Customer Spotlight – Smoking Pig BBQ, Fremont, CA
Our signs are in the Smoking Pig BBQ TV Commercial. We are very happy to be the sign vendor of choice for Smoking Pig BBQ, but more than that, we love their BBQ! If you get a chance to visit Fremont, we highly recommend trying some, it’s mouthwatering.
How to Clean an Awning or Umbrella
So, you’ve kept your sign in good working order, under a beautiful matching awning, no less, but what do you do when that starts to get dirty? Many of our sign customers have asked if we know how to clean awnings or restaurant patio umbrellas? Our good friends over at Sunbrella have a great video on how to do just that.
Take a look!
Simple Parking Sign = NOT so Simple
You want to just throw in a couple of Private Parking signs on your property or maybe have a couple of Reserved Spaces for the Big Boss or CEO.
Simple, right?
In theory, yes. In reality, there are some things to understand before you just call a sign company and have them drop in a couple of signs.
1. What material is the ground? Dirt is relatively easier install; just dig a 6″ hole and drop the sign in with some concrete mix. But if there is already concrete or asphalt, the location needs to be core drilled by a core drilling professional. That will cost extra money.
2. I have dirt available! That’s it, right? Unfortunately, no. You have to take into account what might lie beneath the dirt you’re digging. Sprinkler Lines, Sewer Lines, Gas Lines, Electrical Wires, Roots, etc., or are there trees, bushes, or retaining walls blocking the area? Always discuss with your Landscaper or Facilities managing the sign project and verify that there are NO OBSTRUCTIONS before the sign installation takes place. You may also want to call “USA Underground”, a local agency that keeps track of underground infrastructure in most San Francisco Bay Area cities.
3. I want people towed when they park in the reserved space! If so, you need to contract with a local towing company and they will give you a telephone number that MUST be placed on the sign to allow the owner of the car to retrieve his/her vehicle back. Some cities also require that the local sheriff or police department number be placed on the sign also.
So, it’s not super difficult to get your new parking signs installed, as long as you just remember to follow the rules above and avoid the pitfalls.
Classic – “What NOT to Do, Sign Prep”
Let me preface this post as saying I have a fantastic relationship with my customer, STATSChipPAC, and they truly are great to work with and just super nice people. Unfortunately, they lease their building from a less than desirable management company/landlord.
When we first discussed this project this older building had been leased by another company, the other company moved out and removed their sign. The management company came after the old company moved out and “patched and painted” where the old sign had been – a terribly improper prep. It left a rectangle in the wrong color, on a rounded facade. This is a horrible job done by the building management, and actually makes the brand new sign look terrible. It’s truly a shame, because these beautiful letters are “Halo-Lit” and will highlight the background even more at night.
So, a fantastic lesson learned for your next sign project – a quick prep the background of a sign is just as important as the sign itself, and a properly prepped surface will make a world of difference.