Home Blade and projecting signs
Blade and projecting signs in Raleigh, NC
A blade sign sticks out from the wall, so people walking along the sidewalk can read it head on. We design, build and hang them, lit or unlit.
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- Locally owned since 2009
- Permits handled for you
- Serving the whole Triangle
Built for people on foot
A flat wall sign is easy to read from across the street and nearly invisible from a few doors down the same sidewalk. Blade signs fix that. Mounted at a right angle to the building, they face foot traffic coming from both directions, which makes them the natural choice for downtown shops, walkable shopping centers and offices tucked behind a porch.
Most blade signs are double-sided, with a panel hung from a bracket or fixed to a frame. The panel can be painted aluminum, carved HDU, a shaped cutout or a small lit cabinet. Because the sign hangs over a walkway, the bracket, the wall anchors and the clearance underneath all matter, so we size the hardware for your wall.
Kinds of blade signs
Hanging blade signs
A panel hung from a bracket on rings or chains. Reads from both sides and suits salons, shops and cafes.
Vertical lit blades
A tall, narrow lit sign fixed to the facade, visible from down the block after dark.
Round and shaped signs
Cut to a circle, an oval or the outline of your logo, so the shape itself becomes part of the brand.
Porch and canopy signs
Small signs hung under a porch roof or canopy, for offices and shops set back from the street.
Brackets
Scroll brackets, straight steel arms or custom shapes, finished to suit the building.
Blade signs we've built
Boardroom SalonHanging blade sign
Young & AssociatesHanging blade sign on porch
PolishedVertical lit blade sign
AlpacaRound blade sign
Suede LoungeOval projecting sign with neon ring
What shapes a blade sign
- Clearance
- Towns set a minimum height above the sidewalk and limit how far a sign can stick out. We design to the rules where your building is.
- The wall
- Brick and block take masonry anchors. Siding and stucco usually need solid framing behind them to carry the weight.
- Wind
- A bigger panel catches more wind, so the bracket and anchors are sized to the sign, not the other way round.
- Lighting
- Lit from inside, edged with LED neon, or lit by a small gooseneck light aimed at the panel.
How a blade sign goes up
Site visit
We check the wall material, what is behind it, and the sidewalk and doorway below.
Design
You approve the panel shape, both faces and the bracket style on a photo of your storefront.
Permits
We file the sign permit and get landlord or district approval where it is needed.
Build
The panel and bracket are made and finished to match.
Hang
The bracket is anchored into the structure, the panel is hung level and any lights are wired.
Blade sign questions
What is the difference between blade signs and projecting signs?
People use the terms loosely. A projecting sign is any sign that sticks out from a wall. Blade signs are a kind of projecting sign, usually slim and double-sided, and often hung from a bracket. Both are aimed at people on foot.
Do blade signs need a permit in Raleigh?
Usually, yes. Raleigh and nearby towns regulate projecting signs, including how far they stick out and how high they hang over a sidewalk. Shopping centers and downtown districts often add their own rules. We check and file for you.
Can a blade sign be lit?
Yes. It can be a small lit cabinet, have LED neon around the edge, or be lit by a gooseneck light aimed at the panel. Lighting needs power at the wall, which we check on the site visit.
What size should a blade sign be?
It depends on the sidewalk, the building and the local rules. We mock it up on a photo of your storefront so you can judge the scale before anything is built.
Can you mount a blade sign on brick?
Yes. Brick takes masonry anchors set into the brick or the mortar joints. We check the wall before we design the bracket so it is sized for what it is holding.
What areas do you serve?
We're based in North Raleigh and work across the Triangle, including Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Apex, Wake Forest, Holly Springs, Garner, Morrisville and Fuquay-Varina.
Get a free blade sign quote
Tell us what you need and where it goes. Carlo will get back to you with questions or a price.
- Free quote, no obligation
- We handle the permit
- Design, build and install in one shop
Rather talk it through?
Call 919-696-0353