Channel Letter Signs
We install and repair eye-catching channel letter signs at stores, businesses, restaurants, and gas stations.
Seamless Channel Letter Sign Installations
From Start to Finish
At Malik Lighting and Signs, we’ll take the following steps to mount your channel letter sign:
- Visit your site and collaborate with you to meet your business and brand needs.
- Recommend appropriate options to satisfy your goals.
- Provide a quote and design.
- Obtain zoning permits and approvals.
- Design and fabricate your channel letters.
- Install your channel letter sign.
- Offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
7 Reasons to Choose Channel Letter Signs
1. High Visibility
When properly planned, fabricated, and installed, channel letter signs are highly visible and prominent, effectively showcasing your branding. Lighted channel letter signs can be seen from a distance — especially late at night.
2. Customization and Brand Recognition
The fonts, colors, and shapes of channel letters and numbers are nearly limitless. You can match your brand’s look and feel, creating a recognizable brand.
3. Dimensionality
The 3-D letters add depth and impact.
4. Navigation
Drivers and pedestrians can easily find your business — even at night or in congested areas. Your lighted channel letters can serve as beacons, attracting people to your store, restaurant, or office building.
5. Durability
Channel letters are durable. Whether constructed of aluminum, acrylic, or polycarbonate, they can withstand the scalding summers and brutal winters.
6. Versatility
Channel letter signs are often used to showcase corporate enterprises, small- and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), storefronts, plazas, and boutiques.
7. Energy Efficiency
Modern LED lights are environmentally friendly and can reduce operational costs by decreasing both energy bills and the frequency of replacing light bulbs.
What to Consider When Planning Your Channel Letter Sign
You’ll want to consider the following when planning your channel letter sign:
- Letter Size – You’ll want your letters to be prominent and highly visible. At the same time, property managers, landlords, or local zoning ordinances may dictate the allowed height and area your sign may occupy.
- Letter Location and Legibility – You’ll want your sign to be legible with the right amount of kerning (horizontal space) between each letter.
- Your Organizational Branding – You’ll want to be consistent with your branding when it comes to colors, font styles, finishes, and the width and height of each channel letter, while maintaining legibility and visibility.
- Channel Lettering – Your choice of illumination, zoning, and approvals will often dictate the materials we use to fabricate your sign.
- Illumination – Consider how the letters will appear both during the day and at night. (See boxed text: “Channel Letter Lighting Options.”)
- Mounting – Three options are available for mounting channel letters. (See boxed text: “Channel Letter Mounting Options.”)
- Budget – The number of elements (letters, numbers, graphics), zoning ordinance, channel lettering materials, fabrication, mount, and installation time can impact your budget. We’ll help you find options that work within your budget.
What are channel letter signs?
Channel letter signs consist of individual three-dimensional (3-D) letters, numbers, or graphics that fit into a channel—similar to letters resting in front of you in a game of Scrabble.
They are used most often as exterior building signage.
Channel Letter Materials Alternatives
We design and fabricate letters from a variety of materials. Illumination, budgets, appearance, and local zoning, or landlord approvals, will impact your choice of channel letter materials. We construct channel letters from the following materials.
- Aluminum, acrylic, or foam for non-illuminated or spotlit channel letters.
- Translucent acrylic face with aluminum sides and backs (returns) for front-lit channel letter signs.
- Opaque metal faces and sides (returns) with transparent polycarbonate backs and mounted to stand off from the sign for halo-lit or back-lit channel letter signs.
- Translucent acrylic face and transparent back for channel letters that are lit from both the front and back for visual impact.
- Open-face channel letters with aluminum sides that expose the LED light source. The light source is part of the design.
Channel Sign Lighting Options
You may consider various options for your channel letter sign’s lighting. Five different illumination options are available for channel letter signs.
- Non-illuminated channel letters – rely on a spotlight or other external lighting at night, or remain unilluminated at night.
- Front-lit channel letters – LED lights shine through the translucent acrylic face of each letter. Front-lit letters are more affordable than backlit channel lettering signs. They are bright, highly visible, and vibrant.
- Backlit channel letter signs – also known as halo-lit channel letters or reverse channel letters, the LED light shines from the back of each letter, creating a halo effect that is subtle, elegant, and sophisticated.
- Combination of front-lit/backlit channel letters – each letter lights from both the back and the front for a sophisticated and impactful appearance.
- Open-face illumination – channel letters reveal exposed lighting, creating a retro or edgy vibe.
Channel Letter Mounting Options
Malik Lighting and Signs can mount channel letters in three different ways.
- Flush Mount (also called Direct Mount)
- Backer Panel Mount
- Raceway Mount
Flush Mount – We mount each individual letter directly to the building’s facade. We route the wiring behind each letter to a remote power supply. Flush mounts offer a clean, polished appearance.
Backer Panel Mount – We mount your channel letters on a panel made of acrylic or aluminum composite. We then hoist the panel onto the building’s facade. Backer panels can create visual interest and also be applied to facades that are not perfectly smooth.
Raceway Mount – We position your letters within a rectangular metal box (raceway) that we wire from behind. We then mount the raceway onto the facade. Installation is simpler. Moreover, the sign is not integrated into the building. Therefore, you may be able to move the sign if you ever switch locations.
Why Choose Malik Lighting and Signs
Our Expertise
Malik Lighting and Signs is a licensed, insured, and bonded company. We are trained technicians, journeymen, installers, engineers, and licensed electricians who meet or exceed the requirements of the National Electrical Code (NEC).
We are commercial contractors serving commercial businesses throughout Chicagoland, with a particular focus on the unique needs of gas stations.
Our Affordability
We offer top-notch lighting and sign solutions that fit your budget easily.
Our Quality
We’re honest, of the highest quality, and we don’t cut corners on installation, service, or parts. We guarantee our work.
Our Experience
For 25+ years, we’ve provided high-octane services at affordable rates. We offer remarkably speedy 24/7 emergency sign and lighting repairs, electrical and sign upgrades, LED conversions, branding installations, and more with maximum efficiency.
Our Customer Services
We’re fueled by a passion for working with customers, including:
- Business owners
- Project managers
- Jobbers
- Gas station owners
- Petroleum companies
- General contractors
- National sign companies
Our Refreshing Attitude
We illuminate the world with our upbeat attitude and exceptional service.
We’ll go the extra mile for you.
Click on the featured Commercial Service box below to learn more about our exceptional lighting, signs, and branding.
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