PM Signs - Pylons

Pylon signs are freestanding, and will stand on either one or two legs/poles. They have a large face and often stand some distance from the building(s) they represent. Usually, these signs will contain the business names and or logos, and the address of the location. These signs can be one sided or double sided and can represent one building or multiple stores in a plaza.

Pylon signs can be quite variable in height and width. Some pylon signs will be less than 8 ft tall, and others will be multiple stories in height. Some will have large faces with room for multiple businesses to advertise and others will be smaller to represent a single business/location. The legs/poles may only be a few inches thick or they may be over one foot. The size specifications will depend on how many businesses will be represented on the pylon size, where the associated building(s) is/are located, and how far you’d like sign to be visible (down a certain number of city blocks, from the highway, or simply from a main road).

Aluminum, plastic, and steel are the most common materials used to create pylon signs. However, they can also be made of heavier and more durable materials like concrete, brick, and stone. Often, multiple material types will come together to create the overall pylon design.

Pylon stands that will need interchangeable components, such as those that list business names inside a commercial plaza, will almost always be made of an aluminum-coated steel frame with plastic on the face. This makes it easy to make changes to business names as companies move and tenant turnover occurs. Pylon signs marking a single business with longer longevity will often make use of the more advanced and permanent materials like stone, brick, and concrete, since it will be standing in place for a long time without the need for changes. These are also more durable and resistant to inclement weather, which is always a bonus for outdoor signage.

If you see pylon signs with advanced graphics and detailing, there is likely an acrylic or highly durable plastic being used as the face material. This will prevent fading and deuteriation of the quality over time and exposure to the elements. Both rain and sun can damage a sign’s aesthetic, so it’s important to choose materials that will maintain the positive, appealing image that represents your business. Otherwise, it won’t be nearly as successful as it is meant to be.

The main reason that pylon signs are needed is for visibility. There are many scenarios in which a business may need to increase their visibility.

Businesses that are set back from a main road benefit greatly from pylon signs near the roadway. Since a main sign on the building is not helpful when motorists cannot see it, the pylon sign may be the only way for someone to know that the business is there, and how to get to it. This is similar to buildings that have a large parking lot right next to the road, since it is harder for drivers to look that far for a building name while also staying safe on the road. Also, building that are fully or partially obstructed by other buildings absolutely require a pylon sign to direct drivers to their location.

Pylon signs are also very beneficial for businesses that have hard to find entryways. On busy roads with many, many driveways close together that are often separated by curbs, it can be easier for a driver heading to a new place to turn into the wrong driveway and have to turn around. A pylon sign right at the entrance to the location can prevent this hassle from occurring and leave a positive impression on your visitors.

Pylon signs are often the only way to let highway drivers know your business exists. If you are located close to the highway, a highly visible pylon sign is the perfect way to advertise your business and have people pulling off at the nearby exit to come check out what you have to offer. They will also be used as landmarks, which can get your business name into more conversations than ever. People will remember where you are, and choose you the next time they need what you have on tap.

Lastly, pylon signs are needed for industrial parks. Since buildings in industrial areas are very large and spaced out, a pylon sign on your front lawn can make it a lot easier for motorists to find you. It can help driving services find your employees, which is a great benefit to them, and it can bring in more foot traffic if you sell things directly to consumers from a warehouse.

Pylon signs have been around for decades. They were designed to help businesses advertise better and centralize the businesses present in plazas and similar multi-building commercial areas. They are important for marking locations and have been used as landmarks for years. The advancing technology has only made them more popular, and more versatile for multiple sectors of business.

There are a wide range of pylon signs out there, and while all of them are unique and distinct, they can be grouped into some broad categories.

Lightbox pylon signs are common commercial properties like malls. They will be located at the entrances and exits of the property and are designed for maximum visual effect. They are quite similar in design to monument signs but they will be taller and more sophisticated, in order to draw in more visitors.

Single pole pylon signs are, obviously, pylon signs that are supported by a single leg. This style is commonly used at gas stations and other single-business locations. These will typically have a smaller face than their double leg counterparts, since they only need to advertise one business.

Double pole pylon signs are usually the largest pylon type. The extra leg provides more stability and longevity, and it can improve the aesthetic of the sign too. If a business is wanting a more visible sign than a standard pylon, this is the way they will generally go. These are popular for their symmetry as well.

Covered pylon signs are unique in that they cover up their legs using a variety of materials. This is done to improve the aesthetic and match the sign’s design more closely to that of the associated building. These signs can be customized even further with the use of lightboxes, regular lettering, or digital boards.

One of the most commonly noticed types of pylon signs are directory in nature. They are used for commercial properties that have many buildings at one address. The directory pylon sign will have an area to advertise each business on the property, and it will be changeable to allow for tenant turnover. These signs help tell consumers where businesses are located, and they will also have the property address listed on them as well.

Every pylon sign will be manufactured a little differently, since each design will require different combinations of materials, colors, graphics, and potentially unique elements. Some material types will require the manufacturer to subcontract out parts of the project, but in the end, the final product is one that will effectively and cost-effectively promote your business.

We are going to discuss the manufacturing details for a steel/aluminum pylon sign, because this is one of the most common material combinations out there. The base frame will be formed out of steel, and then it will be coated in a sheet of aluminum to prevent it from rusting. The aluminum will be welded to the frame in order to make it waterproof and prevent separation down the road. If there are large sections of metal along the sides or top of the sign, they will be reinforced to prevent a process called oil-canning. Oil canning is when there is an uneven flow on the surface of thin metal; this would make your sign look old and decrepit, and it is best to avoid it from day one with proper manufacturing standards.

The graphics on the face of the pylon sign will usually be added to an acrylic or polycarbonate surface. The graphics will nearly always be generated by computer surface in order to improve their aesthetic and detail potential. The face material will be high quality technologically enhanced to increase the level of UV-resistance; this will prevent fading and discoloration from ruining the appearance and effectiveness of the sign.

It is worth noting that pylon signs may also be manufactured using real or fake materials such as concrete, stucco, stone, and brick. Sometimes, sign manufacturers will need to hire outside contractors like masons to help with this construction, since the materials can be difficult to work with. Since signs like these need to look perfect, it’s best to leave them to the professionals who have years of expertise in the area.

There are multiple avenues you can take when customizing your pylon sign. One major decision to make is which type of pylon size you will be using. It depends on your business requirements (one or multiple), how much information you’d like to include on the sign, and where your building is located. The number of poles, size of the main face structure, and height are all up to you. You can decide how your lettering will be put on (dimensional letters, graphics, or channel letters) and whether or not you will include the logo or a defining image. You also have the option of adding a digital board to your pylon sign, and adding some illumination. You can choose illuminated letters, reflective sheeting, or even spotlight lights on shorter pylon signs to make the sign easier to see at night. The material choice is in your hands for the most part (you will receive assistance from the design team to ensure the plans are feasible for construction), and you can choose to add unique elements like overhanging images and removable/changeable elements.

Due to their extreme size, need for heavy machinery, and large material demands, pylon signs will be one of the most expensive types of signs you can use to advertise your business and increase your overall visibility. They will start around $10,000 and go upwards depending on the sophistication of the design, unique elements, the overall size, and whether or not independent contractors will be required to help bring the pylon sign to life.

Whether you are looking to install a pylon size for your individual business, or you’re needing it for a plaza type location, the team here at PM Signs can make it happen. We are experts at designing, manufacturing, and installing large, heavy signs to grab attention from kilometers away. We guarantee that the pylon sign we make for you will last years. We leave as many design choices up to you as we can, and any changes we need to make will be explained.

We promise to prioritize you as a client, and we are excited to help bring your pylon sign vision to life. We have decades of experience working with these materials, and we have many clients who can vouch for our expertise and care. We would be honored to have the opportunity to help your business succeed and grow. Our pylon signs are a sure fire way to attract customers and increase the visibility of your business(es) substantially.

Our pylon sign manufacturing process ensures that your custom sign is completed on time and without error. Plus, we’ll stick to your budget without fail. We understand how important your sign is to your business, and that’s why your business is important to us.