Projecting Signs: Brackets, Sizing and Where They Work

Why they work

Because a projecting sign stands out at right angles to the building, it can be seen from both directions along the street. On a row of shops where every fascia blends into the next, it is often the sign that tells someone which door is yours before they reach it.

They are especially valuable on narrow streets, in arcades and on upper floors, where a fascia may be hard to see at all.

Three common styles

• Illuminated lightbox: a shallow box, usually double sided, lit from inside. Clear and modern, readable at night.
• Hanging or swing sign: a board suspended from a bracket, often traditional in style, suited to pubs, cafés and heritage streets.
• Bespoke shaped panel: a sign cut to a shape — a logo, an object, a symbol — which becomes a landmark in itself.

All three can be made in aluminium, stainless steel or composite materials and to virtually any size.

The bracket is part of the design

On a hanging sign, the bracket is as visible as the board. Ornate ironwork suits a traditional front; a slim stainless steel arm suits a contemporary one. Choosing the bracket with the sign, rather than as an afterthought, is what makes the finished piece look deliberate.

Brackets are made in steel or wrought iron and must be fixed into a wall that can take the load — including wind load, which is considerable on a board that can swing.

Lit or unlit

If you trade after dark, an unlit projecting sign disappears. Lightboxes carry their own illumination, with LED or neon options. A traditional hanging board can be lit by small spotlights mounted on the bracket or the wall, which keeps its character while making it readable at night.

Getting the size right

Too small and it looks like an afterthought; too large and it dominates the building and may run into consent problems. The right size depends on the width of the pavement, the height of the fixing point and the scale of the building. The site survey records all three before a drawing is made.

Keep the content short. Someone glancing along a street has time to read a name or a symbol, not a list of services.

Consent and clearance

Projecting signs overhang a public footway, so there are rules about minimum height above the pavement and how far a sign can project. They are also the type of sign most likely to need advertisement consent, particularly on listed buildings and in conservation areas. Our blog guides on planning permission and advertisement consent cover the detail; the key point is to check early.

Pairing with the fascia

A projecting sign works best when it clearly belongs to the same business as the fascia above the window: same colours, same lettering, similar materials. Designing both together, on one proof, avoids the mismatch you see when they are bought years apart.

Keeping it looking right

A projecting sign lives in the weather, often above head height, and it is the sign people photograph when they describe a street. Choose materials and finishes that are weather-resistant and built for outdoor conditions, and check the bracket and fixings whenever other work is done on the front of the building.

If the sign is lit, look at it after dark every so often from the pavement, the way customers do. A single failed light on a double-sided box is obvious from across the road. Our maintenance team can look after signs we have installed, so small issues are fixed before they become noticeable.

Common questions