The Sign Maker: Signs in Wood
Oak, Cherry, Chestnut, Cedar, Iroko
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Wood Signs In Various Timbers...
A Variety of Timbers for Wood Signs
At our workshops in Devon we have a barn full of racks of timber in varying thickness and types. Here we create the wood sign blanks. Anything from small wooden house signs to massive wood business signage.
The most popular timber for wood signs is Oak and in our opinion, it is the most beautiful timber. However we do sell a lot of Sapele for its deep red colour and Iroko for its high oil content - needs less maintenance.
We also make wooden signs in Cherry, Red Cedar, Chestnut and Douglas Fir. See below.
Wood Signs - Oak
This is by far the most popular timber we use for house signs. The English oak has a majesty all of its own, with wonderful variations in grain, texture and colour and often small pin knots and burrs are an attractive feature. It is a heavy wood and is strong and durable. Providing it is maintained it will last a lifetime.
Iroko Wood Signs
Iroko, similar to teak for its appearance, is a highly durable hardwood renowned for its exceptional resistance to the elements. Its dense, stable structure and natural oil content make it an ideal choice for outdoor signage. Unlike many other timbers, Iroko can be left untreated. Its warm, natural tones provide a timeless aesthetic, making it a popular choice for creating eye-catching and durable wood signage.
Large Douglas Fir Signs & Douglas Fir Memorial Plaques
Douglas Fir is reddish brown to yellow/orange in colour with a straight grain and is characterized by exceptional strength, hardness, and durability. It is very tough and water resistant, making it useful in exposed situations where maintenance is difficult. The grain is coarser than oak, and hairline cracks tend to be a timber feature. The coarser grain can occasionally cause a slight paint bleed along the grain. However, this is only noticeable up close, so it doesn't affect the appearance of larger signage. For smaller memorial plaques, we suggest leaving the lettering lasered and unpainted.
Sapele Wooden House Sign
Sapele wood, with its rich, lustrous, and variable reddish-brown colour, offers a beautiful mahogany-like appearance. Sapele is a highly stable timber and resistant to movement over time and remarkably, it is even harder than oak. These qualities make Sapele a good choice for wooden house signs, offering both visual appeal and resilience at an excellent value. Its smooth, dense surface also makes it ideal for painted wooden signs, as it holds paint exceptionally well, ensuring vibrant, long-lasting finishes.
Wooden Signs - Chestnut - Highly Durable
Sweet chestnut, often dubbed the "poor man's oak," is viewed by us as a good alternative to oak. Despite its similar appearance and dense grain, it boasts a high tannin content, rendering it highly durable. While not as structurally robust as oak, it serves superbly for wooden house signs. Basically it looks good for longer and is cheaper.
Cherry Wood House Signs
This lovely timber, often difficult to obtain, reddens when exposed to sunlight, and the colour improves with age. It has a fine, straight, close grain which resists warping and shrinking. As with most timber, it needs to be well maintained. We treat as standard with a long-life satin varnish
Red Cedar Signs
Cedar has a high tannin content producing excellent weathering characteristic. The timber also has a very short grain resulting in minimal checking and warping. Extremely durable for many years of use. It is also used for wooden signs with raised lettering where the background is sand blasted away. The timber can be oiled for a rich finish or left untreated to weather to a beautiful silver grey colour. This is a good option if you want a wooden sign without having to look after it!
More Wooden Signs
Timber arrives at our workshops as raw planks, which our skilled carpenters expertly transform into a wide range of wooden signs. We create everything from house signs in various shapes and sizes, including rustic timber slices and hanging signs, to larger business signage. For homes and businesses, we make wooden signs on posts, both for a single sign or multiple signs, like ladder-style signage. Our wooden fingerposts are also popular with parks and estates for directional guidance.
Timber Information
We use a variety of timbers to make our wooden signs. They all have their own unique character and look, but each has a different set of properties, making them useful in different situations. Each has advantages and disadvantages.
Whatever your needs, our talented carpenters will bring your vision to life with precision and craftsmanship.