I priced an 8 x 24 billboard for this guy back in August or September, he then put the project on hold.. Now he wants the size increased to 12 x 36 and it will require an engineer. Should I: Let the engineer design the whole thing? Draw the plans myself and let them sign off on it? The billboard will be used to hold digitally printed bags etc. but will need something to face it with. Would you recommend Dibond or will something less expensive work?
[ January 13, 2011, 01:54 PM: Message edited by: Wayne Webb ]
Posted by Kevin Gaffney (Member # 4240) on :
I would use dibond Wayne. Can't really get anything less expensive here
Posted by Tim Barrow (Member # 576) on :
I would suggest just using painted treated plywood for a backer if it is going to be a stick built unit(wood construction as opposed to steel) Be sure to make the customer understand that soil compaction will be an issue before construction costs are finalized,..if it is going into very sandy soil footing costs can go up 10x if you have to use a spread footing instead of conventional footings appropriate for clay soil,....
edited to add if you want I can give you specs for a simple stick built unit Wayne if you need them but if you want steel it's going to take me a few days to access them through an associate. The plans are the same that 3M outdoor and WhiteCo outdoor (now Lamar)used for many years across the southeast. ,...call me @ 336-655-7101 any reasonable hour after 1 pm in est time zone
[ January 13, 2011, 03:07 PM: Message edited by: Tim Barrow ]
Posted by Rob Campbell (Member # 12583) on :
I built a 14 x 36 billboard 25 years ago. We used 4' x 8' mdo plywood on 2" x 6" doug fir horizontal stringers spaced on 2' centers. For posts we used 35' long pressure treated pilings. The posts were 8' deep in a 3' diameter hole. The secret was to use crushed rock (-1") instead of concrete. A sign that large is going to sway in the wind and solid concrete around the posts will just make a larger hole as the posts move side to side. Crushed rock will fall and pack ever tighter as time goes on. That sign stood up to 80mph+ over the years and never showed any signs of failure. Unfortunately had to be taken down due to new sign regulations. Rob
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
Thanks guys. The city requires an engineer to do the plans. We'll see what they come up with.
Posted by Dale Feicke (Member # 767) on :
Wayne, I've seen more and more billboards lately that are built mostly like your drawing....just a framework. The outside perimeter is like 12 inch wide strips to give the banner something solid to tighten on; but the rest is just framework.
Come to think about it, why do you need to waste money on more
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
Good point!
Posted by Tim Barrow (Member # 576) on :
with the way they mount bag signs all that is actually needed is a frame to stretch the vinyl face over,and a frame to tighten the ratchet straps to,...
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
Thanks Tim
The customer is wanting me to tell him what size he needs. I would say the bigger the better but, according to what I can find, the maximum size allowed is 950 sqft total. The customer now wants two faces per side.
The one on the right is 46' long x 10' high per face, totalling 920 sqft. The one on the left is 36 x 8 per face, total 576 sqft. I personally think that is too small for a billboard. Is there any "standard" size? What do ya think? Thanks
[ January 17, 2011, 04:37 PM: Message edited by: Wayne Webb ]
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
Ok I came up with a figure but I'm not going to give the customer a definite price until the engineer submits his drawings and I get some feedback from you guys..
On the two sided sign with four (4) 8 x 36 faces, I estimated $1250 for 5- 35' poles. $875 for the auger truck. $461 5 yards concrete $704 PT lumber for the frame and catwalk $2100 metal halide HID lamps and steel conduit, wired with a photocell and disconnect. $80 fasteners $1200 crane/bucket truck About 30% Markup on materials plus $1000 labor comes to $8771
On the larger sign with four (4) 10 x 46 faces I estimated $9573
Are these prices in line? I figure if the client rents all four faces he could make his money back in 6 months. What do ya think?
