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.

Who carries out the work on tray signs in Taunton?

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.

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.

Can you work to an opening date in Taunton?

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.

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 Taunton 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.

Tray signs in Somerset

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 Somerset?

A modern Taunton retail park unit with grey cladding suits a powder-coated tray matched to the window frames' RAL colour.
Clinics and salons in Taunton wanting a calm, premium look can get it from raised acrylic letters on a matt tray, unlit.
If your Taunton premises might open into the evening one day, a light-ready tray avoids paying for a second sign later.

Guide prices in Somerset

Budgeting for tray signs? The guide below runs from £1,250 to £3,450 per sign. VAT is extra. Size, materials and access decide where your job lands, and we confirm it in writing after surveying or checking the artwork.

Tray signs in Somerset: 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 Somerset?

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.

Options worth considering

Routed tray with push-through letters

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

Tray with raised acrylic letters

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

Tray with built-up letters

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

Towns in Somerset

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

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