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Exterior Signage FAQ
Business Signage FAQs for Business Owners
What’s the difference between cabinet signs, channel letters, and monument signs?
Each sign type serves a unique purpose and aesthetic. Cabinet signs feature a flat face within a framed box, making them ideal for displaying logos or longer business names in a cost-effective, illuminated format. Channel letters are three-dimensional, individually lit letters that provide a clean, modern storefront appearance. Monument signs are freestanding, ground-level structures often built from stone, brick, or metal, creating a sense of permanence and prestige while improving roadside visibility.
How do illuminated signs benefit my business?
Illuminated signage keeps your business visible day and night. Whether you operate late hours or simply want to maintain a strong after-dark presence, lighting ensures your brand is always working for you. Research consistently shows signage plays a major role in attracting new customers, and illumination significantly increases visibility and memorability.
What are the main lighting options for exterior signs?
Most modern exterior signage uses LED lighting because of its efficiency and longevity. LEDs offer brighter, more even illumination, lower maintenance costs, excellent cold-weather performance, and reduced energy consumption. While fluorescent or neon lighting may still be used in specialty applications, LED technology is the preferred standard for reliability and long-term value.
How durable are exterior signs in Minnesota’s weather?
Exterior signs are built to withstand extreme temperature swings, snow, wind, and UV exposure. Durable materials such as aluminum, acrylic, and polycarbonate resist weather damage and minimize maintenance. Lighting components are sealed to protect against moisture and environmental stress, ensuring dependable year-round performance.
What maintenance does exterior signage require?
Maintenance needs vary depending on the sign type, but most businesses should plan for periodic cleaning to remove debris or salt residue, annual inspections for fading or electrical concerns, and occasional LED replacements. Monument or masonry-based signage may also benefit from structural inspections every few years to maintain safety and stability.
How long does it take to design and install a custom sign?
Project timelines depend on design complexity and permitting requirements. Most projects include one to two weeks for design and approvals, three to six weeks for fabrication, and typically a single day for installation. Larger or highly customized signs may require additional planning time.
Are permits or regulations required for exterior signage?
Yes. Cities and property managers commonly regulate sign size, lighting, height, and placement. Our team manages the permitting process and ensures your signage complies with local ordinances and property requirements before fabrication begins, helping prevent delays or costly revisions.
Can my logo and brand colors be matched accurately?
Absolutely. Precision color matching and digital fabrication techniques allow signage to accurately reflect your brand identity. Whether using printed graphics, routed materials, or illuminated faces, maintaining color consistency is a top priority.
What’s the typical lifespan of an exterior sign?
With proper care, most professionally fabricated signs last seven to ten years or more. LED-lit channel letters and cabinet signs often provide the longest lifespan thanks to energy-efficient lighting and durable construction. Environmental exposure and maintenance practices can influence longevity.
How can I choose the right type of sign for my business?
The right sign depends on your goals and location. Monument or pylon signage improves roadside visibility and creates a strong first impression. Channel letters or cabinet signs are ideal for storefronts in multi-tenant buildings. Businesses seeking around-the-clock visibility benefit most from illuminated signage or electronic message displays. A professional consultation can help determine the best solution for your needs.
Project Highlight: Reell Manufacturing
Exterior Signage
The Ask: Create & replace illuminated exterior signage so they can be seen in the dark and update their brand identity at the same time.
The Project: Design, manufacture and install a monument sign cabinet that can be seen during the day and at night, and create an illuminated channel letters sign for the back of the building to help people find the building from both sides.
How We Did It: We worked with the city's planning department, an engineering firm, the client's electrician, and a landscaping contractor before ultimately building a monument sign with day/night film that allowed for higher visibility and contrast during both day and night.
Project Highlight: SPPS - Washington
SPPS – Digital Monument
The Ask: Replace an electronic message center sign that was destroyed in an automobile accident.
The Project: Create and install a digital monument sign with a programmable electronic message center to help raise awareness of school events, display recognition messages and enhance community pride.
How We Did It: We designed a monument that was similar to the original, but with several enhancements. A USA-based electronic message center vendor and a local fabricator then produced the monument sign while we helped obtain the required permit. The replacement sign was bigger than what is now currently allowed by the city, but since the original sign was grandfathered in, it was approved and later installed with help from the client’s electrician.
Project Highlight: Helix
HELIX – Multi-family Signage
The Ask: Update signage as part of a property rebrand & add additional wayfinding signage as part of a larger apartment building remodel.
The Project: Design and fabricate over 350 custom interior ADA signs, one illuminated monument sign, four post and panel signs, and a handful of custom parking signs.
How We Did It: We worked with the city’s planning department to ensure all exterior signage was properly permitted per city ordinance prior to fabrication and installation. Then we coordinated all sign installation with the client to ensure minimal disruption and maximum impact to all residents and visitors.
Project Highlight: Agiliti
AGILITI – Interior Signage
The Ask: Help create interior signage for a rebrand to enhance the corporate office environment, showcase the company’s products, and boost company culture through core values signage.
The Project: Work with the client’s design firm to create a company “Legends” wall, a wall mural, a dimensional sign for a curved wall, an illuminated lobby sign for the reception area, etched glass vinyl graphics for multiple conference rooms, and other multi-dimensional signs throughout the office.
How We Did It: We met with the client’s design firm to discuss possible solutions to bring their ideas to life then we performed a detailed site survey to validate the size of each space. We also provided suggestions that could help with their budget without sacrificing the project’s objective. From there, we continued to communicate with the client and their design firm until the whole project was approved, printed, and installed.
Project Highlight: Cobeck - Southdale
COBECK CO. – Comm. Construction Signage
The Ask: Provide signage for the new expansion area at Southdale Center as part of the Lifetime Fitness Edina project.
The Project: Supply illuminated channel letters, dimensional lobby signs, elevator signs, parking signs, and ADA compliant wayfinding signs for the new Southdale expansion parking ramp, elevator, and lobby.
How We Did It: After winning a signage bid on this construction project, we performed multiple site surveys at various stages of construction. We then created mockup submittals for all signage, and upon approval, manufactured and installed signage according to the commercial construction firm’s drawings and needs. We also provided extensive hands-on project management to source non-traditional fabrication requests and ensure on-time delivery to complete the firm’s entire construction project on time.
Project Highlight: Pizza Karma
PIZZA KARMA – Restaurant Signage
The Ask: Print and manufacture all necessary signage for a brand-new restaurant.
The Project: Manufacture exterior channel letters, swap out pylon sign panels in a multi-tenant pole sign, print and install large vinyl wall mural with a custom textured laminate, print and cut window vinyl, menu boards and various other interior wayfinding and branding signage.
How We Did It: We worked with an architectural design firm that specializes in restaurant builds to obtain brand assets we could use to design and layout several different types of signage. We installed all requested signage just in time for the grand opening, even with harsh weather conditions during the week of install.
Project Highlight: East Side Association
EASTSIDE NEIGHBOORHOOD DEVELOPMENT – Illuminated Signage
The Ask: Redesign and renew signage for businesses within the community to help foster economic growth and commercial development on the East Side of St. Paul.
The Project: Create exterior signage (both illuminated channel letters on a raceway and flat panels) to retrofit the space for 6 local businesses and help enhance visibility day and night while creating a more professional appearance for each.
How We Did It: We performed site surveys for each location, created design mockups for each business owner, and worked with the city to obtain required permits. From there, we coordinated installs with an electrician where applicable to ensure all illuminated signs provided maximum impact.
Project Highlight: Metro
METRO HEATING – Fleet Graphics
The Ask: Design & rebrand vehicle graphics to help build further brand awareness, build credibility, and enhance trustworthiness.
The Project: Create a new design, then print and wrap 30+ trucks and vans.
How We Did It: We created multiple design concepts to best incorporate Metro Heating’s ideas and represent not just their services, but also their values. From there, we printed the approved design, and scheduled install on both old and new fleet vehicles with a detailed weekly schedule to ensure on-time completion and minimal downtime for the client.
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