How the signs are made - materials and
processes
Standingstone house signs are made from only the
highest quality materials which are used to create a functional, yet
elegant product. The castings are strong and durable but lighter than
a true bronze casting or an actual piece of slate. They are
unaffected by even the most extreme weather conditions and will not
rot, warp, split, crack or rust.
What is cold cast bronze?
Cold casting is a process of casting using metal or mineral filled
resins. It was developed in the 1950's by Sir Alec Tiranti and is now
widely used by fine art sculptors. Cold cast bronze is also known as
resin bronze and bonded bronze.
The first layer applied into the mould, and so forming the exterior
of the sign, is a mixture of pure bronze powder and a small amount of
polyester resin - just enough to make the mixture brushable. When
this layer has set, the casting is strengthened with further layers
of reinforced resin composite. This process results in a casting with
a slightly hollow back.
Once the casting is removed from the mould, the low relief modelling
is highlighted by the application of paint washes to create a patina
effect; the bronze-rich surface is then polished to enhance the
metallic finish. Finally the sign is sealed with several coats of
clear gloss lacquer in order to give the surface long-term protection
against dulling and tarnishing. Customers can specify a waxed finish
as an alternative to lacquer but should be aware that the surface
will quickly mature to a dark nut-brown colour.
...and resin-slate?
A similar process is employed when making resin bronze house signs
except a resin/slate mixture is the first layer brushed into the
mould. Again further layers of reinforced resin and fillers are
applied. After the lettering has been etched into the surface these
signs are given a traditional linseed oil finish - with time this
will weather away leaving the sign a lighter slate grey but is easily
re-applied if desired.
Lettering
Both cold cast bronze and resin-slate house
signs have the lettering engraved/etched into the sign using
a grit blasting process - set just below the surface of the
nameplate. It is then finished in white using a durable sign
writer's paint.
There is a choice from seven different
lettering styles (fonts) for your house sign, these are
illustrated on the Lettering styles page. If in
doubt 'A - THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE' is recommended. Heritage
house signs are supplied with a clear calligraphic style of
lettering as standard. A choice of one of these styles is not
mandatory - we can, where possible, use a font of your
choice.
Great care is taken with the design, layout
and accurate spacing of the lettering in order to provide the
best visual effect and legibility in the space available on
the nameplate. If you have a preferred layout please enclose
it with your order. All Foliate and Heritage signs have
the option of a larger nameplate to accommodate longer names
or a house number and name on two lines.
If you are unsure how your address will look on a sign in a
particular lettering style or layout please use our free
"View before you
buy" service and we will email you a draft picture of the
sign with the lettering for your approval. To use this service
look for and click on the "Request a draft picture" link
included with the description and details for each sign.
Fixing
All house signs are supplied ready
for fixing with pre-drilled holes, appropriate
screws, masonry plugs and press-fit screw covers. As
part of the casting process, all our signs have a
slightly hollow back to them and will 'give' slightly
when screwing them into position; this helps if
you're fixing a sign to a rough or uneven surface.
They are easily secured using ordinary DIY tools.
If there isn't a vertical surface
available where you want to site your sign - with a
little ingenuity and maybe carpentry - it could also
be fixed to a post, gate or similar. For example, at
the end of a drive you could set a paving slab into
the ground or a bank and then fix the sign to it.
When positioning your sign be aware that walls are
sometimes out of true, in which case don't be a slave
to the spirit level - take the attitude 'if it looks
level, it is level'.
House Names
The procedure for changing
the name of a house address in the UK is as
follows:
1. If your address has a
house number, then that number will always
remain as the postal address. A house name can
be added as an alias, e.g. "11 Church Lane"
becomes "Rose Cottage, 11 Church Lane". You can
inform your local Council of the change but
this is not obligatory. In these circumstances
it is most important that you continue to use
and display the existing house number which
will still take precedence over the new house
name.
2. If your address has a
house name only and no number, then a
request for a change of name must be put in
writing to your local Council, usually the
highways or engineers department. This
procedure also applies if you are building a
new home and have been given permission to give
it a name only. Before approving the change,
the council will contact all the relevant
authorities to ensure the change of name is
satisfactory. If they approve the change, the
department will inform Royal Mail but it is
worth checking that they have done so. You will
have to notify the Land Registry and all other
official bodies who may need to find your
address or contact you by post - these include
the local emergency services, your mortgage
provider, bank, utilities, etc.
It is most important to follow
these procedures and ensure your house name or
house number can easily be seen from the road -
you never know when the emergency services may
need to find your address in a hurry!
Press
Articles about
Standingstone have appeared in the
following publications:
-
Period Living &
Traditional Homes - four times,
including the article titled "Six
of the best door plates"
-
BBC Homes &
Antiques
-
Country Living
-
Period Ideas For
Your Home
-
Homebuilding &
Renovating
-
Perfect Home
-
Self Build
-
Period House
-
Your Cat
-
Horse &
Hound
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©2009 Standingstone
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