It usually fades with time but does not peel off in stripes. A sign painter can easily touch up the faded areas and leave the rest of the sign intact.
Council Rules That Apply to Every Sign, No Matter If It’s Hand Painted
Some sign owners think because their sign is hand-painted it gets to avoid the usual planning rules, but they often get it wrong. In Victoria, local planning schemes have very specific rules about signs, how big they can be, where they can be, and what kind of sign it is. Some signs need a permit, some don’t, but it’s always worth checking.
If you’re in a heritage area, you’ve got even more to think about. Councils tend to want signs that fit in with the original look and feel of the building. That’s where traditional hand lettering can come in handy, it often looks great in those types of areas.
And then there are footpath boards and awning signs, they’ve got their own rules too. Councils want to make sure they’re not blocking the footpath, so you need to check how high they can be and what kind of clearance you need to give pedestrians. It’s one of those things that’s easy to overlook until you’re halfway through painting and suddenly you need to start over.
When Is Hand Painting a Good Idea?
Some surfaces are just begging to be hand painted. Glass windows for example love crisp lettering, and gold leaf inside is a beautiful touch. Smooth timber boards are a classic choice for small businesses too.
Brick walls are great for corner sites with lots of wall space to work with, and if you’ve got a rendered surface, that’s okay too, as long as it’s sound and properly sealed. And of course awnings and fascia boards are perfect for making a big impression on a busy shopping strip.
And don’t forget about the inside, interior spaces are just as important as the street frontage:
- Those feature walls in cafes and restaurants are always a hit.
- School honour boards and recognition panels are a great way to show off.
- Office reception walls and meeting rooms are perfect for making a statement.
- And menu boards painted directly onto timber or walls are just so much fun.
Each surface is different, so it’s up to a skilled signwriter to give it the right prep before they even pick up a paintbrush.
Planning a Commission from Brainwave to Final Coat
Getting a sign right starts with having the right information upfront. Give the signwriter all the details, logos, brand colours, accurate measurements, and some photos of the site. And don’t forget to think about how far people are going to be from your sign, you need to make sure it’s readable from across the road.
Next up, some sketches to give you an idea of what it will look like, and a chance to tweak the design before the painting starts. And then there are the colour samples, tested on the actual surface to make sure they’re going to look good in the end.
Weather can be a bit of a nuisance too, rain, strong wind, and extreme heat can all get in the way of a smooth paint job and make the finished sign look a bit dodgy. But if you plan ahead, you can avoid that.
Budget’s another thing to think about, painting a sign is skilled work, and it takes a lot of time. So the price of a hand-painted sign is not going to be cheap. But when you think about how long a sign will last, years and years and years, it starts to add up. And with the option of touch-ups along the way, it makes a lot more sense to look at it as a long-term investment.
A sign is the first thing that most people see when they walk by a business, and it’s going to be there for a long, long time, so take the time to get it right. Get the frontage measured up, gather all the brand details, and then sit down with a signwriter a few months before opening day.
