FAQs

We offer a lifetime warranty on all cast bronze and aluminum plaques and metal letters. These durable materials are designed to stand the test of time, and we stand behind their quality for as long as you own the plaque.

For HDU (High-Density Urethane) signs, the warranty is more flexible. While HDU is a durable and weather-resistant material, it’s not quite as long-lasting as metal. We don’t offer a specific lifetime warranty on HDU, but we’re committed to working with our customers to ensure their satisfaction. If you encounter any issues, please contact us, and we’ll do our best to help find a solution.

The smallest letter size we can produce is 0.25 inches tall. As an example, on a 10″ x 10″ plaque, you could technically fit up to around 400 characters if there were no spaces, titles, or design elements. However, there are other factors to consider:

• Spacing: Adequate spacing between letters and words is essential for readability.
• Title and Other Elements: Larger text for titles, logos, or design details will take up more space.

To ensure your plaque looks balanced and readable, we’ll work with you to adjust the design. If your content doesn’t fit, we have two options:

1. Increase the Size of the Plaque: We can adjust the size of your plaque to accommodate more text (note: this may increase the cost).
2. Reduce Your Content: Alternatively, you can simplify the content to make it fit within the chosen plaque size.

Send us what you have, and we’ll help you figure out the best solution for your project!

We love making signs and plaques uniquely yours and strive to keep costs reasonable. However, we often receive artwork that we can’t use, which can be frustrating and time-consuming for everyone.

There are two ways to address this:

1. File Conversion by Us: We can recreate your artwork in a usable format. This service is $75 per hour, with a $75 minimum charge. We’ll give you a firm quote once we review your artwork.
2. Submit in a Usable Format: The best option is to send us files in the following formats:
   • Adobe Illustrator (.ai)
   • EPS
   • Vectorized PDF (created in Illustrator and saved as a PDF)
   • Some CAD/CAM formats (DWG or DXF)
3. Even in these formats, there are a few important conditions:
   • All text must be converted to outlines.
   • Artwork should be fully vectorized.
   • Fonts: If you have a specific font you’d like us to use, please include the font file with your submission, purchase it online, or convert the text to outlines. Without this, we may not be able to match the font exactly.
   • Avoid rasterized images (typically used in photo editing software), as they are not usable.
   • Ensure that all lines are joined (welded) and that there are no overlaid lines.
   • Embedded or linked files are not acceptable.

Unacceptable Formats: GIF, JPG, TIFF, BMP, PCX, Microsoft PowerPoint (PPT), Microsoft Word (DOC), Adobe Photoshop (PSD), Quark (QXD), Pagemaker, or any other word processing or text editing program.

The weight of your sign depends on the material and size. Here’s a guide to help you estimate:

1. HDU (High-Density Urethane): Signs
HDU weighs about 30 pounds per cubic foot. For example, a 1-inch thick HDU sign that’s 12″ x 12″ (1 square foot) would weigh approximately 2.5 pounds. As the size or thickness of the sign increases, the weight will adjust accordingly.
2. Bronze Plaques:
The weight of a bronze plaque can be estimated by calculating the plaque’s volume (height x width x depth) in cubic inches, then multiplying by 0.31.
For smaller plaques (under 36″ x 30″), use a depth of 0.25″. For larger plaques (over 36″ x 30″), use a depth of 0.375″.
Example: A 36″ x 24″ bronze plaque would be calculated like this:
36″ x 24″ x 0.25″ = 216 cubic inches.
216 cu. in. x 0.31 = 66.96 lbs.
So, the estimated weight would be about 67 pounds.
3. Aluminum Plaques:
Aluminum plaques weigh approximately one-third of the weight of a similarly sized bronze plaque. For example, if a bronze plaque weighs 67 pounds, a comparable aluminum plaque would weigh around 22 pounds.

If you have specific size requirements, feel free to reach out. We can help you estimate the weight and adjust the materials to meet your needs!

At Atlas Signs and Plaques, we offer a wide variety of finishes, material options, and custom design possibilities to make your plaque truly unique.

• Finishes: We provide a range of stunning metal finishes to suit your design needs. You can explore the available finishes on our Metal Finishes Page.
• Material Choices: Our signs and plaques are crafted from high-quality materials, including HDU (High-Density Urethane), cast bronze, aluminum, flat cut metal and more. You can learn more about the materials we use on our Materials Page.
• Custom Designs: We specialize in creating custom designs tailored to your vision. Whether it’s personalized text, logos, or artwork, our design team will work closely with you to bring your ideas to life. For more details or to get started on your own custom sign, visit our Custom Sign Quote Page.

Feel free to reach out with your ideas, and we’ll help create a beautiful, high-quality plaque or sign that fits your needs perfectly!

Once an order is approved and moves “In Production,” it can no longer be canceled or changed. However, if your order is still in the preflight or proofing stage, it may be canceled, subject to the following conditions and fees:

• Same-Day Cancellations: Orders placed, paid for, and canceled before 4 p.m. MT on the same day are eligible for a full refund or store credit for future orders.
• After the same day of order: A cancellation fee of 3.5% of the full order amount will apply.

Please note that any design or proof fees will not be refunded once the design or proofing process has begun.

Making Changes to Your Order

If you need to make changes to your order, please reach out to us as soon as possible. Once production has started on your plaque, changes are generally not possible without incurring additional charges. The same applies if you discover a mistake after receiving your plaque. In these cases, we will work with you to make any necessary corrections, but additional costs may apply depending on the situation.

If you’re unsure or need to make changes, it’s best to contact us immediately before your plaque enters production.

Since all of our work is custom-made just for you, it takes time to produce a quality product. Here are the typical production times:

• HDU Signs: Usually ship in about 3 weeks.
• Precision Cast Plaques & Metal Letters: Typically take 3-5 weeks. Metal letters may ship faster, but this can vary depending on the season.

If you need your order by a certain date, we can sometimes accommodate rush requests. However, it depends on our current production schedule and whether we can squeeze you in. Our motto is that everyone’s deadline is important to them, and it wouldn’t be fair to delay orders already in production to prioritize last-minute requests.

We focus on quality, and every order is made to order—so please allow enough time for the production of your custom piece. Feel free to contact us, and we’ll do our best to work with your timeline!