Can a tray sign cover an old fascia completely?

Yes, in most cases. A tray can be sized to the full fascia board with folded ends that wrap the corners, hiding the old timber. We still check the board is sound and fix through to solid structure, because hidden rot can loosen fixings over time.

Do you cover smaller places near Ely as well?

Yes. Our coverage is not limited to Ely itself: nearby towns, industrial estates and business parks across Cambridgeshire are included too. The process does not change with the postcode. Send photos and approximate sizes, and we will tell you whether a site visit is needed before we can give you a fixed price.

Could the consent process affect the timing of my job in Ely?

It can. Not every job needs an application, but where express consent is required the council's decision typically takes several weeks, and fitting typically waits until it is granted. We check this at the start, so the timetable you receive with your quote allows for consent where it applies, along with the proof approval stage.

Do tray signs suit office buildings and business parks?

Yes. Trays suit entrances, canopies and plain cladding as well as shop fascias, and can be fixed to brick, render or cladding rails. For cladding we confirm the fixing method with the building owner first, since drilling some panel systems can affect how they perform.

Can I change the lettering later?

That depends on the lettering method. Vinyl can be removed and replaced on site. Raised acrylic letters can be unscrewed and swapped, leaving holes to fill. Routed letters are cut into the face, so a change normally means a new tray face, which is worth knowing before you choose.

Can I get a fixed price for tray signs in Ely before committing?

Yes. We start from the guide range, £1,250 to £3,450 per sign excluding VAT, then measure up or look at your photos and artwork. That gives a fixed written price reflecting the real size, materials, access and any design or consent work. You only commit once you accept that price and approve the proof.

Tray signs in Ely | Smart Signs

Tray signs are fascia signs folded from aluminium sheet so the face turns back at the edges into returns, typically 50–75 mm deep, then powder coated and hung on concealed fixings.

The case for tray signs in Ely

An estate agent in Ely may change window displays weekly but keep the fascia for years, which is where a durable powder coat pays back.
Businesses moving into a refurbished Ely building can use a wrap-around tray to hide an uneven old fascia without stripping it out.
Shoppers walking along an Ely pavement see a sign side-on first, and tray returns give it a solid edge from exactly that angle.

What tray signs cost in Ely

Budgeting for tray signs? The guide below runs from £1,250 to £3,450 per sign. VAT is extra. Size, materials and access decide where your job lands, and we confirm it in writing after surveying or checking the artwork.

Tray signs in Ely: guide prices, supplied and fitted
Item	Guide, ex VAT	Inc. VAT (20%)
Tray sign up to 3 m, vinyl lettering	£1,250 – £2,100	£1,500 – £2,520
Tray sign 3–5 m, raised acrylic lettering	£1,850 – £3,450	£2,220 – £4,140
Push-through or routed letters (non-lit)	£350 – £950	£420 – £1,140

Guide prices, supplied and fitted and excluding VAT, are £1,250 to £2,100 for a tray up to 3 m with vinyl lettering, and £1,850 to £3,450 for a 3–5 m tray with raised acrylic letters. Routed or push-through letters on a non-lit tray add a guide £350 to £950.

Options for your Ely project

Routed tray with push-through letters

Letters cut through the face with acrylic pushed through, ready to light.

Tray with vinyl lettering

Cut-vinyl text on a powder-coated tray: the entry point.

Wrap-around tray

Sized to the whole fascia with folded ends, hiding the old board.

Do you need permission for a sign in Ely?

Advertisement consent in England comes from the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007. A sign is either excluded from control, has deemed consent, or needs express consent from the council's planning department. For a plain, unlit sign on your own premises, deemed consent usually applies when characters are 0.75 m tall or less (0.3 m in an area of special control) and the top edge is below the first-floor windows. Conservation areas need more care, and a listed building usually needs listed building consent as well; working without it can be a criminal offence. We confirm the route before you commit, and can prepare the drawings for an application or submit it for you.

Covering Ely and Cambridgeshire

You do not need to be in a particular postcode for us to help: Ely and the whole of Cambridgeshire are covered. If your job needs a survey, we arrange the visit. If it can be priced from photos, sizes and the vehicle make and model, we do it that way instead. Addresses in CB6 are all within our Ely coverage. From Peterborough, Ely is roughly 25 miles to the south-east.

Close to Ely

Photos, sizes and your logo are all we need to start. Send them over for a free, no-obligation quote on tray signs in Ely; you approve a scaled drawing before a single thing is made.

More signs in Ely

All sign types in Ely · Tray signs across Cambridgeshire

Typical size	Up to about 5 m per run; longer fascias in jointed sections
Fixing / installation	Hung on a concealed rail or subframe with stainless fixings
Consent	Non-lit often deemed in England within limits; lit versions commonly need express consent

Tray signs in Ely