the dreaded word for alot of Letterheads but for some it's $$$$$$...... Installations!!! how many of you do a job and when its done you ship it out for someone else to install? thinking, glad I don't have to install it, good bye sign! Or how am I gonna install that? Or yikes! now I gotta get it on the roof or in the ground....
Maybe we can help each other out with a few tips to make installs go easier... for instance on Post & panel jobs that have to be installed into concrete. I bolt the posts on first the pick up the whole sign posts and all and set it into the ground, then I stuff a few big rocks in to hold the sign level and plum while I pore the conrete
-------------------- Ken McTague, Concept Signs 57 Bridge St. (route 107) Salem MA 01970 1-978-745-5800 conceptsign@yahoo.com http://www.pinheadlounge.com/CaptainKen
---------------------------------
"A wise man once said that, or was it a wise guy?" Posts: 2425 | From: Salem, MA | Registered: Apr 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
I won't say I love installations, but I have learned how to make money with them. First of all, I no longer figure installation into an overall price UNLESS IT IS ITEMIZED. This does two things. One, the client gets an accurate idea of the value of each step, and two, it gives them the option of having installation done by someone else or themselves. Sometimes they may have a cotractor on-site who will dig footings, for example. For the most part, though, I don't get a lot of resistance to installation costs. The alternative is doing it themselves, or finding a contractor to work on my schedule.
As to your suggestion about post/panel signs- we almost always assemble the sign and posts on the ground first, then stand it in the holes. this allows us to plumb and level the whole sign, instead of three separate pieces.
-------------------- "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
Cam Bortz Finest Kind Signs Pondside Iron works 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988" Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Whenever I've hired someone to do an install, I've returned to find some of the decisions made were not the calls I would have made. Letting go isn't that difficult, but still I know if it were over there another foot it would have a better background or be more visible or be less vulnerable.
On the historic buildings I find placement as important as size. A great sign placed six inches too high can cancel a good design. Old buildings are seldom plumb, and brackets require shims that need to be hidden. Often they don't have studs on 16" centers and so clever decisions need to be made while on ladders holding something heavy. I've found no one I can yet depend on to do these installs as well as myself or with me supervising.
I need help letting go. Pray for me.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6718 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Rick, It must be the "time frame" we are in..I too have trouble letting go..I also have found that when I do the install.I am the most happy with the "Contractor " he he he
Shep'
-------------------- Arvil Shep' Shepherd Art by Shep' -------- " Those who dance are thought to be mad by those who cannot hear the music " Posts: 1281 | From: Mt Airy NC | Registered: Mar 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I couldn't resist jumping in on this one. You guys are right it must be a sign of the times. It all seems to come back to, if you want it done right, do it yourself! We had a large sign with sintra letters that we were having a problem with the epoxy bonding. Letters were falling off and we had a guy that we were contracting with to do install. I sent him out and told him that we needed to screw ALL the letters in from the back of the panel. Easy to get to, and 3/4 MDO and 1/2 sintra so I told him to use 1 inch screws. Worked great! When he came back I said, "did you screw all the letters?" I was assured that he had. Monday we get a call from the client and guess what? Yep, another letter fell off. I went out and found that "our guy" had lied and that he hadn't screwed all the letters. Needless to say he no longer does installs for us, and we are back to doing our own.
Like Cam we usually do not include the cost in the overall price but bill it seperately. I have rarely been on an install where things went as planned and 1 hour can easily turn into 1 1/2 or 2 hours. I like to bill installs after the fact.
As for tips, we also like to assembly post and panel jobs first and drop them into the hole. I then brace them if possible, 90 degrees apart to get them plumb and hold them in place. I like the idea of rocks in the holes! On large panels that are being mounted on the building, I will often snap a line 1/2 higher than the bottom of the sign and then screw in some scabs 1/2 inch below the line and level them. This gives me something to set the sign on and I know that it is level while we attach it to the building. Afterwards, pull the scabs and the line is hidden under the sign.
posted
we have always put the signs together with posts on site on the ground used the post botoms to mark the holes then lift into place. we then level/plumb and fill holes. allthough i would recomend a deeper hole and longer post. we life in florida and i don't know how else in the country this might affect the PT or cedar post but conctreat will help or cause the post to rot , they need good drainage. (has any one else heard or seen of this)
also started using "U" brackets for attaching plywood(MDO) to post what a dream! www.u-bracket.com or 877-393-3144
Im always open to good new ways to make installation go faster and with less head aces.
I installed foam letters to painted dry wall with silcone and use double stick foam tape to hold into place wile it dried. also to remove signs with the foam tape use a guitar string attached to wood on each end and with a sawing motion cut and remove. then foam tape can be removed easyer with out ripping the sign or the wall.
chris
-------------------- "We have been making house calls since 1992"
Chris Lovelady Vital Signs
NOW WITH 2 LOCATIONS! Tallahassee, Florida Thomasville, Ga.
posted
my favorite is the pan bent aluminium panel... attach a piece of 1" alumium angle on the wall top and bottom, spaced out the same width as the inside of the pan, then slap the pan up on top, and attach with zip screws on the top and bottom edges. the sign looks thick, cuz its bent in a 1' pan and you dont see any fasteners on the face. best part is I can install a 4'x 10' all by myself
-------------------- Ken McTague, Concept Signs 57 Bridge St. (route 107) Salem MA 01970 1-978-745-5800 conceptsign@yahoo.com http://www.pinheadlounge.com/CaptainKen
---------------------------------
"A wise man once said that, or was it a wise guy?" Posts: 2425 | From: Salem, MA | Registered: Apr 1999
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic