Custom Wood Signs

Pros & Cons of wooden signs

• Custom wood signs are tough and durable, but can warp and crack as they dry out over the years
• Easy to paint or stain, but may require re-finishing every few years if installed outside
• Beautiful natural look

What is a sandblasted wood sign?

Sandblasted signs are blasted with sand, using a sandblaster, at high pressure which eats away the material leaving the grain of the wood exposed and accentuated. Areas of the sign, often the sign letters, are covered with an adhesive rubber resist stencil and the sand bounces off leaving the area unchanged. After sandblasting, the stencil is removed and the sign is treated with paint or finish.

What are CNC routed wood signs?

A computer controlled router table can carve a sign using router bits. First the sign is designed and then modeled using 3D software, then the tool path instructions are sent to the cnc machine. Carved wood signs are produced very accurately this way.

What’s the difference between 2.5-D and 3-D wood signs?

2.5-D wood signs are generally carved with a router bit set to a specific height. A cnc router may use several different bits (one at a time of course) set to different depths to create multiple layers and interest.

3-D wood signs are also often carved on a cnc router with router bits but the bit is moved up and down throughout the production making it possible to do convex and concave curved shapes with amazing detail. 

What other materials can be combined with wood?

Lots! Go to the layered sign page to see.

Are custom wood signs a good idea?

Wood signs are gorgeous! Generally, wood signs are a wise choice when you want to see that it is a wood sign. If you have a flat wood sign and paint the whole thing then it’s hard to tell it is made of wood and it may be smarter to choose a composite material that will last longer with less risk of cracking and warping. But if areas of the sign are left unpainted so that the wood grain shows then wood signs have a natural beauty unlike any other type of sign.

How long will wood signs last?

Wood signs will last a very long time if they are not exposed to weather. However, when wood signs are exposed to sun, rain, and ice then they will require regular maintenance in order to keep them looking fresh. When sanded and finished wood can look clean and bright but after a few years in the weather wood signs tend to darken and turn grey. Penetrating oils and clear coat finishes can help to slow that process. 

Hardwood signs made of walnut or cherry or rot resistant softwood signs made of cedar or redwood could last a hundred years with no maintenance. They will surely fade and crack but sometimes that is a desirable look. Signs made of Ponderosa pine on the other hand will rot and decay much faster. 

As an alternative to wood we suggest HDU signs.

What type of wood finish is best for outside wood signs?

It depends what is important to you. Applying four or more coats of a water-based or oil-based Spar Urethane will create a nice finish that will preserve the bright clean look of the wood. You will need to re-coat the sign every couple years otherwise the finish will crack and moisture will seep in.

Penetrating oil will darken the wood color however it is possible to put off sign maintenance for an extra year or two because penetrating oil soaks in and therefore wont crack and look bad like Spar Urethane or Polyurethane if ignored.

Other types of finishes for custom wood signs

Other finishes we often use include stains, paints, gold or silver leaf, cut vinyl, printed and laminated vinyl, epoxy, and burning with a torch. Each have their own pros and cons. 

Who should I buy my sign from?

If you shop around you’re sure to find several capable sign companies that can produce high quality signs and chances are the prices are all fairly close. We like to think that we stand out and are among the best because of our design skills and creativity. We have exceptional designers each with a BA in graphic design and 20+ years of experience who will take the time to make your sign unique and impactful.  

Business owners often come to us because they’ve heard from other businesses about how much sales increased immediately after taking down their old flat sign and putting up our 3D sign.

How much do custom wood signs cost?

 Wood signs are often between $500-$2,000 depending on size, carving complexity, species of wood, and whether they are single sided or double sided. They can be $500 or less if they are small, or they can be $2000 or more if they are large and complex. 

There is a saying in the sign industry… “A good sign won’t cost you money, it will make you money!”