What Are Monument Signs?
Posted on: 11 May 2020
If you start looking at the options a professional sign business can offer, you might run across a class of them known as monument signs. You're right to wonder what they are, so let's check them out.
The Basic Form of a Monument Sign
Monument signs were given that name based on the fact that they tend to resemble monuments. It's not uncommon for them to have cement bases, and they're almost always three-dimensional. Typically, they're installed with the base directly in the ground. If you replaced the sign with a guy on a horse, you'd probably think the thing was a monument to a bygone war.
What Are They Used For?
It's normal to see monument signs at entrances to properties, but this isn't required. For example, you might see one at the spot where you turn into a roadside plaza. The sign may have the names of other businesses that are located at the site, too. Hospitals also frequently like to use them.
You'll also see monument signs positioned at gates. They're very popular in high-end, gated neighborhoods, announcing what the name of the place is and when it was established.
Do They Have to Be Concrete?
No, even though they're called monuments, that doesn't mean they have to be made of concrete, although that's certainly an option. It's not uncommon, however, for them to be made from a lightweight product, such as spray foam, that can be textured like concrete. Many feature plastic and glass, too. You might see one with concrete-like pillars to the two sides, suspending a plastic sign in between, for example.
How Are They Lit?
Depending on the type of sign in question, lighting can be done one of three possible ways. First, many businesses choose to have a couple of lights on the ground pointed at the sign. Second, the sign can have a light in it, providing the sort of glow you'd expect from a typical sign. Finally, some customers elect to have lettering that's backlit, creating a stylish effect at night because the lettering comes from the negative space where the light is being blocked.
Are They Durable?
Yes, being able to anchor the entire setup in the ground makes a huge difference in the durability of the signs, even the ones made with spray foam. Supporting structures made of rebar or pipe can be used on the inside to provide solid resistance against the wind.
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