5 Key Things to Know Before Installing a Monument Sign

Monument signs are one of our favorite types of signs because they can completely change the entrance to a property. They identify your property, help your customers find the entrance, and create a strong first impression before anyone reaches the building. Monument signs also give us plenty of room to work with colors, materials, lighting, tenant panels, and architectural details.

Before we start building one, there are a few things to figure out first.

The perfect spot visually isn’t always the perfect spot practically. Property lines, setbacks, easements, visibility triangles, landscaping, underground utilities, and city requirements can all affect where a monument sign can be placed. The sign also has to fit within the amount of signage the city allows for that property.

Sometimes moving a sign just a few feet can make a big difference. That small move may improve visibility, keep the sign out of an easement, or provide enough room for the foundation.

We look at those conditions during the site survey so the design is based on the space we can actually use. Finding them early can also save time during engineering and permitting.

If you’re considering a new sign, take a look at some of the monument signs we build for Arizona properties.

We don’t just think about how the sign looks while you’re standing in front of it. We want to know how someone will see it coming down the road.

Which direction is traffic coming from? How fast are drivers moving? Is there landscaping in the way? Will parked cars block the lower portion of the sign? Can people recognize the entrance during the day and at night?

Letter size, contrast, sign height, placement, and the amount of information on the sign all affect visibility. A beautiful monument isn’t doing much good if everyone drives past it before they can read it.

Just like building signs, monument signs have to follow local sign codes. Cities may limit the height, overall size, location, lighting, or amount of signage allowed on a property. What works at one address may not be allowed at another, even when the two properties are in the same general area.

We usually start with, “What are we allowed to work with?” Then we make the most of that space.

This may mean simplifying a logo, increasing the size of the most important wording, or removing information that drivers won’t have time to read. Multi-tenant monument signs also need enough room to identify several businesses clearly. Our team handles the permitting, drawings, and required revisions for the project. That gives us a clear plan before fabrication begins.

Most people see the finished monument and never think about what’s underneath it, which is exactly how it should be!

Depending on the sign, there may be concrete footings, steel supports, electrical service, conduit, and other structural components below ground. Arizona wind and weather are part of the equation, so the structure supporting the sign has to be designed for the job.

We also need to know where underground utilities are located before excavation begins. Arizona has a statewide 811 service for locating underground facilities, including electric, gas, water, sewer, and communication lines.

Underground conditions can affect the placement, foundation design, installation schedule, and cost. We want to understand those conditions before the installation crew starts digging.

Colors, materials, landscaping, architecture, existing commercial signs, tenant needs, and future changes to the property are all worth thinking about before settling on a design.

That may mean matching the stone or stucco used on the building. An aluminum structure with dimensional letters and internal lighting may work better on another property. Shopping centers may need replaceable tenant panels. A school, medical office, or corporate campus may want to include a digital display.

We’ve built a lot of monument signs over the years, and every property gives us a slightly different puzzle to solve. That’s part of what makes them fun.

At Bootz & Duke, we’ve been designing, building, and installing commercial signs throughout Arizona since 1964. A little planning in the beginning goes a long way toward creating a monument sign that looks great, is easy to find, and feels like it was always meant to be there.

Planning a new monument sign or replacing an older one? Contact Bootz & Duke or request a free quote. We’ll look at the property, explain the options, and help you get the project started.