Signage is the work that tells people who you are and where to go: the fascia over a shop, the board at the gate, the light box above a counter and the safety signs on a factory wall. Sign makers build it from printed or cut vinyl on rigid boards such as ACP, Correx, Chromadek and Perspex, with frames, lights and fixings, and many also install. Describe the sign, the size and where it goes, and we pass your request to sign makers in your area, who quote you directly. It is free, with no obligation.
Kinds of signage and what each one does
- Shop signage and fascias: a printed or vinyl-faced ACP or Chromadek board across the front of the building.
- Light boxes: a frame lit from inside behind an acrylic or flex face, read day and night.
- Built-up letters: cut acrylic, metal or foam letters standing off a wall, often for reception and company signage.
- Pylon and gate signs on posts at the entrance to a centre, farm or plant.
- Window and wall graphics in cut or printed vinyl.
- Directional and safety signage: exits, fire equipment, PPE and hazard signs.
- Neon signage: today mostly neon-style LED flex for bars, salons and feature walls.
Choosing materials for a signage board
Correx (fluted plastic) is light and cheap for short-term boards, show houses and campaigns. Foam board and PVC foam board suit indoor signs. ACP, aluminium composite panel, is flat, rigid and weather resistant, the usual choice for fascias and outdoor boards. Chromadek, coated steel, is common on farm and site boards, and Perspex (acrylic) gives a clean face for lit signs and receptions.
Coastal salt and damp corrode steel frames, so ask for aluminium or galvanised frames and stainless fixings near the sea. Strong inland sun fades cheap vinyl, so ask for UV-resistant inks or lamination and the expected outdoor life.
Artwork, approvals and safety signs
Send your logo as a vector file (PDF, EPS or SVG), not a screenshot. A good sign maker measures the wall, checks how it will be fixed and sends a proof showing the sign on a photo of your building. Keep it short: a name, what you do and a number read better from a moving car than a list of services.
Many municipalities need approval for outdoor advertising and large signs, and bylaws differ, so ask whether yours needs it and who applies. Safety signs should follow SANS 1186 symbolic safety signs, so ask for the correct symbols and colours rather than home-made versions.
What affects signage prices and what to ask
- The size and the board material
- Lit or unlit, and how the power reaches it
- Flat print or built-up letters
- Installation height, scaffolding or a cherry picker
- Removing the old sign and any approval work
Signage is quoted per job, often after a site visit, so ask for a written quote that lists materials, installation and warranty. For short-term needs a printed banner costs less, and vehicle branding carries the same look on the road.
What to include in your request
- The sign size and where it will be fixed
- Material: ACP, Correx, Chromadek or Perspex
- Lit or unlit, and the nearest power point
- Installation height and access
- Your logo as a vector file
Signage for different clients
- Families and individuals: a house name plate, a gate board or a home business sign at the driveway
- Small businesses and start-ups: a printed ACP board over the shop or a Correx board at the gate
- Companies and offices: reception signs, office door plates, site boards and SANS 1186 safety signs across a plant
- Shops, restaurants and salons: shopfront fascias, light boxes and window vinyl for shops, salons and restaurants in malls
- Events, conferences and clubs: directional boards, sponsor boards and temporary venue signs for races, festivals and expos
- Schools, churches and NGOs: school and church name boards, classroom door signs and sports field sponsor boards
- Government and municipalities: directional, building and safety signs for clinics, municipal offices and depots ordered by tender
- Designers, agencies and resellers: designers and agencies sending artwork to a sign maker who builds and installs
Frequently asked questions
How much does signage cost?
What is ACP and why is it used for shop signage?
Do I need approval for a shop sign?
How long does it take to make and install a sign?
Signage by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg