Vineyards are one of the few businesses where a wood sign is not a stylistic choice, it is
the obvious material. Everything around it is timber, stone and vine. A metal or acrylic sign
at the top of a vineyard drive looks like it was delivered to the wrong address.
The catch is that outdoors is genuinely hard on wood, and most of what separates a sign that
lasts from one that grays out in two seasons happens in the finishing, not the cutting.
The project
A vineyard came to us wanting something that felt like the estate rather than like signage.
We built it on an ebony stained base with a metallic gold logo, which is a combination that
does something specific outdoors: the dark base recedes into the landscape and the gold picks
up low sun in the morning and evening, which is when most people are actually arriving.
Gold on ebony is also more forgiving than gold on a light base as the wood weathers. Dark
stains age more gracefully than light ones.
Interior build vs exterior build
This is the decision that matters most, and it is worth understanding before you order
anything.
| Interior build | Exterior build | |
|---|---|---|
| Finish | Stain and seal | Stain, seal, plus exterior clear coat |
| Coats | Fewer, one cure cycle | Multiple coats with cure time between each |
| Lead time | About a week | Longer, the cure time is not negotiable |
| Appearance | Stain shows true | Slightly darker, the clear coat deepens the tone |
| Best placement | Lobby, tasting room, office | Entrance, covered exterior, barn wall |
The exterior clear coat is worth asking about at quote stage rather than after, because it
changes both the price and the schedule.
Placement advice for outdoor signs
- Covered beats exposed. Under an eave, a porch or a pergola, a wood sign
lasts dramatically longer than one in full sun and rain. - Face away from the prevailing weather where you have the choice.
- Dark stains hide weathering. Light and white washed bases show it sooner.
- Go bigger than feels necessary. Outdoors there is nothing to give scale, and
a sign that looks large indoors looks small at the end of a drive. - Recoat every few years. A fresh clear coat every two or three seasons on an
exposed sign is the difference between a decade and a couple of years.
See sizes and exterior options
Frequently asked questions
How long will an exterior wood sign last?
With an exterior clear coat and some shelter, years. In full exposure, plan on recoating
periodically. Wood is a natural material and it does move with the weather.
Does the clear coat change the color?
Slightly. It deepens the stain a little, which we account for at the proof stage.
How large can you go?
Up to 60 inches on the long side, which is larger than most makers can produce or ship. Useful
for entrance signage where scale matters.
Can you do a shaped sign rather than a rectangle?
Yes. Contour cut signs
follow the outline of your logo or a custom silhouette.
See yours before you commit
We send a free digital proof before cutting, showing your logo on your chosen
stain at your chosen size. Made in the USA, shipped nationwide from California.
Related:
winery tasting room signs ·
wine cellar signs ·
farm signs
