I’m going to dive into the details of sign standoffs—what they are, why and when you should use them, and how they work. I’ll also go over which signs work best with standoffs and how to easily add them to your order with our user-friendly design tool. I’ll finish off today’s post by sharing a few examples of fully installed standoffs. Let’s dive in!

What are standoffs?

Standoffs, sometimes called standoff screws are a hardware option for hanging a rigid sign through drilled holes. Standoffs attach your sign to a wall, placing an aesthetically pleasing gap of one inch in between the sign material and the wall. The result:  a dramatic and eye-catching display.

Standoffs function as fasteners, creating a durable mount for any sign. They also become part of the design and presentation of the finished sign. Standoff screws are usually round and fit through the drilled holes on your sign. Standoffs are commonly made of aluminum, brass, or nylon. There are many different finishes for standoffs including brushed, chrome, nickel, anodized, and more. Our standoffs are a beautiful brushed, anodized aluminum that look great with any sign.

Why use standoffs?

There are many ways to hang your sign, however, unlike traditional signage installations, standoffs give your sign a refreshing three-dimensional look. With standoffs, your sign is projected from the wall for an eye-catching display sure to impress any visitor. Standoffs allow your sign to literally pop from the wall.

Standoff screws are not only attractive, they also support the weight of a sign firmly to a wall, so you don’t have to worry about your sign falling down from tape or other adhesive hanging methods. Standoffs are the preferred option for logo signs above a reception desk, a directory sign, and even look good for room identification signs. You can also use standoffs to hang a permanent menu in a restaurant or hang a piece of art printed on acrylic or metal    

How standoffs work

A standoff screw is an assembly of hardware that includes the standoff mount, screw, washers, and dry-wall anchor. By itself, a standoff screw isn’t very strong, but like a bundle of sticks, when multiple standoffs are used together—one in each corner, or centered—they can hold a sign in place for years.

To use this elegant hanging solution for your needs, the sign must have predrilled holes where the standoff screws will be placed. When you order a sign from us using our design tool, drilled holes will automatically come with your sign when you choose to include standoffs with your sign. You can also select to have holes drilled without ordering standoffs if you desire.

The most common arrangement for sign standoffs is to have them placed in the four corners of a square or rectangular sign. You can also have the standoffs placed in the corners and the top & bottom of your sign for added support. If your sign is created with a contour cut, meaning that the shape of the sign is custom, then you can select custom placement to have your standoffs wherever you want.

If you select custom placement in the design tool, you’ll be prompted to provide a note describing where you want your holes drilled for your standoffs. Be as specific as you can to ensure your sign is created the way you want it. Another option is to have your standoffs placed at the top and bottom center of your sign or simply from the top corners only. Here is a complete list of the options for mounting your sign with standoffs:

• Four corners
• Corners & top & bottom center
• Custom placement
• Top & bottom center
• Top corners only

The best way to mount the sign with standoffs is to take measurements where the hole centers will be and lightly mark the wall with a pencil. You can also hold your sign up to the wall and use the pre-drilled holes as a template to mark the wall with a pencil where to drill. Just make sure you use a level so your sign is mounted straight. A small hole is drilled into the wall where the anchor is then inserted. After the anchor is placed, the standoff is placed over the anchor and the screw is drilled into the anchor through the hole on the back of the standoff. Once the standoff is in place, the sign with predrilled holes is held over the mounted standoffs with a plastic washer between the end of the standoff and the back of the sign. The Standoff screw cap is then threaded into the standoff housing with a second plastic washer on the front side of the sign.

Materials Compatible with Standoffs

There are a few sign materials where standoffs make a lot of sense and really add to the end result of the display. Our custom brushed aluminum signs and custom acrylic signs make beautiful displays for company logos, name signs, directories, and many other interior signs. Click on one of the sign types below to start creating your own custom sign with standoffs.

• Aluminum
• Brushed Aluminum
• Reflective Aluminum
• Rigid Plastic
• Metallic Photo Prints
• Acrylic Photo Prints
• Acrylic

Standoff display examples

Signs with standoffs look great and I want to show a few examples of some amazing mounted signs here. As a note, we recommend using standoffs for internal use with your signs, however, it is possible to mount a rigid sign outdoors with standoffs. Standoffs must be mounted to a solid surface in order to work.

If you are planning to mount your sign to any surface other than dry-wall, you’ll need to plan for how to drill into that surface and place a screw anchor so that the standoff bracket will be firmly attached. For surfaces like concrete or brick, you’ll need to purchase cement anchors, separately. If you’re mounting a sign to a wooden surface, you can simply drill a pilot hole and mount the standoff brackets directly into the wood without an anchor.

Let’s have a look at some great examples of the finished product:

Thanks for reading, and if you have any other questions about standoffs or anything sign related don’t hesitate to reach out to our amazing customer service team. Give us a call or chat online.

Signage 101 — What Are Standoffs?

Standard Aluminum

Our standard aluminum signs have a long-lasting durability and an elegant simplicity. This basic aluminum sign is the least expensive aluminum sign we offer, making it an affordable signage solution. The face of the regular aluminum is semi-glossy. However, anywhere that ink will be printed on the sign will have a matte finish. All of our standard aluminum signs are pre-painted with coil coated white paint on both sides. Images and designs are then printed directly onto the surface of the aluminum, allowing the creation of virtually any color of sign. Standard aluminum signs can also be printed on both sides, offering additional versatility.

The standard aluminum signs we offer are composed of a polyethylene (light plastic) core sandwiched between two .008 inch sheets of aluminum. Within the signage industry this is called e-panel or dibond. We’ve found from our extensive experience that e-panel signs are more durable, offer cleaner edges, are more lightweight, and more aesthetically pleasing than a single sheet of aluminum that many other sign shops offer. Overall, the sign as constructed will be 2mm thick, making it a lightweight and extremely portable option.

Weather resistance is an important quality of aluminum which gives these signs the ability to be placed both indoors and outdoors. This makes these signs perfect for traffic and warning signs, in business storefronts and lobbies, and retail or real estate signage. When properly placed and cared for these signs will last 5+ years.

Brushed Aluminum

Brushed aluminum is an attractive option that will upgrade the appearance of your business or home. Our brushed aluminum signs are constructed similarly to the regular aluminum sign, using a polyethylene core between two aluminum sheets. The finished product will be 3mm thick (in comparison to the 2mm thick standard aluminum sign). Though typically used indoors, this sign option is also weather resistant, allowing it to be displayed both indoors and outdoors. If the sign is properly cared for and placed in a suitable environment it will last 5+ years.

Unlike regular aluminum, brushed aluminum is not pre-painted white. Instead, the natural aluminum is brushed on one side creating a beautiful matte aluminum look.

Brushed aluminum signs are an excellent solution for businesses looking to enhance their lobby with a logo, add name and number signs to rooms, and indicate directions throughout the building. The simple, yet professional look is sure to leave employees or guests with a great impression of your business or home.

Reflective Aluminum

Just as its name implies, this aluminum option has a reflective property that allows for additional visibility in the dark when light shines on the surface of the sign. The construction of the sign is similar to our other aluminum signs, with two sheets of .008 inch aluminum joined by a polyethylene core. The design, however, is not printed directly on the aluminum. Instead, your design will be printed on a special reflective vinyl overlay which is adhered to the surface of the aluminum.

This special overlay is composed of a glass bead layer which allows for reflectivity but does not distort or blur your design. The overlay is attached using a high adhesive backing, so there is no need to worry about it separating from the aluminum. Reflective aluminum signs, like the basic and brushed options, are designed to be used inside and outside, with a 5+ years lifespan when properly cared for.

You will most commonly see these signs used as roadside directional signs, parking lot signage, warning notices, and business safety signs. The reflective property of this sign makes it perfect for drawing attention in dimly lit areas of buildings or nighttime situations.

What Should You Choose?

Now that you know the similarities and differences between these three types of aluminum signs, it’s up to you to make the right choice for your needs. We’ve included the chart below that will help you choose the suitable aluminum sign.

Though the three options have similar uses, there are specific advantages that set each apart from its aluminum family member. Regular aluminum signs are simple solutions for signs in businesses, parking lots, construction sites, and home use as well. If you’re looking for a more professional look, then brushed aluminum signs are your answer. Lobbies and reception areas can be transformed with a well-placed brushed aluminum sign or decoration, while name and number plates will enhance the quality of your business decor. Because of its professional appearance, brushed aluminum is better suited for indoor use. Reflective aluminum signs, on the other hand, are especially useful for outdoor use.  This type of aluminum signage would be a better choice when wanting to place signs in parking lots, exterior shipping and receiving areas, on the side of the road, and at constructions sites that require signs with nighttime visibility.

If you’re still having trouble deciding which aluminum is right for you, visit our product pages for  standard aluminum, brushed aluminum, and reflective aluminum. If you know your signage needs but are struggling to make a choice, call us at 888-222-4929. We also offer free design services if you need some help with the design aspect of your sign.

Aluminum Signs: Standard vs Brushed vs Reflective

In today’s Signage 101 post we discuss the difference between a standard aluminum sign and a brushed aluminum sign. We offer both of these types of metal signs and while they are fairly similar in most aspects, but there are a couple of major differences that you should be aware of before deciding to buy one or the other.

In addition to today’s explanation of the differences between the two types of aluminum signs we currently offer more information that can be found on their respective product pages here: aluminum signs and brushed aluminum signs.

First, let’s quickly discuss the similarities between these two types of aluminum signs. Both signs are made from a material known as E-panel. E-panel consists of two thin aluminum sheets with a reinforced plastic core. The plastic core is polyethylene, which is a hard plastic. The plastic core makes both types of metal signs significantly stronger and more durable than your typical aluminum sign that only consists of a thin aluminum sheet. The E-panel aspect can be seen in the pictures below.

Both types of signs are for all intents and purposes identical in terms of functionality. Both can be used inside and outside. Both signs can be attached or affixed in a variety of ways but are most often posted using drilled holes (an option we provide during the design/checkout process) and some combination of screws and washers. Lastly, both have proven to be a versatile and affordable signage option for a wide variety of businesses and homes.

Standard Aluminum vs. Brushed Aluminum Signs – Differences

The more important part of today’s post is to discuss the differences between the two signs. While they are few they are significant.

Default Color & Appearance

The first major difference is what both the standard aluminum and brushed aluminum look like in an unprinted state. i.e. What the raw material would look like if you were to order each with nothing printed on it.

The standard aluminum sign does not have the aluminum look (most often described as silver or metallic) that is commonly visualized when aluminum is mentioned. Rather, our standard aluminum signs are manufactured with white paint on both sides. We then print your design onto the white surface. Thus, anywhere your design does not cover on the sign will be white in appearance and not metallic. This can be seen in the pictures below.

Alternatively, the brushed aluminum signs are not printed white and have the metallic look that one would envision for aluminum signs. But rather than a smooth metallic it is brushed in nature. This brushed appearance can be seen below.

For both standard aluminum signs and brushed aluminum signs we will print directly onto the surface of the sign.

Thickness

Our standard aluminum is 2MM thick (.079 inches). Our brushed metal signs come manufactured at 3MM thick (.12 inches).

Double Sided Functionality

Another difference is the ability to print double sided signs with the two different material types. As alluded to above, the standard aluminum signs are manufactured with white on both sides to allow for double sided functionality. Our brushed aluminum signs do not have the capability of being printed on both sides. There is only one “brushed” side on which we will print while the back side of the sign (that in majority of uses won’t be seen) will have a standard metallic appearance. For standard aluminum signs the “Double Sided” option is available to be selected both on the design tool and in the Shopping Cart.

White Ink Print Consideration

Because we print directly onto the surface of both types of aluminum signs there is one more major difference that needs to be taken into consideration. This difference is how white ink and thus any white part of your design is treated.

For standard aluminum signs because the surface of the sign is white before printing your design, any white element or portion of your original design will come through as white. Our printers will print everything as normal and recognize that the white portion of your sign can simply use the existing white of the sign.

For brushed aluminum signs, white ink is not printed. Because the printers use CMYK colors and the surface is not originally printed white, no white will be included in the actual printing of your design. Any white portion or aspect, no matter how big or small, will not be printed white but rather retain the brushed appearance where it would have been white.  This critical difference can be seen below where the original picture is on the left and the printed version on brushed aluminum is on the right.

With the pictures above one can see where the original white instead has a brushed look when printed.

With a clear understanding of the default material appearance of standard and brushed aluminum and how white is treated in the printing process you can rest assured you’ll get the look you’ll want. Whatever your vision, we’re confident that Signs.com will be able to help you achieve it.

Get started on your sign today by jumping over to a product page – aluminum, brushed aluminum – browsing our customizable sign templates, uploading your own file or contacting us for free design help.

Standard Aluminum vs. Brushed Aluminum – Signage 101

We are happy to announce that we now offer custom brushed aluminum signs. Like our standard aluminum signs the brushed signs are made of an E-panel material that consists of two thin aluminum sheets and a reinforced plastic core only our brushed aluminum signs are 3MM thick as opposed to our 2MM thick standard aluminum signs.

This material has proven to be very durable and light without losing it’s aesthetic appeal. Here’s what the E-panel material looks like:

Below is a quick summary of the main things you should make note of as you create your own custom brushed aluminum sign.

• Made from E-panel like our standard aluminum signs
• Default is a “brushed’ metallic look (standard signs are painted white)
• White ink will not be printed. Any white that is part of your design will not print, but instead will take on the “brushed” appearance.
• Available options for the brushed aluminum signs include contour cut, halo cut, drilled holes, round corners and standoffs. The only one that isn’t available for the brushed signs that is available for the standard aluminum is double sided. The brushed aluminum signs can only be printed on one side.
• Our design tool will default to a “brushed” background. You can still upload your own logo or file if you want a part of your final design to be a solid color instead of brushed in appearance. This default background can be seen below.

Your brushed aluminum sign can be used in a variety of ways including as branded signage for exterior and interior use. These can be displayed outside your building or even in the lobby or reception area. These signs also work great for directional usage, directory signs and even restroom signage. They also look great in the home as home decor or pieces of art. We’ve included some examples of these beautiful signs below. You can also click over here for a more in-depth look at the difference between brushed aluminum and standard aluminum signs.

Signs.com Now Offers Brushed Aluminum Signs