A great sign doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of a proven process that aligns your business goals, brand standards, site conditions, and local code requirements, then turns them into a durable, high-impact installation. At TNT Signs and Graphics in Santa Rosa, we’ve spent decades refining a brief-to-install workflow that consistently delivers signs that look right, read fast, meet code, and last.
This behind-the-scenes guide walks you through every step we take, from the first discovery call to the final polish on install day, so you know exactly what to expect, how long it takes, and where your input matters most.
Step 1: The Discovery Brief: Clarity Before Creativity
Every successful project starts with a focused conversation. In a 30–45 minute discovery session (on-site or virtual), we capture:
- Your objective: Launching a new location, rebranding, wayfinding, compliance, promotion,what job must the sign do?
- Audience & viewing conditions: Driver vs. pedestrian, typical viewing distance, approach speed and angles, competing visual noise.
- Brand assets: Logo files (vector preferred), approved fonts, Pantone/HEX/CMYK color values, photography or iconography.
- Site realities: Landlord criteria, existing electrical, allowable sizes, any access restrictions.
- Budget & timeline: Target install date, dependencies (grand openings, inspections), and decision-maker approvals.
Deliverable: A written brief that sets success metrics (e.g., letter heights to be legible from X feet, nighttime readability, energy goals for illumination), plus a shared schedule. This keeps decisions objective and the project on rails.
Step 2: Site Survey: Measure Twice, Mount Once
Mockups only matter if they match reality. Our survey team documents:
- Precise measurements: Wall widths/heights, soffits, stud spacing, mullions, ceiling heights, ADA reach ranges for interiors.
- Substrates & structure: Stucco, brick, tilt-up concrete, ACM, drywall/studs, each demands specific anchors and load calculations.
- Sight lines & sun paths: Glare risk at noon, shadow bands at dusk, approach angles for drivers and walkers.
- Electrical & access: Circuit availability for illumination, timer/photo-sensor locations, lift requirements, after-hours install windows.
- Local code: Setbacks, illumination rules, allowable square footage, height limits, district aesthetics.
Deliverable: A photo-rich survey packet with scaled dimensions and mounting notes. It feeds directly into design, engineering, and permitting.
Step 3: Concept & Mockups: Designing for the Real World
Armed with the brief and survey, our designers translate goals into visuals you can see on your building.
- Scale-accurate mockups: We overlay concepts on photos of your storefront at true proportions, so you can judge legibility and impact from realistic distances.
- Hierarchy & copy: We apply letter-height math (rough guide: ~1″ letter height per 10 ft of viewing distance) and reduce copy to what matters, name, category, action.
- Material options: Routed aluminum letters, formed plastic, cast acrylic, halo-lit or front-lit channel letters, aluminum composite panels, vinyl on glass, each annotated so you can compare look, durability, and cost.
- Value engineering: When budgets matter, we present equivalents (e.g., formed letters vs. routed metal; edge-lit acrylic vs. face-lit) that preserve impact without shortening lifespan.
Deliverable: Two to three refined design directions with pros/cons and pricing bands, ready for comments and selection. We iterate quickly so momentum never stalls.
Step 4: Color Matching: “On Screen” Isn’t “On Substrate”
Nothing breaks brand trust faster than “almost the right red.” We lock color through a controlled, on-material process:
- Pull brand targets: Pantone/HEX from your guide; convert to device profiles for print and paint.
- Make physical swatches: We print or paint chips on the actual materials (aluminum, acrylic, vinyl) because gloss/satin/matte finishes shift perception.
- Check in real light: We evaluate chips outside at noon and late afternoon to catch glare, shadow, and metamerism (colors that change under different light).
- Approve in hand: You sign off on physical swatches, not a monitor. Those become the recipe for production.
Deliverable: A color deck per material and finish, your insurance policy for consistency across exterior letters, window vinyl, and interior wayfinding.
Step 5: Engineering & Permitting: Paperwork Without Panic
Exterior and illuminated signs usually require permits; some need structural review. We handle the red tape:
- Shop drawings: Dimensioned drawings that detail materials, mounting methods, and electrical specs.
- Structural sign-off: When required, we engage engineering to certify loads, fasteners, and footings (for monuments/pylons).
- Permit submittal: We assemble and file the package, drawings, landlord consent, photo simulations,and manage city comments through approval.
Deliverable: Approved permits and stamped drawings so your project moves to production on schedule.
Step 6: Fabrication: Where Pixels Become Panels
With approvals in hand, your sign moves to the shop floor:
- Routing & forming: CNC-routed letters/logos; brake-formed returns for channel letters; precision drilling for concealed mounts.
- Printing & lamination: Large-format graphics printed with UV-stable inks and laminated to resist abrasion and fading (finish chosen for glare control).
- Paint & finish: Automotive-grade coatings (e.g., Matthews) mixed to your approved swatches; consistent sheen across components.
- Electrical build: UL-listed LEDs and power supplies assembled and bench-tested; wire management for clean installs and easy maintenance.
- Quality control: Edges chamfered and sealed, light diffusion checked for hot spots, dimensional tolerances verified against shop drawings.
Deliverable: A fully staged sign package, labeled and ready for installation, accompanied by our internal QC checklist.
Step 7: Installation: Safe, Clean, and Built to Last
Install day is where planning pays off. We arrive with the right equipment, the right crew, and a plan to minimize disruption.
- Site prep: Cones, drop cloths, temporary wayfinding if needed; power verification; coordination with neighbors/tenants.
- Layout & leveling: Laser alignment and test fits before drilling; hole maps marked exactly per shop drawings.
- Anchoring & sealing: Substrate-specific fasteners; sealed penetrations to keep moisture out; corrosion-resistant hardware.
- Electrical hookup: Licensed connections for illumination; timers or photo-sensors set and tested; light output verified at dusk when applicable.
- Cleanup & walkthrough: Surfaces polished, debris removed, area returned cleaner than we found it; final walkthrough and sign-off with your team.
Deliverable: A straight, secure, code-compliant sign that looks incredible on day one,and years after.
Step 8: Post-Install Care: Protecting Your Investment
We hand off a simple, brand-specific care guide:
- Cleaning cadence: pH-neutral soap, soft microfiber; avoid abrasive pads and high-pressure wands at edges.
- Finish-aware tips: Satin and matte need different toppers than gloss; glass-mounted vinyl benefits from specific squeegee techniques.
- Lighting maintenance: Lens cleaning and photo-sensor checks; how to spot module vs. power-supply issues.
- Seasonal checks: Fastener inspections after storms or heat waves; quick touch-up paint kits where applicable.
Deliverable: Longer life, better appearance, and fewer service calls.
Timelines You Can Plan Around
Every project is unique, but typical ranges look like this:
- Discovery & site survey: 3–5 business days
- Concepts & mockups: 5–10 business days (faster for simple panels)
- Permitting: 2–6 weeks, jurisdiction-dependent
- Fabrication: 1–3 weeks after approvals/permits
- Installation: 1 day for most wall-mount or interior packages; 2–3 days for large or illuminated assemblies
We’ll commit to a realistic schedule up front and update you at each milestone.
What Sets TNT Apart (and Why It Matters)
- Design that sells, not just decorates. We prioritize viewing distance, contrast, and copy discipline,so your sign actually gets read.
- Color management across mediums. Your channel letters match your window vinyl and interior wayfinding for a seamless brand experience.
- Local expertise. We know North Bay sun angles, coastal weathering, and Santa Rosa code,fewer surprises, quicker approvals.
- One accountable team. Brief → survey → design → permits → fabrication → installation happens under one roof. No handoff drift.
- Transparent budgets. Clear options, spelled-out materials, and value-engineered alternatives when you need them.
A Quick Case Snapshot
A Santa Rosa retailer moved into a corner unit with tough noon glare and a multi-story garage across the street. We sized halo-lit letters to pass the 50-foot legibility test, switched the panel finish to satin to kill hotspot glare, and rebalanced copy to name + category only. Permits cleared on the first submission, install wrapped in a day, and foot-traffic counts jumped in month one, proof that design discipline and local know-how move the needle.
Ready to Turn Your Sketch Into a Landmark?
Bring your logo, a photo of the install location, and any landlord guidelines. We’ll handle the rest,brief to mockup, color matching to permitting, fabrication to a clean, safe install,so your sign does exactly what it should: get seen and build trust.
TNT Signs and Graphics
📍 1042 Hopper Avenue 3-F, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
📞 (707) 528-8523
🌐 www.signservant.com