FAQS
WHAT KINDS OF SIGNS DO YOU MAKE?
All kinds! For instance: hand lettering, all classes of gilding (gold leaf) on glass and other surfaces, dimensional letters, pictorials and murals, vintage signs, vinyl lettering and quite a lot else besides. I do sign work for shops, restaurants and pubs, vehicles, exhibitions, internal signs, corporate signs, honours boards, menu boards, church signs, directionals, seasonal or general promotional signage, residential interiors e.g. surface gilding or passages of text (including Arabic), house numbering and much more besides.
SO YOU DO VINYL?
Absolutely. It cannot be denied that vinyl is the best medium for many applications and in the right hands (i.e. Diane’s) can be produced creatively and effectively. Vinyl is often used for temporary signage and to promote forthcoming sales and promotions, for very small lettering on glass e.g. opening hours and on temporary banners. With the use of outlines and special vinyls such as frosted and etched, affordable and effective signs can be achieved.
I WANT A SIGN - WHAT DO I DO?
Call me on 07739 460 162 or email me at peter@oconnorsigns.com. Give me an idea of what you have in mind and I’ll tell you if it’s something I can do or advise you where else to go. I may be able to give you an estimate on the phone but more often than not I will need to visit the site of the proposed work. Once I have taken a proper look and discussed it with you in more detail, I will provide you with an accurate quote - normally within 24 hours.
HOW IS THE WORK PRICED?
Almost every project is different. Price depends on materials, scale, complexity of the design, location – to name just a few factors. I will usually provide you with pricing options. Alternatively you can give me a budget and I will tell you what can be achieved within it. I always try to provide you with what you want within your budget. Obviously this isn't always possible e.g. gilding on glass will cost more than enamel lettering or vinyl, but it's in my interest to provide you with the best signage possible so I always endeavour to provide beautiful signs at a good price
I AM HAPPY WITH THE QUOTE, HOW DO WE GET STARTED?
I’ll send you paperwork containing detailed pricing, specifications, and lead times. At this point I will require 50% of the cost as a deposit payment. Once that is received I start work on your project.
WHAT ABOUT DESIGN?
This is an important part of the process and may require a little patience to get right. Sometimes a couple of face-to-face meetings are required at other times emailed artwork may suffice. If you already have a design you will need to send me any relevant files or artwork. If you don't have a design but you have an idea I will develop this with you. If you have neither I can work up a design from scratch. Normally any design input will be included in the price I give you.
ARTWORK & FILES
I normally start with paper and pencil, sketching up ideas in a traditional fashion. This is normally done after an initial on-site meeting and I have an idea of what you want to achieve. I can then either scan and email you our ideas or meet again to talk it through. After this we transfer hand rendered artwork to a computer using specialist sign software (Diane's area). This allows us to accurately scale up and more easily make adjustments. If you are sending us artwork it needs to be a vector file (outline) in black and white.
HOW LONG WILL MY SIGN TAKE?
It depends on the project. Some jobs are out of the door in a few days others may require 2-3 weeks depending on the complexity or size of the project. Some clients think way ahead of their sign needs and work it into a schedule of other requirements e.g. if it's a completely new business. Others may need something double-quick for a last minute promotion or for something temporary. We will always put in the hours to get you your signs when you need them - so long as a deposit has secured our services. I should mention that on-site work can sometimes be affected by adverse weather and sometimes, although in my experience rarely, this may affect installation dates if I am producing a job that we are installing with the fixing team.
WHERE DO YOU DO THE WORK?
Mostly at the workshop in Isleworth, West London. This is where all the processes involving fabrication, woodworking, spray painting etc. take place. Completed work is then delivered to the customer and installed as required. Sometime the nature of the work requires that it is done on site e.g. fascias, murals, glass-work. As mentioned above site work can be subject to the vagaries of British weather, daylight, access and other considerations. Where there is an option the workshop is preferred.
CAN I SEE MY SIGN IN PROGRESS?
Yes. Most work is completed at the workshop prior to delivery or installation and you will be welcome to come and take a look but always call first as I may be on site. A five-metre sign is not the same as an A4 artwork and with your agreement we can still make small changes and enhancements.
When the work is being done on-site you’re very welcome to watch although you may get a little bored. Please only tell me I’ve made a spelling mistake if its genuine as I will be getting this from passers-by as a matter of course - which normally provokes hilarity in them if not in me (especially if they are right).
DO YOU DELIVER & INSTALL?
Yes. This is usually handled by a two-man fixing team who come to site armed with all the necessary tools to ensure your signs are fixed precisely and safely. I try and be present during the installation process to ensure the client is happy and to authorise any adjustments if needed. However this is not always possible. Fixing costs are always shown separately on my quotes.
CAN YOU LIGHT MY SIGN?
Yes. Most classes of lighting can be supplied and then installed by the fixing team. In recent years this is more often of the LED variant. In most cases the fixers can make the electrical connection to an existing external power source. However, internal electrical connections will need to be certified by an electrician – this is the law, talk to me if you need further explanation.
IN WHAT AREAS DO YOU WORK & WILL YOU TRAVEL?
Mostly London but I also enjoy working elsewhere. I have worked in other parts of the UK and Europe, including Munich, Seville, Istanbul and Monaco.
WHAT MATERIALS DO YOU USE?
Depends on the job. In terms of lettering and graphics I still use what I started with twenty-five years ago; one-shot lettering enamels, sable Mack brushes from the US and signwriting brushes handmade by AS Handover here in London. Some work is best suited to composite sheet materials or steel or aluminium. With fascias I will usually use marine-ply. Frames and supports are often constructed from hardwood as I work alongside skilled woodworkers and have access to many different types of wood. Substrates are usually sprayed in the workshop with exterior grade coatings. For on-site painting I generally use Dulux Weathershield or a similar product. Materials selected for use as substrates change as new products reach the market, particularly with coatings.
WHAT ABOUT ......
If I've forgotten something please don't hesitate to call me on 07739 460 162 or email peter@oconnorsigns.com. You can find more information about types of work I do and photographs of past work on other pages on this site.
WHAT KINDS OF SIGNS DO YOU MAKE?
All kinds! For instance: hand lettering, all classes of gilding (gold leaf) on glass and other surfaces, dimensional letters, pictorials and murals, vintage signs, vinyl lettering and quite a lot else besides. I do sign work for shops, restaurants and pubs, vehicles, exhibitions, internal signs, corporate signs, honours boards, menu boards, church signs, directionals, seasonal or general promotional signage, residential interiors e.g. surface gilding or passages of text (including Arabic), house numbering and much more besides.
SO YOU DO VINYL?
Absolutely. It cannot be denied that vinyl is the best medium for many applications and in the right hands (i.e. Diane’s) can be produced creatively and effectively. Vinyl is often used for temporary signage and to promote forthcoming sales and promotions, for very small lettering on glass e.g. opening hours and on temporary banners. With the use of outlines and special vinyls such as frosted and etched, affordable and effective signs can be achieved.
I WANT A SIGN - WHAT DO I DO?
Call me on 07739 460 162 or email me at peter@oconnorsigns.com. Give me an idea of what you have in mind and I’ll tell you if it’s something I can do or advise you where else to go. I may be able to give you an estimate on the phone but more often than not I will need to visit the site of the proposed work. Once I have taken a proper look and discussed it with you in more detail, I will provide you with an accurate quote - normally within 24 hours.
HOW IS THE WORK PRICED?
Almost every project is different. Price depends on materials, scale, complexity of the design, location – to name just a few factors. I will usually provide you with pricing options. Alternatively you can give me a budget and I will tell you what can be achieved within it. I always try to provide you with what you want within your budget. Obviously this isn't always possible e.g. gilding on glass will cost more than enamel lettering or vinyl, but it's in my interest to provide you with the best signage possible so I always endeavour to provide beautiful signs at a good price
I AM HAPPY WITH THE QUOTE, HOW DO WE GET STARTED?
I’ll send you paperwork containing detailed pricing, specifications, and lead times. At this point I will require 50% of the cost as a deposit payment. Once that is received I start work on your project.
WHAT ABOUT DESIGN?
This is an important part of the process and may require a little patience to get right. Sometimes a couple of face-to-face meetings are required at other times emailed artwork may suffice. If you already have a design you will need to send me any relevant files or artwork. If you don't have a design but you have an idea I will develop this with you. If you have neither I can work up a design from scratch. Normally any design input will be included in the price I give you.
ARTWORK & FILES
I normally start with paper and pencil, sketching up ideas in a traditional fashion. This is normally done after an initial on-site meeting and I have an idea of what you want to achieve. I can then either scan and email you our ideas or meet again to talk it through. After this we transfer hand rendered artwork to a computer using specialist sign software (Diane's area). This allows us to accurately scale up and more easily make adjustments. If you are sending us artwork it needs to be a vector file (outline) in black and white.
HOW LONG WILL MY SIGN TAKE?
It depends on the project. Some jobs are out of the door in a few days others may require 2-3 weeks depending on the complexity or size of the project. Some clients think way ahead of their sign needs and work it into a schedule of other requirements e.g. if it's a completely new business. Others may need something double-quick for a last minute promotion or for something temporary. We will always put in the hours to get you your signs when you need them - so long as a deposit has secured our services. I should mention that on-site work can sometimes be affected by adverse weather and sometimes, although in my experience rarely, this may affect installation dates if I am producing a job that we are installing with the fixing team.
WHERE DO YOU DO THE WORK?
Mostly at the workshop in Isleworth, West London. This is where all the processes involving fabrication, woodworking, spray painting etc. take place. Completed work is then delivered to the customer and installed as required. Sometime the nature of the work requires that it is done on site e.g. fascias, murals, glass-work. As mentioned above site work can be subject to the vagaries of British weather, daylight, access and other considerations. Where there is an option the workshop is preferred.
CAN I SEE MY SIGN IN PROGRESS?
Yes. Most work is completed at the workshop prior to delivery or installation and you will be welcome to come and take a look but always call first as I may be on site. A five-metre sign is not the same as an A4 artwork and with your agreement we can still make small changes and enhancements.
When the work is being done on-site you’re very welcome to watch although you may get a little bored. Please only tell me I’ve made a spelling mistake if its genuine as I will be getting this from passers-by as a matter of course - which normally provokes hilarity in them if not in me (especially if they are right).
DO YOU DELIVER & INSTALL?
Yes. This is usually handled by a two-man fixing team who come to site armed with all the necessary tools to ensure your signs are fixed precisely and safely. I try and be present during the installation process to ensure the client is happy and to authorise any adjustments if needed. However this is not always possible. Fixing costs are always shown separately on my quotes.
CAN YOU LIGHT MY SIGN?
Yes. Most classes of lighting can be supplied and then installed by the fixing team. In recent years this is more often of the LED variant. In most cases the fixers can make the electrical connection to an existing external power source. However, internal electrical connections will need to be certified by an electrician – this is the law, talk to me if you need further explanation.
IN WHAT AREAS DO YOU WORK & WILL YOU TRAVEL?
Mostly London but I also enjoy working elsewhere. I have worked in other parts of the UK and Europe, including Munich, Seville, Istanbul and Monaco.
WHAT MATERIALS DO YOU USE?
Depends on the job. In terms of lettering and graphics I still use what I started with twenty-five years ago; one-shot lettering enamels, sable Mack brushes from the US and signwriting brushes handmade by AS Handover here in London. Some work is best suited to composite sheet materials or steel or aluminium. With fascias I will usually use marine-ply. Frames and supports are often constructed from hardwood as I work alongside skilled woodworkers and have access to many different types of wood. Substrates are usually sprayed in the workshop with exterior grade coatings. For on-site painting I generally use Dulux Weathershield or a similar product. Materials selected for use as substrates change as new products reach the market, particularly with coatings.
WHAT ABOUT ......
If I've forgotten something please don't hesitate to call me on 07739 460 162 or email peter@oconnorsigns.com. You can find more information about types of work I do and photographs of past work on other pages on this site.