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.

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 Leigh 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.

Who carries out the work on tray signs in Leigh?

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.

How long does it take to get tray signs in Leigh?

It typically takes a few weeks from first enquiry, with much of that time falling after you approve the proof, while the work is made and scheduled. Graphics and vehicle jobs are typically shorter than fabricated or illuminated signs. If advertisement consent is needed, the council's decision comes first and adds to the overall timescale.

Tray signs in Leigh | 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 for a business in Leigh?

Where several Leigh shops share a parade, a charcoal tray with white letters stands apart from the printed panels around it.
A modern Leigh retail park unit with grey cladding suits a powder-coated tray matched to the window frames' RAL colour.
Professional practices in Leigh, such as dentists, opticians and solicitors, may prefer a tray because a clean folded edge suggests care.

What tray signs cost in Leigh

Guide prices start from £1,250 and go up to £3,450 per sign, exclusive of VAT. The breakdown below shows where different sizes and options sit. Nothing is final until we have measured up or checked your artwork and sent a written quote.

Tray signs in Leigh: 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 Leigh 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.

Routed tray with push-through letters

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

Do you need permission for a sign in Leigh?

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 Leigh and Greater Manchester

From the middle of Leigh to the edges of Greater Manchester, the same survey, proof and fit process applies. If the job calls for someone on site, a visit is booked; if not, we price from photos, measurements and your artwork, then confirm the details once the artwork is checked. The Leigh postcode districts we quote for include WN7, M46, M29 and WA3. Leigh is about 12 miles west of Manchester.

Also within reach of Leigh

Want a firm figure? Use the quote form to send images and dimensions of the site or vehicle. We will price tray signs at no charge and send a proof for your approval before production begins.

More signs in Leigh

All sign types in Leigh · Tray signs across Greater Manchester

Typical lead time	typically 3–4 weeks from proof approval, allowing for folding and coating
Typical size	Up to about 5 m per run; longer fascias in jointed sections
Materials	Folded aluminium with 50–75 mm returns, powder coated; acrylic or vinyl lettering

Tray signs in Leigh