Shop signs & fascias · Washington, Tyne & Wear
Dibond & ACM signs in Washington
Rigid aluminium composite signs, often called Dibond, for shop fronts, fascias, walls and fences. Printed, laminated and made up in our factory in Washington for £100 per square metre, with no VAT to add.
£100per m²
Printed on adhesive vinyl, laminated and applied to ACM. A-board panels £45 each or £80 a pair. Foamex £60 per m², laminated. No VAT to add.
Get a quote Call 07440 121 487
- Material
- Aluminium composite (ACM)
- Foamex
- £60 per m², laminated
- Price
- £100 per m²
- A-boards
- 3mm ACM, £45 each
- Design
- Free on orders over £100
- Turnaround
- 3–5 working days
Why aluminium composite
ACM, often sold under the Dibond name, is two thin skins of aluminium bonded to a solid core. It stays flat and rigid, it won’t rot or warp like wood, and it’s light enough to fix to a fascia, wall or fence without heavy brackets. That’s why most shop signs you walk past are made from it.
For a sign that’s going up for years, like a shop front, a unit fascia or an entrance sign, it’s the sensible choice. If you only need something for a few weeks or an event, a PVC banner does the job for a lot less.
Made in Washington
Every sign is printed on adhesive vinyl on our Roland in Washington, laminated, and applied to the ACM panel in the same factory. You deal with the people doing the work, so if something needs checking, like a colour, a spelling or a measurement, you get a straight answer from the person who knows.
We’ve made fascias and shop signs for businesses across Washington, Sunderland and the North East, from motor traders and a Sunderland merch shop to a florist and a dog groomer. Some of them are shown on this page.
A-board panels
If you’ve already got an A-board, you don’t need a new one to change the message. We print new panels on 3mm ACM, sized to fit your frame. They stand up to being carried in and out every day.
Measure the panel area of your frame, or tell us the make, and send the design. A lot of businesses keep a second set for seasonal offers or events.
Foamex boards for easels and indoors
Not every sign needs to last ten years outside. For easel boards at events and weddings, menu boards, point-of-sale and indoor signs, foamex does the job for less. It’s a rigid PVC foam board, light enough to carry and prop on an easel, and we use it in 3mm and 5mm.
It’s printed the same way as our ACM signs: on vinyl, then applied to the board, so the print is just as sharp. Every foamex sign has a laminated finish to protect the print from scuffs and fingermarks.
Foamex is £60 per square metre, printed, laminated and applied to the board. So an A1 board, about half a square metre, is around £30. There’s no VAT to add.
We also use our foamex offcuts for smaller signs, which keeps waste down.
Getting the sign right first time
- Measure the space and send a photo of it. We’ll lay the sign out to suit.
- Keep it readable from the road. Your name, what you do and a phone number beat a list of every service.
- Check the proof properly. Spellings and phone numbers are the things that get missed. Nothing is made until you’ve approved it.
Common sign sizes
Signs are made to the space they’re going in, so these are starting points rather than a fixed list.
| Size | In millimetres | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| A2 | 420 × 594mm | Door signs, opening hours, small wall signs |
| A1 | 594 × 841mm | Wall and fence signs, A-board panels |
| 1200 × 800mm | 1200 × 800mm | Site and entrance signs, larger wall signs |
| 8ft × 4ft | 2440 × 1220mm | Shop and unit fascias |
| Made to measure | Any size | Send the measurements and we’ll size it |
Send the size and where it’s going, and we’ll come back with a price and a proof.
Finishing
- Laminate
- Every sign is laminated to protect the print from rain, sun and scuffs. It’s included in the £100 per m² price.
- A-board panels
- 3mm ACM panels printed to fit your A-board frame: £45 each or £80 a pair. Order a spare set and swap them for seasonal offers.
- Foamex boards
- 3mm or 5mm foamex, printed and applied the same way. Light and good value for easel boards, indoor signs and short-term displays. £60 per m², laminated.
- Fitting
- Ask when you order. Tell us where the sign is going and what it’s fixing to.
- Design
- Free on orders over £100. On smaller jobs, design time is £25 an hour, and we’ll tell you roughly how long it’ll take before we start.
Get a quote
Tell us about the job
Send the size, quantity and when you need it. Artwork is optional at this stage. We check every job by hand and nothing is printed until you've approved the proof and the price.
Dibond & ACM signs: common questions
How much does an ACM sign cost?
£100 per square metre, printed, laminated and applied to the ACM panel. So an A1 sign, about half a square metre, is around £50. A-board panels are £45 each or £80 a pair. There’s no VAT to add.
What is Dibond?
Dibond is the best-known brand of aluminium composite, or ACM: two thin sheets of aluminium with a solid core between them. It’s rigid, flat and light for its size, and it doesn’t rot, warp or rust, which is why it’s the standard for shop signs.
Will an ACM sign last outside?
Yes. The panel itself is made for outdoor use, and every sign is laminated to protect the print from weather and scuffs.
Can you fit the sign as well?
Ask when you order and we’ll talk through fitting for your sign. Tell us where it’s going and what it’s fixing to.
Can you print new panels for my A-board?
Yes. We make A-board panels from 3mm ACM, printed to fit your frame. Measure the panel area of your frame, or tell us the make, and we’ll make them to fit. Many customers keep a spare set and swap them when the offer changes.
What’s the difference between foamex and ACM?
Foamex is a lighter, cheaper PVC foam board, made for indoor signs, easel boards and short-term displays. ACM is aluminium composite, stiffer and made for years outdoors. We print both the same way, on vinyl that’s applied to the board, so the print quality is the same. Foamex is £60 per square metre and ACM is £100, both laminated. Tell us where the sign is going and we’ll tell you which suits.
How long does a sign take?
Currently 3 to 5 working days from artwork approval for a typical sign. Bigger or more complicated signs can take longer, and we’ll tell you up front if yours will.
I only have a logo. Can you design the sign?
Yes. Send the logo and the wording and we’ll lay it out and send you a proof. Design is free on orders over £100. Under that it’s £25 an hour, and we’ll tell you the likely time before we start.