Planar Stone Or Wood Walls

Flat surfaces of stone or wood are commonly the target surface for installation of address signs. In both these cases the homwowner must drill into the surface, screw in studs, and then mount the sign or individual letters onto the studs.

An alternative to this process is to get self-adhesive letters and numbers which need only a flat clean surface for sticking. Most people opt for the full sign because it lasts longer, looks better, and is easier to remove when it comes time for putting in a replacement.

Clean The Area And Use The Template

Make sure the surface is cleaned with a wet, damp cloth. This will make it easier to see where you are drilling. Usually your sign will come with a stud template that shows you the relative positioning of the drill holes. If you do not have one, create one by tracing the outline of the sign on a piece of paper and marking the location of the stud holes. Some signs have as few as two stud holes while others have more. Align the template to where you want the sign to hang and mark the holes with a pencil.

Drill Into The Holes

Pick a drill bit that is the same size as the mounting stud otherwise you will have trouble screwing in the studs (whether the holes are too big or too small). Drill as deep or deeper than the length of the studs provided with the sign. Afterward, clean up the area with a damp cloth again and make sure to use an air canister to get rid of the accumulated debris in the holes.

Put In The Studs

The studs are small plastic or metal cylindral pieces that go into the holes of the wall and the holes of the sign to give the signs a place to hang. The drill bit should have produced a hole that is slightly smaller than the stud which means you will have to force in the stud. The back of the address sign usually is threaded but there are some that are smooth - threading helps keep the sign on. If there are no threads, one possibility is to use adhesive or glue to increase the stability.

Hang The Sign!

With the studs affixed into the address sign, you must now mount the entire contraption into the drilled holes. Unfortunately the studs do not stay in by themselves well, instead you must apply some adhesive or rubber cement or glue to help them stay in place. The stud now might have trouble going into the holes because of the excess adhesive material, so use something soft to cover the sign and pound it into the holes with either your hand or something soft like a wood, rubber or fiberglass mallet.

Other Considerations - Use An Address Post

If you can't find a suitable surface to put the sign, consider staking a post into the ground to create a surface. These have the disadvantage of being on lower ground and therefore being less visible. Put the post away from the street so that a snow plow doesn't destroy it during the winter. Make sure the post is high enough so that it is visible from the street. Use a metal or wood post in the shape of the letter 'T' or even a piece of wood like a 2x4 or 4x4.