Slate House Signs

Grey Slate

Grey slate is the most widely recognised and respected form of slate, traditionally quarried in regions such as Wales, Spain and Brazil.

Its colour comes primarily from carbon, iron sulphides and fine clay minerals, creating subtle variations that give each piece its own natural character.

Why grey slate is ideal for house signs:

• Naturally neutral, suiting both modern and traditional homes
  
• Exceptional contrast when sandblasted and painted
  
• Ages beautifully, developing character without fading
  
• Clean, understated and timeless in appearance - never trend-led or dated

This balance of durability, legibility and elegance is why The Bespoke Sign House uses grey slate exclusively for our slate house signs. It delivers a premium finish that looks as good in ten years as it does on day one with minimal maintenance.

Green Slate

Green slate is quarried in regions such as North Wales, Cumbria, parts of France, and the USA. Its distinctive green tone comes from naturally occurring minerals such as chlorite, giving the stone a softer, more organic character. Because of this, green slate is often chosen for interior features or decorative architectural applications where subtle colour variation is part of the appeal.

For house signage, however, our priority is consistent clarity and legibility at a distance. In our experience, green slate can show greater natural variation in tone and typically offers less contrast for engraved lettering than grey slate. While this does not make it an inferior material, it does mean the finished result can be less crisp for high-contrast, design-led exterior signage.

Green slate can look beautiful in the right architectural or garden setting, and it remains a material we admire and would be open to offering again if we could reliably source it to the standards we require. For now, we work exclusively with grey slate, as it delivers the clearest lettering, strongest contrast, and most consistent finish for long-lasting house signs.

Red Slate

Red slate is most commonly associated with Cumbria in the UK and parts of North America. Its warm tones come from a higher concentration of iron oxide, the same mineral responsible for rust-like colouring.

While visually striking, red slate tends to:

• Be more visually dominant
• Show greater colour variation
• Offer less contrast for fine lettering

For signage, this can make text harder to read and designs feel less refined, which is why we do not use red slate for house signs. It is, however, commonly found as plum slate chippings in garden and landscape design.

You can read more on how we choose our materials below.

Serif

Times New Roman

Classic • Formal • Timeless

Times New Roman is a strong, traditional serif font that works exceptionally well on slate and granite. Its balanced letterforms and clear spacing make it easy to read from a distance, while still feeling refined and established.

We recommend Times New Roman for:

• Period properties
• Traditional homes
• House names and longer text
• Customers wanting a timeless, formal look

Sans Serif

Gill Sans

Clean • British • Understated

Gill Sans is a classic British sans-serif with excellent legibility and a calm, confident appearance. It engraves cleanly into stone and suits both modern and traditional properties without feeling dated.

We recommend Gill Sans for:

• Modern homes
• New builds
• House numbers
• Clean, minimalist designs

Serif

Ovo

Friendly • Characterful • Approachable

Ovo is a softer serif font with gentle curves that give it a warmer, more informal feel than traditional serif fonts. It’s ideal for customers who want something with personality while still remaining clear and readable on stone.

We recommend Ovo for:

• Cottage-style homes
• Informal house names
• Customers wanting character without fuss

Sans Serif

Century

Traditional • Balanced • Highly Legible

Century is a classic sans serif font designed specifically for readability. Its open letter shapes and even proportions make it exceptionally clear when engraved into stone, even at a distance. It offers a traditional look without feeling ornate or fussy.

We recommend Seattle for:

• Both house names and numbers
• Traditional and period properties
• Customers wanting clarity with a classic feel

Serif

Bodoni 72

Elegant • Refined • Statement

Bodoni 72 is a high-contrast serif font with a refined, decorative appearance. It creates a more formal, elegant impression and works particularly well on larger signs or shorter names where the detail can really stand out.

We recommend Bodoni 72 for:

• Statement house names
• Larger slate signs
• Customers looking for a more decorative, premium look

Serif

Merriweather

Friendly • Clear • Versatile

Merriweather is a modern serif font designed for excellent legibility. It combines traditional letter shapes with slightly softer curves, making it easy to read while still feeling warm and approachable when engraved into stone.

We recommend Merriweather for:

• Longer house names
• Mixed modern and traditional homes
• Customers wanting clarity with a softer feel

Serif

Arima

Characterful • Informal • Welcoming

Arima is a rounded serif font with a relaxed, friendly character. It has more personality than traditional serif fonts while remaining clear and readable on stone. It’s a great choice for homes that want charm without formality.

We recommend Arima for:

• Cottage-style properties
• Informal house names
• Customers wanting something a little different

Sans Serif

Arial

Clean • Simple • Modern

Arial is a straightforward sans-serif font known for its clarity and simplicity. Its clean lines engrave well into stone and make it easy to read at a distance, particularly for house numbers and shorter text.

We recommend Arial for:

• Modern homes and new builds
• House numbers
• Minimalist designs

Sans Serif

Din Alternate

Bold • Architectural • Contemporary

Din Alternate is a strong, modern sans-serif font with an architectural feel. Its uniform strokes and structured letterforms make it highly legible and well-suited to engraved stone signage, particularly where a modern look is desired.

Best for:

• Contemporary properties
• Business and address signage
• Customers wanting a confident, modern appearance