Brightway Signs

Types of Signage

Signs are the most affordable means of advertising for many businesses, and most businesses (new or old) don't have a dollar to waste. The United States Small Business Administration on signage for businesses says, "...signs are the most effective, yet least expensive form of advertising for the small business." What's more, signs are always on the job for you, advertising 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

A sign is one of the most permanent parts of a business and is exposed to weather and constant use. The average life of a sign varies depending on the type of materials used, the construction, weathering, traffic pollution and other factors. The business owner should find out how many years of service to expect from his sign when he buys it. It pays to purchase good materials if one intends to use the sign over a period of years. A sign in poor repair gives the business a shoddy image.

Types of Signage

Choosing what type sign or a sign package is a decision what will affect your business for many years. In reviewing the many choices of signs available, it helps to approach it by first looking at the primary locations in which you will typically use on-premise signs:

Many of the sign types fall into more than one of the above location-based categories. For example, channel letters can be either building-mounted, mounted on a freestanding sign, or an interior sign. There are dozens of possible sign options and configurations, each as unique as a business' needs. Examples of various types of signs may be viewed in our Sign Gallery.

Here are some general points as an introduction to sign types:

Building mounted on-premise signs may be attached to the roof, parapet, marquee, or building fascia. These signs may be either parallel or perpendicular to the building surface.
Freestanding on-premise signs are generally supported by a structure attached to or cast in a foundation. The structure and attachments to the foundation may be concealed with a decorative covering. Freestanding signs can be further enhanced by landscaping.
Changeable copy boards, variable message or electronic LED message centers enhance a sign's effectiveness by providing space to advertise time dependent messages. Such sign or sign additions can be electronically controlled (the electronic message center), or changed manually (the changeable copy sign).
Interior on-premise signs are those that advertise the location of businesses located in a common building such as a mall, office building, entertainment complex, etc. Interior signs can also advertise products or departments within the business and help direct customers within the business.
Wayfinding or directional signs are strategically placed signs to facilitate safe and efficient pedestrian or vehicular traffic flow.

On-premise signs can either be internally or externally illuminated. For retail businesses, on-premise signs should be brightly illuminated to accomplish communication with potential customers during night-time hours and even during hours the business is closed. Your sign keeps working for you even when you are not.

Engineering & Construction

Proper Engineering and construction is essential to the success of your sign program. We offer in-house professional engineering for every aspect of your sign: starting with the foundation (for pole signs) to the construction of the sign cabinet.

Hurricane Katrina devastated southeast Louisiana and Mississippi. Thousands of signs were destroyed; fell to the ground; twisted and bent; and had to be scrapped. Brightway has installed hundreds if not thousands of signs in this Area. It is easy to see the signs that we manufactured--they are still standing! Signs in the same areas and next door to our signs failed. Our signs did not fail. You can expect the same quality in any sign you buy from Brightway.