What’s it cost to produce this freestanding sign?
6mm aluminum composite material makes a rigid sign panel
By RT Signs
Posted on Tuesday, October 27th, 2015
Materials:
Sign:
Two partial 4-by-8-ft. sheets
of 6mm aluminum composite
material: $270
31 sq. ft. 3551 Oracal film with
290 Oracal laminate: $245
Epoxy for mounting banner: $20
Frame:
Two 12-ft. and one 8-ft.
6×6 cedar tone posts: $100
Three 2-by-4s, 8-ft. long: $16
Stain: $80
Steel brackets,hardware: $20
Total materials: $751
Labor:
Consult/design: 9 hours
Prep files to print
and laminate: 30 minutes
Fabricate
sign panel: 2 hr. 30 min.
Build frame: 3 hrs. 15 min.
Stain frame: 1 hr. 30 min.
Build/paint steel brackets: 1 hr.
Drill/bond studs: 1 hr. 30 min.
Load/prep for install: 45 min.
Install: 4 hours
Total time: 24 hours
We did this sign for a local family dairy farm. They provided the copy and said they wanted a picture of one of their favorite cows and one of their dogs on the sign. Their heritage is also important to them so they wanted the symbols of the countries where they came from, plus Canada, included.
We have been using 6mm aluminum composite material [ACM] quite a bit for signs like this, instead of plywood. We feel it is a superior product and 6mm thickness provides more rigidity than the 3mm ACM.
Ralph Toews’ shop, RT Signs, is in Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada.