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.

Who carries out the work on tray signs in Plymouth?

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.

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.

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 I get a fixed price for tray signs in Plymouth 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.

Can you work to an opening date in Plymouth?

Tell us the date when you enquire and we will say plainly whether it looks realistic. Timescales typically depend on how soon the proof is approved, how long production takes and whether consent is needed, which can take several weeks on its own. We plan around your date where we can, but we do not promise one we cannot control.

Tray signs in Devon | 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.

Why choose tray signs in Devon?

Businesses moving into a refurbished Plymouth building can use a wrap-around tray to hide an uneven old fascia without stripping it out.
Professional practices in Plymouth, such as dentists, opticians and solicitors, may prefer a tray because a clean folded edge suggests care.
Where several Plymouth shops share a parade, a charcoal tray with white letters stands apart from the printed panels around it.

Guide prices in Devon

The table shows guide prices for tray signs, starting from £1,250 and reaching about £3,450 per sign. All figures exclude VAT. Your own price is confirmed after we have seen the site or the artwork, so treat these as a starting point.

Tray signs in Devon: 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 Devon?

Will you need permission? For a non-illuminated sign at your own business address in England, usually not, as long as it stays inside the deemed consent limits: letters no taller than 0.75 m (0.3 m in an area of special control) and nothing above the bottom of a first-floor window. Historic streets need more care. In a conservation area the details matter more, and fixing to a listed building usually needs listed building consent, with fixings into mortar joints rather than brick or stone faces generally preferred. We check with you before anything is ordered, and can prepare drawings and photos for an application, or submit it for you.

Options worth considering

Light-ready tray

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

Tray with built-up letters

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

Routed tray with push-through letters

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

Towns in Devon

Your town not here? We still cover it. These are the main towns in Devon with their own page for tray signs, each one setting out the same survey, proof and fitting steps.

Start your tray signs enquiry for Devon now: images and rough measurements help us price accurately. Quotes cost nothing, and you see and approve the design before production starts.

Tray signs in Devon