Do you need help installing a new sign? If so, we are here to help. Benchmark Signs and Gifts creates personalized wooden carved signs and gifts. Many of our customers have requested information on installing a new sign. As you can imagine, the possibilities are endless. We have compiled some illustration and included simple instructions for our customers favorite sign mounting ideas.

Indoor Installation

Installing a new sign indoors is simple. All you will need is a hammer, tape measure, pencil and a basic wall hanger. This tried and true wall/picture hanger comes in many sizes and supports signs of various sizes and weights. Wall hangers can be purchased from your local home or hardware store.  First, find the perfect placement for your sign. If your sign will be the only item on the wall, we recommend centering the sign. To center the sign, use your tape measure to measure the wall and split the distance in half. Make a pencil mark on the wall at the center distance. This mark should also be the height that you would like the top of the sign to be. Next, Turn over the sign and measure the distance of the sawtooth hanger from the top of the sign.

In the sample picture, the sawtooth hanger is roughly 7/8″ from the top of the sign. measure this distance from your mark on the wall and make another mark. This will be where you hammer your nail or where the bottom part of the wall hanger should be. Hammer the nail into the wall and hang your sign. For larger signs, We recommend finding your wall studs to anchor the nails into the wall or using wall mollies to help support heavier weights. Lastly, hang the sign and make sure the sign is level.

Here is a collage idea. Collages are a great way to showcase your cherished pictures and utilize a large open wall area. Be creative with your collage!

Outdoor Sign Mounting

There are many ways to install your new sign outdoors. You will first need to decide how you would like to display your sign. There are many possibilities including:
•Mount sign directly to a building or fence
• Screw into a single post
• Build a double post frame for the sign
• Hang sign from a sign post
• Wrought iron sign hanger

Mount to Building or Object
This picture shows a Benchmark Address Sign mounted directly to a beach house in Hawaii. If you would like to mount your sign directly to a building or object we recommend pre-drilling the 4 corners with a countersink bit to allow the screw head to set into the sign. Be careful not to over tighten the screws to allow the wooden sign to naturally expand and contract. Over tightening the screws will not allow the sign to move and could crack the sign.

Mount Sign to a Post
A beautiful backyard is complete with a Benchmark Sign announcing the family’s “State Park” in San Antonio, Texas.
To achieve this look you will need the following: 4″ x 4″ x 8′ treated wood deck post, bag of concrete (optional), post hole digger (or good ole’ fashion shovel), saw, stain, screws, drill, countersink bit and level.

First you will need to decide the height that you would like your sign post. 3′ – 4′ seems like a standard height unless you have tall plants in your garden. In that case, I would recommend 5′ or so. Next you will want to prep your sign post by cutting it to the proper size being sure to take into account the portion that will be buried. Stain your post and allow it to dry.
It’s time to start digging! We recommend digging the post hole so diameter of the hole is 3 times the width of the post (the hole for a 4” wood post should be about 12 inches wide). The depth of the hole should be 1/3-1/2 the post height above ground (the hole should be about 1′ – 2 ‘ deep). Mix the concrete per the instructions, set the post and fill the hole with the concrete. Be sure to check the level of your post both vertically and horizontally. If you would rather not create a permanent sign post, you can always back fill the hole with rocks and soil instead. Almost time for the fun part…. Measure the center of the sign and pre-drill two holes into the center top and bottom of the sign using a countersink bit. Place the sign on the post and screw into place. Be careful not to over-tighten the screws to allow the wood to naturally expand and contract.
We suggest leaving a few inches of space on the top of the post as there are many relatively inexpensive decorative toppers that you can purchase for the post. Here are a few of our favorite to complete to project!

 

 

 

 

Build a Double Post Frame

A double post sign frame is very similar to the single post instructions above, but with two posts. Our example shows how Castleton Homes in Florida mounted their outdoor cypress sign at their job site.
Some additional items you will need to pick up are: a 2″ x 4″ piece of lumber that is at least the length of your sign. The 2″x4″ will mount horizontally below the sign to unite and fasten the two posts together. You will also need 4 each 1/2″ wide metal angle L brackets and 4 each 6″ – 8″ deck screws.
First, you will want to follow the instructions above to secure 2 posts in place the width of the sign you are installing. Next you will want to screw the metal brackets to the posts so that the bottom bracket resembles the letter “L: , the other side will resemble a backwards “L” now you will be able to place the sign between the posts and screw in the bottom of the sign to the L brackets. Your sign should now be mounted in place by using the L” brackets on the upper and lower left and right hand side of the sign. The next step is to secure the 2″ x 4″ in place below the sign with a few 6″ – 8″ screws. This will horizontally unite the posts and create a complete frame for the sign.
You can finish the posts as you would like with paint or stain. As you can see by the above picture Castleton chose to paint the posts the same color as the outline of their sign, which creates a nice uniform look. The sign is finished with some decorative post toppers.
Enhance your sign with some solar power flood lights to ensure 24 hour visibility. Following these steps will create a professional sign display that is easily achieved.
Hang a sign from a sign post

This lovely Benchmark Sign hangs in Clifton, Virginia and welcomes guests from a hanging post. There are several options when it comes to sign posts. There are wooden sign posts, metal sign posts and vinyl sign posts. First we will look at vinyl sign posts. We’ve found several online vendors that sell these posts. The prices range from around $75 – $125 depending on the style. These sign posts are relatively easy to install. First, you will need to pound the provided post stake into the ground. Depending on your soil, this will provide rigidity when you slide the vinyl sign post over the stake. These sign stakes are usually about 5′ in height, but there are many options available. Lastly you will want to screw eyelets into the top of the sign, which will provide a connection on the arm of the post and the sign. The pictures below show the eyelets in the sign as well as the arm of the sign post. The homeowner chose a carabineer to join the eyelets together. place along with the fasteners that these homeowners chose for their sign installation.

Below are a few more hanging sign ideas. The Murray sign uses eyelets as seen in the prior examples. The Dogwood Tails sign uses a metal bracket that is screwed into the length of the back of the sign, which is dual purpose. First, it provides a hole at the top of the sign for hanging and second, it screws into the back of the length of the sign which reinforces the sign and prevents some natural occurring movement of the wood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wrought Iron Sign Hanger
There’s something to be said for wood and wrought iron together! The pairing is timeless as seen by this lovely sign we created for Ladybird Farm in Illinois.

This is by far our favorite mounting method as there is so much versatility! This post is attached directly to a tree trunk which allows for various height mounting. A wrought iron sign hanger can also be mounted to a wooden post as well. This method also uses the eyelets in the sign. If the eyelets on the iron hanger and sign don’t match up or if a longer hanging span is desired, chain can be used to attach the sign to the hanging post.
As with many things available for sale today, all wrought iron sign hangers are not created equal. If the sign hanger is moderately priced then the quality will be priced the same.
We have searched high and low seeking a wrought iron hanging option to provide our customers with but never found the quality we were searching for. So we looked local and partnered up with a local blacksmith that has taken our idea and creating some of the most amazing ~ HANDMADE~ wrought iron sign hangers designed specifically for our signs. The brackets are handmade using traditional blacksmith techniques dating back to about 1500 BC . All sign brackets starts out with American made steel. The steel is heated in a homemade forge and then formed with hand tools such as an anvil, tube bending jig and various sizes of hammers. Once each piece for the hanger is formed it is assembled together using a welding method. The blacksmith finish is achieved by coating the finish product with a mixture of linseed oil and beeswax. The beeswax that is used in this process is also locally harvested from a bee keeper.

By working closely with a our friend we are able to offer standard size hangers made exclusively for our sign sizes, and we are also able to customize every aspect of the hangers to meet our customers’ needs and specific sizes.

For more information regarding our Wrought Iron Sign Brackets, please visit us at http://www.BenchmarkSignsAndGifts.com or email us at benchmarksignsgifts@gmail.com.

As you can see there are many ways to display your Benchmark Sign. No matter which option you choose, a sign creates a nice warm welcome when family and friends arrive. If you have any questions or have an idea to add to our guide we would love to hear from you! Thank you and enjoy your day!

Kristy Lardomita
Benchmark Signs and Gifts
www.BenchmarkSignsAndGifts.com