Slate House Sign

A slate house sign is an engraved piece of dark gray stone, placed outside homes and residences. Often the sign includes not only a street number, but personal touches such as a name for the abode, or a fetching design. A well-made slate house sign can really generate homely or professional character and appeal, inspiring a positive first impression in visitors.

What Is Slate?

Slate is a fine-grained metamorphic rock, traditionally used in roofing and paving for its deep blue, near black complexion and ease of use. Unlike wood used in engraved wooden signs and vintage wooden signs, slate is easily worked into flat pieces of almost any size and shame, ideal for any slate house sign needs.

Not All Slate Is The Same

Slate from all parts of the world varies in texture, color and density. Though mostly shades of blue, peculiar varieties such as the purple slates of Northern Wales take on different complexions, even becoming spotted with green over time. Welsh slate house signs are famous for rich, complex colors. Dark slate with a fine grain is considered to be the highest quality. While larger grains and lighter colors are considered inferior, they are often desirable for less formal slate house sign applications.

Polishes And Finishes

Slate can be finished with any degree of polishing and oiling. Those desiring a more natural look often don't polish the stone at all, leaving it rough to the touch and vibrant with shades of color ideal for relaxed appeal while remaining dignified. Polished looks reduce the variety of color but bring out a bold tone that looks great behind solid text and lines. Finishing and polishing slate negligibly affects the slate house sign's strength and vulnerability to weather damage, so the aesthetic choice is all yours.

Design

Designing a slate house sign is first and foremost a matter of personal taste, for example when used as door name plates. Designs are wide and varied and a vast majority of signs are custom made. The typical sign is polished, dark slate engraved with stately lettering and a minimalist border or underlining. High quality text is usually ink filled gold or white to stand out boldly from the dark stone background. Printed designs are available for an affordable price, but are more susceptible to fading and general wear. Many signs include a motif or emblem, and though the typical slate house sign may be rectangular, but slate can be any shape.

Getting Started Locally Or Online

With slate being widely available, it's a common choice to use a quality stone signage company local to your area for a personal feel and community support. If there is no stone in your area, or it simply does not fit your slate house sign vision, high quality companies online ship stone world wide, though beware of potentially shipping high cost of heavy stone. Competitors in the same category as slate are stainless steel house numbers.