Who carries out the work on tray signs in Portadown?

The work on site is done by installers working under our contract, and anything that needs making is produced by specialist fabricators. You deal with Smart Signs throughout: we take the enquiry, survey, prepare the design and quote, check consent and coordinate the fitting, so there is one point of contact from first message to handover.

Does the price of tray signs in Portadown include VAT?

No. Our guide range of £1,250–£3,450 per sign excludes VAT, which is added to the quote. The final figure depends on size, materials, access, removal of existing signage or graphics and the artwork needed, and we confirm it in writing after a survey or once we have checked your files.

What is the typical timescale for tray signs from enquiry to fitting?

A quote typically follows once we have your photos or have surveyed the site, and making and fitting is typically booked a few weeks after you approve the proof. Where advertisement consent applies, that decision has to come through before anything goes up, which can add several weeks. We give you an expected timescale with your quote for Portadown.

Do tray signs dent or scratch?

Powder-coated aluminium is tough, but a folded tray can dent if struck by a ladder or vehicle, and deep scratches expose bare metal. Touch-up paint is available in the RAL colour, though repairs are rarely invisible. On low fascias near loading areas, a higher fixing position helps.

Is a tray sign heavier than a flat panel?

A little, but not by much. Aluminium is light, and most of the extra weight is in the returns and the fixing rail. What matters is fixing into sound masonry or a solid fascia structure, and we check that at survey before recommending a fixing method.

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.

Tray signs in Portadown

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.

What tray signs can do for businesses in Portadown

Shoppers walking along a Portadown pavement see a sign side-on first, and tray returns give it a solid edge from exactly that angle.
An estate agent in Portadown may change window displays weekly but keep the fascia for years, which is where a durable powder coat pays back.
A modern Portadown retail park unit with grey cladding suits a powder-coated tray matched to the window frames' RAL colour.

What tray signs cost in Portadown

Below is the guide pricing we use for tray signs: from £1,250 up to £3,450 per sign, before VAT. These are not fixed quotes. A written price follows once measurements are taken and your artwork has been checked.

Tray signs in Portadown: 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

Length matters most, because longer trays need joints, more coating and more fixing rail. Then come the lettering method, letter count, special or metallic powder coats, access height and removal of the old sign. Every figure is confirmed after survey and an artwork check.

Options for your Portadown project

Tray with built-up letters

Fabricated metal letters on the tray face for a layered look.

Tray with raised acrylic letters

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

Wrap-around tray

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

Do you need permission for a sign in Portadown?

Before any exterior sign goes up in Northern Ireland, it is worth checking the 2015 NI Advertisement Regulations. Some straightforward signs on business premises fall within what is allowed without applying, but the conditions are Northern Ireland's own and conservation areas need more care. Listed buildings usually need listed building consent as well, and works without it can be a criminal offence. We confirm the position with you before you commit to tray signs, and we can prepare the drawings and photographs for an NI Planning Portal application or submit it for you.

Covering Portadown and County Armagh

We cover Portadown and every other part of County Armagh as part of a UK-wide service. Where a survey is needed, we arrange a visit to measure and photograph the site; for many graphics and vehicle jobs, clear photos and measurements are enough to quote from. Portadown is about 2.8 miles south-west of Craigavon.

Nearby towns we also cover

Tell us what you have in mind for tray signs in Portadown. Snap the frontage, window or vehicle, add approximate sizes and send it over. Your quote is free, and the proof always comes before any making.

More signs in Portadown

All sign types in Portadown · Tray signs across County Armagh

Materials	Folded aluminium with 50–75 mm returns, powder coated; acrylic or vinyl lettering
Typical lifespan	Many years; powder coat weathers better than wet paint
Typical lead time	typically 3–4 weeks from proof approval, allowing for folding and coating