Sign Blog

Showing category "Residential house number" (Show all posts)

227 is in the ground!

Posted by Mark I on Wednesday, February 1, 2012, In : Residential house number 



Today was beautiful in Estes Park. One of those days that we have the advantage over the millions of folks that travel here- when it's nice we have the place all to ourselves... and we in the sign business choose these days for installations- although this install could have been handled in bitter cold and with our eyes closed- almost.

For full disclosure, I spent a little while on site last week digging, setting the pole and preparing the site for today's installation. The owner was there too...
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Concrete feels good

Posted by Mark I on Friday, January 27, 2012, In : Residential house number 

Starting out on the 3 hour routing job.


With the quick rough pass complete, it's time for the 1/8" ball nose to carve some details.



Even though the machine does a lot of work, the details are still finalized by hand.


... when the concrete goes in the ground, it's like you just have one more page until you reach then end of a chapter in a good book... it's almost over, and when it comes to a close the next chapter will be right there staring you in the face... like today (but I get ahead of mysel...
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Paint is the magic step

Posted by Mark I on Wednesday, January 18, 2012, In : Residential house number 
..signs always swell with life once the paint goes on. Paint covers differences in base finish, texture and substrates- it ties the project together- and that's just what happened in this case - although it wasn't an uneventful walk in the park getting there...

As I take you through this, keep in mind that this is an experimental project. An idea, sold to a willing (informed) customer at a great price that offers me the opportunity to take extra time and try new ideas... Paint being one of tho...
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Becoming more bombproof every step

Posted by Mark I on Wednesday, January 11, 2012, In : Residential house number 

Early on, with the steel frame and thin rod welded together that would provide the framework for the lath, that would support the concrete. (the lath is already complete on the vertical post)



So this house number project has turned into a great learning experience for me. You'll recall back in October I picked a few great ideas for new sign concepts up in Canada at a workshop.... The steel-and-concrete sign concept has been in the works too long from the customers perspective (thanks for your ...
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There's a new welder in town

Posted by Mark on Monday, November 28, 2011, In : Residential house number 
Now, the existing welders probably don't need to take offense, or even take notice that I have taken up the fun and rewarding endeavor of MIG welding... If things continue the way are turning out though, having this tool in our arsenal will make a huge difference in the work that is leaving this shop. In fact, I wonder how I got this far without a welder? (I know the answer: I paid others to weld projects for me)

When I visited Dan's shop in Yarrow BC (Canada), he introduced a technique that l...
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Signs of Life, Inc   Estes Park, Colorado   (970) 586-6995 

... meet the signmaker


Mark Igel It all started in 1992, I was working full time as a Paramedic and made a few signs on the side. The word got out, so I made a few more... People will pay me to make signs? I was in! This business is an exciting creative outlet that has allowed me to use cutting edge technology and release the ideas from inside my head- while offering effective signs to our customers. Today alongside my wife Kelly, we're doing our best to raise 7 children from 8-17 years old. I continue to volunteer with the Fire District, and enjoy Scouts with our sons.