Advice and Answers

Straight answers to your signage questions.

Explore our signage advice and answers across everything from vehicle wraps and building signage to approvals, installation, costs and sustainable solutions.

Pylon, Monolith and Freestanding Signs

Can an old pylon sign be refurbished?

Yes. In most cases we can, but the exact way we would do it depends on the site, material, scale and how long you need it to perform.

This is where a photo is incredibly useful. Send us the location or item you want signed, along with your logo and approximate dimensions, and we can tell you what we would recommend rather than give you a generic answer.

Can you convert an old pylon sign to LED illumination?

Yes. In most cases we can, but the exact way we would do it depends on the site, material, scale and how long you need it to perform.

This is where a photo is incredibly useful. Send us the location or item you want signed, along with your logo and approximate dimensions, and we can tell you what we would recommend rather than give you a generic answer.

How do you design a pylon sign to be readable from traffic?

Keep it simpler than you think. Drivers have seconds, not minutes. The business name or logo needs to dominate, tenant names need a clear hierarchy and tiny phone numbers or paragraphs of text are usually wasted space.

We look at viewing distance and traffic direction when setting the layout. A pylon can be physically huge and still communicate badly if the design is too busy.

What is a pylon or monolith sign?

It depends on the application, and this is one of those questions where seeing the actual site makes the answer much better. We look at visibility, brand, materials, expected life, access and budget before recommending the final solution.

If it were my project, I would start by getting the basics right rather than adding complexity for the sake of it. Send us a photo and the key dimensions and we can talk you through the options in plain English.

Can a pylon sign include an LED digital display?

Yes. In most cases we can, but the exact way we would do it depends on the site, material, scale and how long you need it to perform.

This is where a photo is incredibly useful. Send us the location or item you want signed, along with your logo and approximate dimensions, and we can tell you what we would recommend rather than give you a generic answer.

What is the difference between a pylon sign and a monument sign?

The main difference is usually how the product is constructed, how long it is intended to last and what job it is trying to do. Two signage products can look similar in a photo but behave very differently once they are exposed to sun, wind, cleaning, traffic or repeated handling.

If you’re deciding between two options, tell us where it is going and how long you need it for. I would rather recommend the simpler option when it is genuinely enough than overspecify the job.

What information do you need to quote a pylon sign?

The best starting point is usually simpler than people expect: send us your logo or brand guidelines, a few clear photos, approximate dimensions, quantity, location and the date you need it by. For vehicles, the make/model and photos help; for buildings, a straight-on site photo is ideal.

Don’t worry if you don’t have perfect artwork or architectural drawings. Send us what you have. Our job is to work out what is missing and ask the right questions before we manufacture anything.

How much does a pylon sign cost?

There isn’t one useful fixed price for this because size, materials, quantity, access and installation can change the job enormously. My preference is to price the actual project rather than throw out a number that may send you in the wrong direction.

If you send us a photo of the site or vehicle, approximate dimensions, your logo or artwork, quantity and location, we can normally narrow the options down quickly. And if you have a budget, tell us. It genuinely helps us design around what is realistic rather than presenting an option that was never going to fit.

Can Signs SA manage design, engineering, manufacture and installation?

Yes. This is where having the design, production and installation thinking connected makes a difference. We can work from existing brand guidelines or, if you only have a logo, build the signage direction from there.

My view is that good signage should look like it belongs to the business and the site. We don’t want to force the same construction onto every brand just because it is easy for us to make.

Do pylon signs need council approval?

Possibly. Council requirements depend on the site, size, position, illumination and local planning rules, so I would be wary of a blanket yes or no without looking at the actual project.

If approval is required, we can help with the signage drawings and information needed for the application. The key is identifying it early, not after the sign has already been manufactured.

What should I compare when looking at pylon sign quotes?

I would compare more than the final price. Look at what material is actually being specified, how it will be manufactured, who is installing it, what is excluded, the warranty and whether the company has thought about the site rather than simply priced a square metre rate.

A cheaper sign can be good value if it is the right product. It becomes expensive when it is underspecified, hard to maintain, fails early or needs to be remade. We would rather explain why we are recommending something than just tell you it is ‘premium’.

Do pylon signs need engineering?

It depends on the application, and this is one of those questions where seeing the actual site makes the answer much better. We look at visibility, brand, materials, expected life, access and budget before recommending the final solution.

If it were my project, I would start by getting the basics right rather than adding complexity for the sake of it. Send us a photo and the key dimensions and we can talk you through the options in plain English.

Got more questions?

Feel free to call us or click the button to clarify anything. Our team of experts are more than willing to answer all your queries!