How deep is a tray sign?

Returns are usually 50–75 mm, enough to hide a fixing rail and give a visible edge. Deeper trays are possible where you want room for LED modules later or need to cover an uneven fascia, and we set the depth at survey based on what is behind.

How much should I budget for tray signs in Belfast?

As a guide, £1,250–£3,450 per sign + VAT. Where your job falls in that range depends on size, materials, access height, whether old signage has to come off and how much design work is involved. We confirm a fixed price after a survey or artwork check, before anything is ordered.

Do you work across County Antrim or only in Belfast?

Across all of County Antrim, and the rest of the UK too. Belfast is simply one of the places we list, and enquiries from anywhere nearby follow exactly the same steps: photos or a survey, a scaled proof, a written price, then making and fitting once you sign off the design.

What colour should the tray be?

Pick a colour that contrasts strongly with your lettering and suits the frontage. Charcoal, anthracite and black with white or metallic letters read clearly on most buildings, while light trays with dark letters suit darker brick. Matching the RAL colour of your window frames gives a coordinated look.

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.

What can delay tray signs in Belfast?

The usual causes are artwork changes after the proof stage, waiting for consent, access arrangements such as a council licence for scaffolding on the pavement, and weather for outdoor fitting. Jobs typically run smoothly once the proof is approved and any consent is in place, but we do not promise dates that depend on things outside our control.

Tray signs in County Antrim

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.

Why choose tray signs in County Antrim?

Where several Belfast shops share a parade, a charcoal tray with white letters stands apart from the printed panels around it.
Clinics and salons in Belfast wanting a calm, premium look can get it from raised acrylic letters on a matt tray, unlit.
If your Belfast premises might open into the evening one day, a light-ready tray avoids paying for a second sign later.

Guide prices in County Antrim

Use these figures to budget: £1,250 to £3,450 per sign is the guide range, with VAT added on top. Each line in the table is indicative only, and your exact price is confirmed after a survey or once we have looked over the artwork.

Tray signs in County Antrim: 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.

Do you need permission for a sign in County Antrim?

Northern Ireland has its own rules: the Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015. As elsewhere in the UK, some signs on business premises can be displayed without an application while others need consent, but the limits are specific to Northern Ireland, so we check with the council rather than rely on English figures. Applications go to the council through the NI Planning Portal. A sign on a listed building usually also needs listed building consent under the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011. We look at your premises before you commit and can prepare drawings and photos, or submit the application for you.

Options worth considering

Tray with raised acrylic letters

Solid acrylic letters fixed proud of the face for depth and shadow.

Light-ready tray

Deep enough for LED modules, with cable entry agreed, fitted unlit for now.

Tray with vinyl lettering

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

Towns in County Antrim

The towns below are all part of our coverage of County Antrim. Each link opens the tray signs page for that town, with guide prices, consent notes and how to get a quote.

Photos of the building, window or vehicle, plus approximate sizes, are enough for us to quote tray signs anywhere in County Antrim. There is no charge for the quote and no commitment until you approve the proof.