Frequently Asked Questions

What types of signs does Permel produce?

Permel, a Vancouver custom signage company, based in Burnaby, has a unique selection of in house capabilities, including rotary engraving, laser engraving and cutting, routering, wide format printing, and plotting technology that allows us to meet a variety of client needs in one shop.

We produce the following types of signs:

Our custom signage, such as reception signage, outdoor signs, office plaques, memorial plaques, industrial stencils, control & instrument panel labels, awards, three dimensional signs and storefront signs are displayed with pride by businesses across British Columbia and beyond.

How long will it take for Permel to complete our job?

That depends on what type of sign we are producing for you. Small jobs usually take two to three days. Larger, more complex jobs can take up to three weeks. Call us to discuss your needs, and we’ll do our best to meet your deadline.

How much will it cost to produce our custom signage?

That depends on the quantities, materials, and complexity of the sign Permel is producing for you. Call us to discuss your needs, and we’ll provide you with a quotation.

We are not sure how to take the measurements for our sign; will Permel come to my facility to take measurements?

Yes, we can include that in our quotation. First we will need you to describe to us what you need, and then we’ll provide our quotation including the cost to come out to your premises to take measurements. Once you have accepted our quotation, we’ll make arrangements to come to your premises to take measurements.

Will Permel install our sign?

Yes, let us know you need us to install your custom sign, and we will include the cost of installation in our quotation. When your sign is ready, we’ll make arrangements to come to your premises and install it.

What payment terms does Permel offer?

We request a 50% deposit to get started on your job. The full balance is due upon completion. We accept VISA, MasterCard, debit, and cash. For long-term clients we are happy to perform a credit check and extend credit terms.

Will Permel design our sign?

Based on your description of the sign you’d like, and once you have accepted our quotation, we can take care of designing your custom sign. This includes helping you decide what materials to use, the method of construction, and the layout (dimensions, front and side shot, pin mounts etc.) In most cases we will need files from you, such as your logo and/or graphics in high resolutions (vector format eps or native ai files). It is also helpful if you have brand standard guidelines you can share, so we use the right fonts and colours in your sign. We always provide a detailed layout drawing for your approval before going to production.

For more complex design projects, we work with a number of talented creative designers who will work with us to create your custom signage.

What materials does Permel use to build custom signage?

We use a wide range of materials to build custom signs including: brass, aluminum, stainless steel, copper, steel, foam, PVC, wood, Sintra, Corian, Coraplast (corrugated plastic), paper, vinyl, glass, and acrylic.

Our range of material options include solid metals that will deliver a sophisticated, high end finished product, as well as materials that are less costly but will convey a high end look. E.g., we can produce 3D letters with solid half-inch aluminum, or in foam with a thin aluminum face.

If you are not sure which material to choose, we recommend you either visit our showroom, or look at the examples on this website, to help you decide what look you would like.

What type of files will Permel need from us to build our sign?

For signs that require cutting and/or engraving we will need either a vector based eps or native ai file to produce your sign.

For signs that will be printed, we can work with vector based eps, native ai file, as well as jpg and pixel based images. Please check with us when you placing your order.

Can Permel build our sign using an image or file downloaded from the internet?

In almost all cases, images or files downloaded from the internet will be low resolution and poor quality. They may look fine on screen, but for our purposes low resolution images and files are unsuitable for us to use to build your sign.

Some high resolution images are available on the internet. If you need help finding out if your image or file is suitable for your sign, please call us and we can check it for you.

We cannot work with images that are pasted into a Word document.

Will Permel show us a proof of our sign before producing it?

Yes, once we have prepared the layout for your custom sign, we will email a detailed drawing (including dimensions, front and side shot, pin mounts etc.) of your sign to you. We will ask you to approve it by return email. We will not produce your sign until you have approved it, so to speed up the process, please get back to us as quickly as possible and approve the layout or ask for changes.

Can Permel match the colours of our logo and corporate identity?

Yes, we have a full sign industry paint system that allows us to match pantone and corporate colours. We will need to know the pantone, RGB or CMYK colour you need us to match.

In vinyl we have a selection of industry standard pantone shades on hand. If our stock colour is not a close enough match, we can produce a digital print to more closely match your pantone shade, and laminate it to replicate vinyl.

Can I send files to Permel prepared in 3D programs, like SolidWorks or AutoCAD?

In most cases we cannot work with files produced in 3D programs. Please check with us in advance, and we can advise you.

How long will my sign last outside?

Let us know if your custom signage is for outdoors, and we can advise you on the best products for outdoor use. When you contact us to place your order, we’ll want to know how you plan to use your sign, and how long you want it to last. Your answers will help us recommend the best materials and design for your outdoor sign, because some materials are better suited over others.

Will the colour on our sign fade?

This depends on the materials we use to produce your sign and its exposure to sunlight. When you contact us to place your order, we’ll want to know how you plan to use your sign, and how long you want it to last. Your answers will help us recommend the best materials and design for you to avoid fading.

Will I be able to reuse my trade show sign?

This depends on the materials we use to produce your trade show sign. When you contact us to place your order, we’ll want to know how you plan to use your sign, how long you want it to last, how often you plan to use it, and how you will store it Your answers will help us recommend the best materials for your trade show sign.

Contact us today and let us take care of your custom signage and engraving needs.