Making the Neighborhood Sign
Attractive neighborhood signs are in high demand. We often make them from HDU (high-density urethane) because it is lightweight and durable. Designs & Signs built this sign in our Edgewater, Maryland shop for Esquire Association Management, LLC, and we installed it at the Eagles Crossing community in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. A sign like this takes many steps from start to finish.
First, we used a CNC router to carve the face with a woodgrain texture, the community name, and the eagle logo. Then we primed and painted the entire sign by hand. Next came the gold leaf. Because the sign is so large, even a single letter needed several sheets of leaf. Once every raised surface was covered, we brushed away the excess and touched up the background by hand. You can read more about the craft on our gilding page.
Building the Neighborhood Sign Frame
With the sign face done, we built the frame. We cut and routed the posts, then painted them the same color as the sign for continuity. In addition, we painted the cross-members behind the sign face to match.
Of course, no post is complete without a decorative cap. We painted the trim on each cap white and covered the top in gold leaf to match the sign. Finally, two white vertical stripes on each post finish the look.
Installing Neighborhood Signs to Last
Each post sits on steel footers, which also makes the sign easier to transport. On site, we set the footers in concrete and keep the sign level while it cures. This keeps the posts out of the ground water, so they don’t split or decay over time. As a result, our signs last longer.
Here is the Eagles Crossing sign just after we installed it. Digging the post holes was hard work, because the ground was full of rocks left from building the community. Afterward, the landscapers replaced the gravel around the posts with mulch and flowers.
About Esquire Association Management
See More HDU and Entrance Signs
- Community entrance sign at Holly Hill Harbor
- Routed HDU signs for Westbard Mews
- Custom church sign in Salisbury, MD
- Community entrance sign at Loch Haven
- Farm entrance signs at Tally-Ho
Contact Designs & Signs
The quickest way to get started on your project is to send us an email.
We can also be reached by phone at (410) 798-5115.