Designing, creating, and installing new metal signs can be a complicated project, one that may give customers countless questions. Everything from scale to budget to personal taste must be considered. Without a reliable process to get from start to finish, the project could easily bog down in unforeseen complications and endless rounds of “phone tag.”

Our dedication to helping our customers has helped us develop a sign-making process that is reliable, open, and trustworthy. No matter the scope of your project, AMA will remove the hassles, headaches, and unwelcome surprises that stand between you and your ideal sign.

Finding Your Vision

The first and most important step in our process is learning what you have in mind for your project. Our designers speak with you directly about your goals, your design preferences, and your environment.

Depending on your location, we’ll get a virtual tour or, if possible, we’ll visit the location in person to accurately measure the space and determine the best materials for the job. To develop your concept, we’ll provide examples of our previous work and show you how they can apply to your vision.

Once we’ve worked out the concept and you have confirmed the order, our designers will begin working on CAD drawings according to your specifications. When you’re happy with the final design, we hand it off to our craftsmen, whom you can trust to make your vision a reality.

Picking the Right Materials and Tools

To make a sign that will look great and last for years, it’s important to start with the right materials. Alabama Metal Art, as you may have guessed, specializes in working with metal—both carbon steel and stainless steel, as well as aluminum, by themselves or layered together. We also work with wood, acrylic, and ACP (aluminum composite panel) depending on what you have in mind.

With the materials selected, we then cut out your design using the best tools for the job. In most cases, we use a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) laser that cuts through steel or aluminum quickly and precisely. For wood or other materials, we use a CNC router, and for particularly big signs, we have a CNC plasma cutter. Whichever material you choose, we’ll make sure the right machine will cut, grind, or shape the sign to your exact specifications.

Once the sign has been cut, our team will sand down any rough edges and prep it for the next stage of the process.

Adding Flare

To make your sign unique, we offer several optional finishes and features. To add the aesthetics and texture of brushed metal, we can run the cut metal through our brush sander. Or, if you prefer, we can add aging effects for a more rustic or vintage look.

If you want your sign to have a pop of color, we offer powder coating. This involves applying an electrostatic paint powder and then baking the coated metal components in a large industrial oven.

A gloss clear coat will not only add shine but add extra protection to the sign to help it last. And for that extra “Wow!” factor, we can even backlight your sign with LEDs to make the design really pop.

Depending on your vision, we can use any of these techniques by themselves or combined. Whatever you choose, the result will be something truly special.

Putting It All Together

With the pieces cut out and any optional effects added, we begin the final assembly. First, we lay the pieces out and make any necessary adjustments to ensure everything fits. Then our craftsmen will put everything together.

With the sign complete, it’s ready to be delivered and installed.

Service You Can Trust

We pride ourselves in our outstanding customer service, making sure you can trust us to create exactly the sign you want. Because we listen to your needs and your goals, we can make your vision a reality.

And because we believe in dealing with our customers openly and honestly, you’ll never have to worry about any ugly surprises along the way. By sticking to our tried-and-true process and principles, we relieve the worries that can come with a major signage project.

Let the Process Work for You

From the initial concept to the final installation, Alabama Metal Art provides only the best in creating unique, custom-made metal signs. And you can trust us to be there for you every step of the way.

If you’d like us to put our unparalleled sign-making process to work for you, click here to get started.