Project Update |Atkinson Construction
May 16, 2012
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When San Leandro based Atkinson Construction contacted us to ask about our experience in producing project identification signs we were able to report that we had completed something very similar for Shimmick Construction just last year. In the construction industry, especially as it relates to a BART or Caltrans projects, these are the signs that read “Your Tax Dollars At Work” and contain the Agency logos, as well as the construction company logos associated with the project. They may include notations regarding the particular measure representing the funding source.
The signs are typically large 4 ft. by 8 ft. wooden signs with a white resin face and are erected between two large posts, sometimes at the construction site and/or at the side of the freeway. Similar smaller aluminum companion signage may appear on the chain link fencing surrounding the perimeter of the project. We are happy to report that we produced five large project ID signs and three smaller aluminum ones for our client which should be erected in the next few weeks.
If you are a construction company working on a public works project, or a private contract for that matter, contact SignWorks for your project identification signage needs at 510-357-2000 or email us at info@signworks.us.com.
Commercial Signage |Your Walls Can Talk!
May 10, 2012
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If are a brick and mortar business my guess is that you have at least four walls. You could be missing out on a great opportunity if your walls are only covered with paint or wallpaper! Purposefully positioned wall graphics can be used to boost sales according to research that was conducted by Nielson. According to this research 86% of those surveyed reported that in-store signage influenced their purchase when compared to only 37% who were influenced by social media.
Wall graphics can be used in brand promotion or simply to provide a customized look and feel that distinguishes you from your competitors. They can also feature short term promotional items, discounts or sale items. In fact, retailers can team up with vendors to promote new or special items and may be able to sell their wall space to the featured vendor. It’s been shown that people are influenced to purchase when a point-of-purchase (POP) highlights the specific item(s).
Wall textures vary so selecting the right film that will provide the right degree of adhesion is very important. If you are a retailer and you’re considering a new or improved look for your space please give us a call at 510-357-2000 or email us at info@signworks.us.com. We can explore your wall graphics options.
Commercial Signage|Making Dimensional Letters Affordable
April 25, 2012
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Small retailers and even large mall managers are finding ways to make their indoor dimensional letter sign projects more affordable. Just recently Madison Marquette, managers for both Bayfair and Bay Street Malls, have been suggesting that new retailers at Bayfair Mall use acrylic lettering mounted on to foam (for depth). We have fabricated two such signs recently, one for Butterfly Catchers and the other for Wax & Things. Both companies opted to combine the company name with their logo. The approach keeps the sign very affordable when compared to solid one inch thick acrylic.
The type of foam that the acrylic is mounted to is recommended for indoor use making it especially well suited for indoor mall signage. The acrylic face gives the lettering a professional look, while the foam gives it depth. Hats off to Madison Marquette for making such an effective recommendation to its retailers!
If you are in the market and looking for affordable indoor signage, including dimensional letters, give us a call at 510-357-2000 or email us at info@signworks.us.com.
Project Update|Oakland Adult School
April 19, 2012
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Educational facilities always need signage, whether they are for the parking lot, classrooms, auditorium, or the building’s exterior. Some signs at these facilities may have been on or in the buildings for years, even decades. This was the case with the Oakland Adult & Career School. The big exterior and indoor signs have been up for years with the same simple design and dull faded color. The signs were also not positioned in the correct locations so people who were looking for this school would often get lost.
SignWorks was called upon and had the privilege of producing and installing new vibrant and current signs that would replace the old faded ones. The new signs are made from a plastic and aluminum material called Alumalite which can withstand the elements much better than the old wooden signs. SignWorks also produced other aluminum directional signs that would direct people to the exact location of the facility.
Once the signs were installed the staff really appreciated the new signs and we are now their current sign supplier for any other signage needs. If you are interested indoor or outdoor signs or any other types of signs feel free to contact us at 510-357-2000 or email us at info@signworks.us.com.
Commercial Signage| Project Identification, Construction Signs
April 12, 2012
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We have all seen these project identification signs, especially around major construction sites. They say things like “Your Tax Dollars at Work,” and are normally peppered with the logos of companies and agencies associated with the project. These signs are typically oversized and made of plywood, MDO to be exact, which for single sided signs, has a polished resin side to which all the branded decals, logos and lettering is affixed.
What is interesting is that these signs are often governed by specific sign criteria, and depending on the funding source, may have differing requirements. The design elements, size, wording, font and layout as well as the type of substrate will be defined by the specific agency, most notably Caltrans or BART. Project identification signs are also used in residential housing and construction projects, but even then the plan holder, builder or architect will select a certain criteria just like the governmental agencies do.
Signworks has experience in building these signs for our construction partners, including the support structure that keeps the signs in place. We provided five such signs for Shimmick Construction when they were working on a project for SF MUNI. In fact we’re working on a similar project for a contractor working on a current BART project.
If you are a construction company who needs project identification signs we hope you will give SignWorks a call at 510-357-2000 or email us at info@signworks.us.com. We know you will be pleased with the results!
Project Update | SC Construction
March 30, 2012
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When the folks from SC Construction first contacted us about their need for traffic and exit signs we were pleased to be of help. The builder is engaged in a project at the Facebook facility in Menlo Park. Some exit signs had not been ordered timely and they were looking for a company to fabricate them quickly, given that they would need to be made in custom sizes and using reflective materials. These exit signs would need to be visible to traffic at night.
We were contacted on a Wednesday, had custom aluminum blanks delivered by that same Friday, while simultaneously working on the clients layout pictured above. The signs were delivered the following Tuesday, one day ahead of the schedule we had quoted. When it is important to the client that a project be given priority, we always try to help.
Sometimes material delivery or other production related issues can prevent us from meeting aggressive production timeframes, but our commitment to our customers is to do our very best to meet even the tightest schedule. If you need custom aluminum or other types of reflective signs give us a call at (510) 357-2000 or send us an email at info@signworks.us.com. We’ll do our best to beat our own delivery schedule!
Commercial Signage| Reflective Roll Vinyl’s
March 21, 2012
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Like most vinyl roll stock, there are many different types of reflective vinyl. This specialty vinyl is used most frequently to letter police and other emergency vehicles. It is also used for other types of signs and applications requiring high visibility at night. The reflective roll vinyl types are categorized as follows:
• Engineer Grade, (pictured above)
• Super Engineer Grade,
• High Intensity and Flexible High Intensity Grade,
• Diamond Grade, (pictured below).
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The metallic qualities of the vinyl and reflective base make it reflect back light when light is shone directly on it. These qualities are most noticeable on road and street signs made from reflective aluminum blanks. As well as the great night-time visibility, the vinyl is long lasting. It is often used in parking structures and to do the striping marks on large semi’s and tractor trailers. It is more expensive than standard vinyl’s and more difficult to apply.
At SignWorks we are accustomed to working with various types of reflective vinyl. Our reflective vinyl projects have included recreating the artwork and producing reflective door decals for the East Palo Alto police department cruisers, parking lot signs for Bayfair Mall and yard and track signs for BART.
If you are thinking about a signage project where night time visibility is a factor, or if you want to use reflective vinyl to create a unique and decorative look, give SignWorks a call at (510) 357-2000 or send an email to info@signworks.us.com to explore your options.
Project Update I Black Magic Hair Salon
March 14, 2012
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Sometimes things happen that are beyond our control. So when the store front window of Black Magic Hair Salon here in San Leandro was shattered it was necessary to replace it along with the window lettering. The owner thought selecting a one color design using black vinyl would make for a simple affordable look, without realizing that the color black would not show up on a window. Black in particular will “wash out” and make the letters disappear. The solution, especially with black lettering, would have been to add an outline color.
Generally speaking all dark colors, when placed on glass, will have the tendency to wash out making a shadow or outline color necessary. This is not true with lighter colors that will contrast well against glass. In this particular instance the owner opted to use gold lettering with a black outline. The simple two-color lettering provided just the right amount of contrast.
If you are thinking about a window graphics project or store front lettering project, give SignWorks a call at (510) 357-2000 or send an email to info@signworks.us.com.
Commercial Signage| Reflective Vinyl
February 7, 2012
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Reflective vinyl comes in many colors and grades. Typically it is used because of its visibility at night. You see it on highway signs and on emergency vehicles. It comes in rolls and can be Engineering Grade, High Density Grade or Diamond Grade Reflective. Some years ago we fabricated some yard track signs for San Francisco BART using Diamond Grade Reflective vinyl. The material was used because of its high visibility and as a safety precaution to ensure that train operators could clearly see the yard and track markings.
Often you will see reflective vinyl used on emergency vehicles mostly because of the enhanced night-time visibility. It can be cut to shape and applied to a variety of surfaces. Although it is slightly more difficult to apply than standard vinyl, its metallic base causes it to reflect light back when light hits it. Typical uses also include road and street signs, ambulances, police cars, fire trucks and the like.
The benefits of this type of material include:
• Enhanced night time visibility
• Long lasting durability
• Suitability for parking structures and poorly lit places
• Well suited for tractor trailers/night time driving
Although the material is slightly more expensive standard vinyl the benefits outweigh the additional cost. If you have an application that calls for reflective vinyl, or for that matter reflective aluminum sheeting contact SignWorks at (510) 357-2000 or email us at info@signworks.us.com.
Commercial Signage| Non-Glare Acrylic & Fire Safety
January 31, 2012
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At SignWorks we have done our fair share of evacuation maps and other fire safety signs. We have learned over the years to double check the materials from our plastics vendor to ensure that we use only non-glare acrylic cover lens when we fabricate evacuation maps. It is crucial that the cover lens of the map not be distorted by sunlight or glare which would hinder the occupant, in the event of a fire, from existing the building quickly and safely. We were told by our local fire department that when firefighters shine their lights onto an evacuation map in a darkened or smoke filled building, that the non glare acrylic becomes critically important.
Most fire department’s call for the use of non-glare acrylic cover lens and for the specific placement of evacuation maps at exit doors and elevators, so that the exit routes are clearly marked and easy to interpret. The size of the maps may vary depending on the particular jurisdiction of the fire department, even within the Bay Area. Most of our recent evacuation map projects are fabricated using a “second surface” process where the print is mounted from the rear of the acrylic using an optically clear adhesive. This makes for a very professional looking finish.
When you are considering the purchase of fire safety signs and/or evacuation maps, be careful to select a company that is familiar with the guidelines and the appropriate materials and fabrication processes. For more information and advice about this topic or to request an estimate on an upcoming project, contact SignWorks at (510) 357-2000 or email us at info@signworks.us.com.
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