Planning on setting up some new signage around your business? You might think you have everything planned out and squared away, but if you haven’t had a site survey completed yet, you could be missing vital information. A site survey is one of the best methods for ensuring the quality of your business signage, as well as its viability for a specific location.
What Is A Site Survey?
A site survey is when a location or spot is examined in order to obtain vital information for the project. The information may include things like estimated costs, time required to complete the project, and the feasibility of the site. Depending on the type of site survey being completed, the techniques used to gather the necessary information may differ.
What Factors Are Considered During A Site Survey?
When the professional surveyor comes to the intended project location, they will begin the survey by taking photos and measurements. They will also document some of the following points:
- Location: When thinking about the placement of a sign, the surveyor will also consider how conspicuous the location will be. Will the sign’s location allow for it to stand out and be seen?
- Detection: Visibility is extremely vital to signage. If no one sees it, what is the point? That is why a site survey will examine how easily a sign is detected and read from where it stands to where a driver or pedestrian first approaches it.
- Exposure Time: The amount of time a viewer has to see the sign before it passes beyond their line of sight. Exposure time is calculated by considering the speed limit, size of the sign and the fonts, and obstructions that could block the sign from view.
- Approach: This is the distance between the sign and the point at which the sign is first visible to any who pass it by. Approach is also determined by the speed limit on the street, line of sight, obstructions, and other factors.
As you can see, a site survey will reveal any issues with the sign design, location, and placement. You can also take the data gathered from the site survey and use it to figure out the best way for appealing to local zoning regulations and so on.
Of course, the site survey also changes based on what kind of sign you are installing. A monument sign is not going to have the same criteria as digital signage, for instance. You may also have to consider the additional equipment needed to make the setup work properly, such as cables and power sources.
Reasons To Have A Site Survey Completed
You may have thought out the location of your sign and the design quite a bit. And while thinking about the sign is wonderful, you shouldn’t overlook the benefit of having a site survey for your sign project.
Here are some reasons why a site survey should be an essential step:
Improves Efficiency
You want an optimal sign. One that maximizes the exposure of your brand. In order to do that, you get a site survey to tell you where to put the sign, what kind of sign to use, and what features and colors would have the greatest appeal. Once you complete the site survey, you can go to a sign company near you and have the designers come up with examples using the criteria from the survey.
The designers will be able to take the data and figure out the angles, height, width, and other elements that would be most effective for your situation. They may even determine what kind of illumination would be best.
Compliance
Both indoor and outdoor signage must meet specific standards. Some signage, particularly those being installed inside the building, must be placed at a certain height for maximum visibility. A site survey will help determine the best places to position such signs so that your business remains compliant to certain laws.
Practicality
A site survey does more than provide insight—it tells you the most practical way to set up a sign. For example, a site survey will consider exposure to the elements, thereby giving you and the sign designers ideas for which materials to use. Other practical uses for a site survey include electrical installation and ease of access for maintenance.
Cost-Effective
A sign is going to be an investment, no matter what. But what if you could reduce some of the cost just by having a better design? Site surveys clue in the designer to tricks for making your sign more noticeable without hiking up the cost. The sign company may be able to make suggestions based on the data that prolong the sign’s lifespan, too.
Final Thoughts
Before every single sign project, it is necessary to have a site survey. Understanding the area and determining the effectiveness of a sign is important because you are making an investment that should be working for you. A site survey will unearth opportunities and solutions for signage that you may have never considered otherwise. If you are considering new signage, be sure to get a signage site survey completed.
Have questions about a site survey for business signage? Give Tupp Signs a call or fill out the contact form.