Illuminated Sign or Not: How to Choose
An illuminated sign isn't always the best option for every business: it depends on your hours, location and local regulations. Here's when it's worth the investment, and when it isn't.
An illuminated sign isn't always the best option for every business: it depends on your hours, location and local regulations. Here's when it's worth the investment, and when it isn't.
An illuminated sign makes sense when the business has visibility during low-light hours: restaurants, pharmacies, petrol stations, hotels, or any business open into the evening or overnight. It's also a good option on streets with poor public lighting, or for premises on corners and busy routes, where standing out from neighbouring shopfronts makes a real difference.
If the business only opens during daylight hours (an office, a hairdresser, a neighbourhood shop with typical retail hours), a non-illuminated sign is usually enough, and it reduces both the upfront cost and ongoing maintenance. It also makes sense when the façade already gets good ambient lighting, or when local regulations in the area (historic centres, for example) limit or prohibit illuminated signage.
Today the vast majority of illuminated signs are built with LED technology: it uses far less energy than older solutions, runs cooler, and lasts for years without much maintenance. Within LED signage there are several options: backlit channel letters, light boxes, and LED neon profiles (which recreate the look of classic neon at a much lower running cost). The right choice depends on the logo design, the available façade, and the budget.
Every local council has its own rules for signage: maximum size, lighting hours, distance from the public highway, and, in many historic centres, specific restrictions on illuminated signage. Before installing a new sign it's worth checking the relevant local ordinance or asking the council directly; at Original Graphics we factor this in when designing and quoting a project.
Does an illuminated sign use a lot of electricity? With LED technology, running costs are low: an average sign uses roughly as much as a handful of domestic LED lights, far less than the old fluorescent tubes or traditional neon.
Do I need permission to install an illuminated sign? It depends on the municipality and on whether the sign involves work on the façade. In many cases it needs to be declared or licensed with the council; we confirm this as part of the quote.
Can a non-illuminated sign be lit up later? In some cases yes, if the design and mounting allow for it, but it's usually more cost-effective to decide this before manufacturing.
How long does an LED illuminated sign last? With normal use, current LED modules typically last several years without a noticeable drop in brightness, provided the installation is done properly.
If you're weighing up an illuminated or non-illuminated sign for your business, the most practical next step is to tell us your hours, location and the style you're after: from there we'll recommend the option that makes the most sense and prepare a no-obligation illuminated sign quote for you, with our team in Girona.
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