Can you handle tray signs for a business in Derry/Londonderry?

Yes. Smart Signs covers Derry/Londonderry and the rest of County Londonderry as part of a UK-wide service. You send photos and rough sizes, we arrange a survey if the job needs one, then you receive a proof to scale and a fixed written price. Nothing is made or fitted until you have approved both.

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.

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.

What makes tray signs more or less expensive?

Size and quantity come first, then the material or film, any lighting, the height of the work and the equipment needed to reach it, and the state of the surface or old sign being replaced. Against that, the guide for a job in Derry/Londonderry is £1,250–£3,450 per sign + VAT, confirmed after a survey or artwork check.

When could work on tray signs go ahead in Derry/Londonderry?

Fitting is typically scheduled once three things are in place: you have approved the proof, the materials are made or delivered, and any consent the job needs has been granted. For many jobs that is typically a few weeks from approval; illuminated or larger fabricated signs typically take longer, and consent decisions run to their own timetable.

Tray signs in Derry/Londonderry

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.

Points in favour of tray signs in Derry/Londonderry

Where several Derry/Londonderry shops share a parade, a charcoal tray with white letters stands apart from the printed panels around it.
Clinics and salons in Derry/Londonderry wanting a calm, premium look can get it from raised acrylic letters on a matt tray, unlit.
An estate agent in Derry/Londonderry may change window displays weekly but keep the fascia for years, which is where a durable powder coat pays back.

What tray signs cost in Derry/Londonderry

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 Derry/Londonderry: 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 Derry/Londonderry project

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.

Tray with built-up letters

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

Do you need permission for a sign in Derry/Londonderry?

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 Derry/Londonderry and County Londonderry

We cover Derry/Londonderry and every other part of County Londonderry 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.

Other towns near Derry/Londonderry

Tray signs in Strabane 14 mi
Tray signs in Limavady 15 mi

Tell us what you have in mind for tray signs in Derry/Londonderry. 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 Derry/Londonderry

All sign types in Derry/Londonderry · Tray signs across County Londonderry

Typical lead time	typically 3–4 weeks from proof approval, allowing for folding and coating
Consent	Non-lit often deemed in England within limits; lit versions commonly need express consent
Typical size	Up to about 5 m per run; longer fascias in jointed sections