Everything to Know About Buying a House Sign

House signs, and signage in general, are an important aspect of any home or business. They serve as a way to identify one property from another, not to mention give a first impression that counts. In this blog, we'll explore the key elements to ensure you get it right when it comes to choosing a house sign, and everything you need to know before you buy.

Guide Contents

1. A Brief History of House Signs

2. What Does a House Sign Do?

3. What Makes a Good House Sign

4. Types of House Signs

5. What is the Best Material for a House Sign?

6. Where to put a House Sign

7. Common House Sign Jargon

8. What to Expect From a House Sign Company

9. How to Order A House Sign online

10. Postage Times & Production Costs

11. House Sign Ideas

A brief history of house signs

First and foremost, let's look at how house signs came around and the important role they play in the day-to-day running of your home. It's hard to specifically pinpoint a time when the first house sign came about, but what we do know is that they have been around for many centuries. Earliest dates go back to ancient civilisations such as Greece, Rome and Egypt, where they were commonly used to make the entrance of public buildings and businesses. These signs often featured inscribed symbols and decorative features and were typically made from stone, wood or metal.

Fast forward to 1708 and we can see the first instance of a street being numbered in the UK, which according to the Postal Museum, was Prescot Street (pictured below) in Goodman's Fields, London. This was the start of house number signs as we know them today and also the start of the address system.

A brick wall with a black door, house sign reading "2 Friezingham Farm Cottages," and a video doorbell beside the door.
The image shows a slate house sign mounted onto sturdy oak posts with pyramid tops. The sign reads “Chestnutside” in clear white lettering, and the oak posts are set into a grassy field. The overall appearance is stylish and rustic, showcasing the natural wood and elegant slate combination. The Bespoke Sign House logo is visible in the top right corner.

What does a house sign do?

By being visible from the road, a house sign makes it easier for delivery drivers, family and friends to find your home. Some experts even suggest that a well-presented house sign can add value to your home and make a first impression that counts.

While a house sign is something we can take for granted, they do also play a crucial role in assisting emergency workers to identify and reach your property, which can be crucial should time be of the essence.

On a more aesthetic note, a good-looking and stylish house sign gives a welcoming first impression to your home and has even been highlighted as a factor which can improve your kerb appeal should you be looking to make a property stand out and wish to make it more attractive to buyers or renters. It can also give a welcome insight into its previous history and use of a property, with common names including The Old Tavern, The Old School House or The Forge often giving a glimpse into the property's former use.

Personalised house signs can include more than just a house name, as it can be a way to express your personality or style with the use of fonts, colours, images and even the family name of the occupants on the sign.

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What makes a good house sign?

It's always best to have at least a simple idea of what type of sign would be best suited for your property. Some things to consider are:

grey slate wall sign with a line border and the house name engraved in white

The Location

Where is the best spot to place the sign so it's easily visible to those searching for your property? Common locations include next to the front door or on an outward-facing wall.

The Size

After choosing a location, ensure the sign size fits the available space. A smaller sign will be harder to read from a distance, while an oversized sign may not fit properly in the intended area.

The Material

It's advisable to choose something that complements your property. Natural slate house signs are better suited for older, character-rich homes, while granite is perfect for contemporary properties.

The Text and Font

Make sure your text is well-spaced, even across multiple lines if necessary. When choosing fonts, opt for something easy to read, as overly decorative fonts can be difficult to decipher.

Types of House Signs

The term 'House signs' is a pretty general term used to describe the name plaques people put outside of their homes or property. However, in reality, there is plenty of different types of signs which are available.

a slate sign on a wooden trellis with the wording Bluebell engraved into the slate surface and painted white

House Signs

The standard sign with the name of the associated home or property. Sometimes includes a house number, but can just be a name too.

House Number Signs

Ideal for flats, apartments and busy high streets, house number signs tend to be a simple number for a particular.

Name Plaques

Usually these just include the name of the house or property without a number.

Wooden Posted Signs

These signs are popular in rural countryside homes. They are often signs, usually made out of wood or slate, erected a foot or two off the ground.

Farmhouse Signs

Often made from wood, farmhouse signs have a rough and rustic appearance, often displaying informal messaging, quotes or sayings.

Directional Signs

Often used to point towards an entrance or a particular part of a property. Typically as the name suggests, these signs have an arrow to point people in the right direction.

Bespoke Signs

These tend to be something out of the ordinary, and often involve a personalised design or logo.

What's the best material for a house sign?

Generally, slate is considered the best option for a house sign, but other options include granite, wood, ceramic and acrylic. Here are some of the pros and cons to consider when choosing the right material for your home.

wooden posted welsh house sign

1. Slate

The most popular choice as it is a great allrounder in terms of appearance, functionality and price. Slate looks stunning and holds up well in all weather conditions. It's a natural resource, which has been used for centuries. It also has a wide range of customisable options, such as the type of slate you use and the paint infill colours you choose.

2. Granite

Another popular stone, commonly used for modern and contemporary homes. Slate is, quite literally, rock hard and has a glossy surface which it keeps all year round. A slate sign would last and looks stunning. The only downsides are that the price is on the higher end of the pricing scale, while its paint and customisation options are slightly more limited when compared to slate.

3. Metal

Metal is an excellent choice for sign material, particularly for indoor use, as it is generally more affordable than stone. Aluminium and brass signs are especially ideal, as they offer better weather resistance when installed outdoors.

4. Acrylic

These house signs look modern and are highly customisable. they often have a backplate made out of aluminium or another sheet of acrylic. Although they have a less premium look compared to other options, they can be relatively well-priced. However, those with an eye out for the environment and single-use plastics will certainly look into the other more natural options mentioned above.

5. Wood

Also giving a natural appearance, wooden house signs are popular in rural England. However, it is prone to weathering both in the wet winter months where it develops small cracks, as well as in the hot summer months where they tend to fade. Generally, wooden signs, even when treated, will need to be replaced after a year or two.

6. Ceramic

Giving a delicate and quaint appearance, ceramic signs give a vintage appearance. They have been decreasing in popularity in recent years, but are still a viable option. Over time they tend to fade, and unless they are hand painted, they have a lower price point too.

Where do you put a house sign?

The best place to put a house sign is in a position which is clearly visible from the street or a road. The most common place to find a house sign is next to a front door or on the porch so it is clearly visible to anyone looking to find the property. 

If your home is set back from the road, a wooden posted sign can be ideal, to situate the house sign at the entrance of your drive, in your front garden or even on a fence post.

Something to consider when it comes to choosing a location for your sign is how visible it will be in low-light conditions such as in winter, as well as the height of the sign so it is easy for people to see and read.

a black slate welsh house sign with a what3words address engraved onto it in front of a white cypriot villa
black slate sign next to black house front door
door entrance step sign with postcode number

Explaining common house sign jargon

There can be a lot to take in when it comes to house sign shopping, especially in terms of the different finishing options and materials available. To make sure you get exactly what you want, here's a rundown of some of the most common terms you'd likely come across when looking for a house sign and what they mean.

[Still have some unanswered questions? Don't worry, we cover even more on our most frequently asked questions page.]

Engraved house signs

This is quite simply a slate sign which has been hand engraved with a sandblaster with your personalised text. The engraving is usually 1.5-2mm deep and lettering can be painted to give greater contrast between the slate and the numbers.

Etched house signs

This is done using a laser etching machine which lightly discolours the face of the slate to show the text. The text comes out as an off-white colour against the dark slate stone.

Smooth/polished slate

This is a type of slate which has a smooth honed finish. this gives a more modern and sleek appearance to the sign.

Natural slate

Also known as riven, this type of slate hasn't been honed so it has all of the original textures and creases in the face of the sign. This gives it more character and a rustic appearance.

Welsh/chiselled slate

Similar to natural slate, welsh slate has a rustic appearance along with a distinct chipped edge finish. As the name suggests, this type of slate is mined from Welsh quarries and is popular to .

Hidden/invisible fixings

This is a set of fixings which allow for your sign to be attached to a wall without any screws of bolts being visible. you can read more about how to install a sign with hidden fixings on our blog.

What to expect from a house sign company

When buying anything online, it's always best to do a bit of background research before buying a product or service. When it comes to a house sign provider, here are some top tips to make sure you get exactly what you want and avoid any unexpected surprises.

Always check reviews, as they can give you a great indication of not just the product, but the service which a company offers. Some things to look for, are:

The image shows a charming brick workshop with a moss-covered roof and a pale green door labeled “The Bespoke Sign House.” The front garden is lush with various plants and flowers, adding a vibrant touch to the scene. A hanging basket and wooden structures are visible in the background.
  • Are the reviews indicating that the products are as described?
  • Are there concerns about material quality?
  • Are orders created and dispatched quickly?
  • Does the manufacturer have good customer service?
  • Does the product arrive well packaged?
  • Is the company easy to get hold of?

A company should champion their reviews, good or bad. Often companies have a reviews page which pulls in their most recent reviews, or you can find reviews by looking at associated reviews sites such as Trustpilot or Google.

It's also important that the company is actively replying to customers and their needs. Make sure they have a company email address and a contact us page on their site. You don't want to be left stranded if you have a query or an issue with your order.

If you're conscious of your environmental impact, check to see how environmentally focused a company is and what sustainable practices they have in place. Are they actively looking to reduce their carbon footprint, lower emissions and reduce waste? It all is a sign of a well-intentioned company.

How to order a house sign online

When it comes to ordering a sign online, the process is a relatively simple one. You can see a selection of house sign templates which can be edited and personalised with your text and style. A live preview will be visible as you make edits, allowing you to see how your sign appears as you go. 

Once you have chosen your size, text, font and other customisable options, add the item to your cart and check out as you would with any online purchase. From here your sign will be handcrafted to order to your specific requests and dispatched to your requested shipping address. It is that easy!

If you need help ordering online, be sure to read through our How to Make a House Sign Online guide.

a slate house sign with a border design on a beige pebble-dashed UK house. The sign has engraved numbers and letters that are painted white

If you need help ordering online, be sure to read through our How to Personalise a House Sign guide.

Read the Guide

Postage costs and production times

Once you've purchased a sign, the next key question is how long will it take to arrive? The time it takes to produce a sign varies from company to company. but for The Bespoke Sign House, generally, you can expect to receive your sign within 14 days of purchasing (the festive period can be longer). You can stay up to date with your order progress with our order status tracker on your website.

All our UK signs are posted using Royal Mail Tracked 48 as standard, but faster express options and other couriers can be chosen too.

You can read more about our postage times and production costs for your region on our blog.

  • Postage Costs

    Postage costs vary by destination country. We provide free shipping to the UK, France, Ireland, and the United States. For shipping rates to other countries, please see our postage guide.

    Postage Guide 

  • Delivery Times

    Delivery times depend on the destination. Our free UK shipping option takes 2-3 working days. For a detailed overview of delivery times, please refer to our production times blog post.

    Timescales Blog Post 

  • Tracking Your Order

    Already placed your order? Thank you! We offer an online order tracking portal where you can follow the progress as our signmaker creates your sign. You'll need your email and order number to access the page.

    Order Tracking Page 
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House sign ideas

Now you have everything covered! But maybe you're still in need of a bit of inspiration for your new personalised house sign. Whether your house is a modern townhouse or a Georgian classic, there's a perfect sign for every home.

From personalised house signs with unique designs to beautiful homes with stunning door signs, you can see a range of styles in our bespoke sign gallery. You can also see some more unusual designs and ideas on our quirky house number signs page.

If you have an idea, but don't quite know how to make it come to life, or have a question about a potential sign for your home or property, contact us as we can help you create the perfect design for you.