Building Letters

Building letters serve as the primary identification for commercial properties, institutional facilities, and residential complexes. These exterior dimensional letters must balance visual impact, brand representation, and durability to perform effectively for years or decades of outdoor exposure.

Scale and Visibility

Effective building identification requires appropriate letter sizing for viewing distances. Letters viewed from vehicles on adjacent roads need sufficient scale for recognition at speed. Pedestrian-oriented building signs can utilize smaller letters positioned at comfortable reading heights.

The United States Sign Council provides research-based guidelines for letter sizing relative to viewing distance. As a general rule, one inch of letter height provides legibility at approximately ten feet of viewing distance under favorable conditions.

Material Selection for Exterior Use

Building letters must withstand weather extremes, UV radiation, and environmental pollutants. Material selection significantly impacts longevity and maintenance requirements.

Cast Metals: Cast aluminum, brass, and bronze provide exceptional durability for building applications. These materials resist corrosion, maintain structural integrity, and develop attractive patinas over time.

Flat-Cut Metals: Aluminum and stainless steel flat-cut letters offer durability with modern aesthetics. Appropriate thickness ensures wind resistance and prevents warping.

Formed Plastic: Heavy-duty formed plastic letters suit many building applications at accessible price points. UV-stabilized materials resist fading and degradation.

Finish Durability

Letter finishes must withstand outdoor exposure without degradation. Powder coating provides excellent durability for painted finishes. Anodized aluminum maintains color without peeling or flaking. Metallic finishes should use appropriate protective treatments for longevity.

Illumination Options

Building identification often requires visibility during evening hours. Illumination options include front-lit letters with external lighting, halo-lit letters creating backlight glow effects, and internally illuminated channel letters with translucent faces.

LED technology has transformed sign illumination, providing energy efficiency, long service life, and consistent light output. Modern LED systems enable dynamic color changing and programmable effects for distinctive building presence.

Mounting Considerations

Building letter installations require careful attention to structural mounting. Large letters experience significant wind loading that mounting systems must accommodate. Waterproof penetrations prevent damage to building envelopes. Electrical connections for illuminated signs require proper permitting and code compliance.

Professional installation is strongly recommended for building letter projects. Certified sign installers understand structural requirements, code compliance, and safety considerations for successful building signage installations.

Monument Signs

Monument signs provide street-level building identification on dedicated sign structures. Dimensional letters on monument signs follow similar material and durability considerations as building-mounted letters, with additional design integration between letters and monument structure.

We provide building letters suitable for direct building mounting and monument sign applications. Contact us to discuss your building identification project.