Does the Monument Sign Pricing You’re Quoted Include Everything You Need?
Published on: November 21, 2019
One big mistake many people who start looking into monument sign pricing make is seeking out a quote before having a complete understanding of their options. Pricing can go anywhere from $5,000 to $100,000, though people tend to spend the most when they are not aware that monument signs have both direct and indirect costs.
Just taking a quick quote from a fabricator isn’t going to get you an accurate picture of monument sign pricing. All a fabricator does is make the sign. They don’t always obtain the permits, install the components, or provide maintenance. If you need to design outdoor monument signage, that’s going to be an extra charge and possibly a service they can’t provide.
Designing, fabricating, and installing architectural signage is a big endeavor. To manage it, you need to work with an expert firm that takes a collaborative approach and gives you all the options and costs upfront.
Common Monument Sign Pricing Traps
Monument signs hold the critical task of marking the gateway to your property, acting as the main landmark to help visitors identify your business—and you can’t afford to get it wrong. Without a clear understanding of what you need and the associated costs upfront, you’re going to make other mistakes that will snowball into skyrocketing expenses. Some include:
- Approaching the fabricator without a plan. Just because a company can make a design doesn’t mean they’re ideal to create the concept. Many fabricators will just quote the solution that fits within your budget, but this may not be the best option. Ideally, you’ll already have a solid concept in place before you approach even begin to think about fabrication costs. To get a solid plan in place, you need a consult with a firm that can lay out all your options.
- Choosing trendy but impractical options. Digital screens might be all the rage these days but they may not be a necessary component of a monument sign. Digital signs are best when information must be updated regularly, like at a college where the classroom uses change or a hospital where different physicians are on call. Monument signs typically mark the building itself so content doesn’t need to change as often. When you select trendy options over timeless ones, costs will increase as you’re going to have to maintain signage more often and change it out sooner.
- Misjudging size needs. Your monument sign needs to be large so it can be visible from a distance. Most people don’t realize quite how large and that their first estimates need to be doubled, if not tripled, for a truly visible sign. When you underestimate the size of sign you need, it’s possible to fall into traps that create cost creep in your initial monument sign pricing.
- Failing to get local leader buy-in. When putting up a large sign outside, there’s a very strong chance you’re going to have to get approval from the local city council or other officials. If you don’t know how to gain this approval, or the firm you’ve partnered with doesn’t offer this service in the initial price quote, you’ll face skyrocketing costs when they block designs or structures after you’ve started them.
- Overlooking long term maintenance. For any sign, you’re going to need to worry about cleaning it as well as the impact of the outdoor elements over time. Monument signs can be sizeable so it’s likely that specialized equipment like pressure washers or bucket trucks will be needed. And, of course, maintenance affects your lifetime costs. If you don’t plan for maintenance, your budget will be pinched over time and you’ll end up with a shabby, uncared for monument sign that reflects poorly on your company.
- Underestimating increased utility cost. Keeping illuminated signage lit is going to impact your utility bill. Some types of monument signs consume more electricity than others, so it’s important to have a complete understanding of how illuminating these signs at night will impact the costs over time. You need a monument sign pricing quote that includes peripheral costs.
Your monument signage isn’t just a place marker, it’s a placemaker. When correctly executed, it can be an eye-catching amenity that makes your business memorable. The key to creating such signage is to collaborate with the right signage design partners.
How to Get Superior Monument Signage Within Budget
An excellent example of high-impact monument signage design comes from One CA, where a placemaking sign became a local tourist attraction for visitors to the downtown San Francisco area. In this case, project leaders collaborated closely with an expert signage design firm to develop a sculptural object that made the building unmistakable. And it all started with a comprehensive analysis of the site to provide a detailed monument sign pricing quote that included all the variables for both the short and long term.
This comprehensive needs assessment, called Sign Profile Analysis™, was a proprietary process developed by GNU Group. As a result, all the details of the project were already in place for ONE CA, providing a clear understanding of both short and long-term costs—from design to fabrication to permits and installation to maintenance. As a result, One CA created a nationally-recognized visual presence while controlling costs and simplifying maintenance for the long-term.
Dickson Keyser, GNU Group’s Director of Design, is the firm’s resident expert when it comes to melding pragmatic solutions with creative flair. He provides direction for all our design teams and manages solutions for the firm’s branding, environmental graphics, wayfinding, and print communications programs. Dickson holds a BA in Graphic Design & Speech Communication from Humboldt State University and has led GNU Group’s design team for more than a decade.
