There’s a lot more to sign installation than the actual installation itself. The team members you trust to place your client’s signage need to be great planners and, above all, great communicators as they represent your business. The better they communicate, the better the experience for everyone – including you, when you can send the team to a job without wondering if you should be there to supervise.
Managing an installation team effectively begins before you’ve even assigned them the job.
Planning for success
It begins by managing your client’s expectations. There’s nothing worse for a crew than arriving at a job with an angry client who expected them an hour ago or hearing complaints about noise and dust as they’re working. So, make sure the client knows as much about the work as you can share, especially any disruptions the job may create. For example, help them communicate these factors to their landlord, if applicable. Request touch-up paint from the landlord early and let the client know if the job requires an electrician, a clean-up crew or other support teams.
When communicating with your client on the installation timeline, add some time to what you discussed with your installer as a cushion against unforeseen hurdles that pop up. The buffer should increase or decrease with the complexity of the work; start with 50-100 percent over what the installer quoted.
Most sign projects are unique and need their own planning process, but there are some must-dos for more complicated projects.
Conduct a thorough site survey.
Keep the installer’s tasks in mind: the power infrastructure the sign will connect to and structural elements that will hold the sign in place. Then, note the logistics of the site, including how to get equipment to the sign, how high the sign will be off the ground and if there are any special requirements the landlord has for installation times. It’s also vital to obtain any special insurance requirements the landlord may have. Document everything with photos and measurements.
Share the information with your installer.
Review the information over the phone so the installer is comfortable with the information and doesn’t price it too high or too low. Ask what anchoring methods they would use to make sure the sign stays in place.
Have your installer provide a written proposal.
Include completion time and how much notice to give them before they mobilize to do the job.
Issue a purchase order (P.O.) to the installer.
The order should document everything you agreed on, so nothing gets forgotten or lost in translation during the permitting, fabrication and deposit lead times. Have your installer provide the insurance paperwork well in advance.
Do a pre-installation review.
Review the plan and approved proofs and permit drawings to make sure they have all the right electrical connectors as well as structural hardware and waterproofing means and methods.
Use your approved proofs and permit drawings as a quality control and planning document. You can add the contents of the P.O. you sent the installer all those weeks prior as well. Requesting reviews from your clients creates transparency, which helps keep everyone focused on quality work as well.
Recruiting your crew
Experience and reputation are always top considerations when assembling your team, but they can be hard to find. Other qualities can be just as important. Look for people who are:
- Good with their hands
- Quick learners
- Able to use good spatial awareness to install signage that’s level and true
- Confident in their sense of self; they don’t have to prove themselves with unsafe actions that put themselves or teammates at risk. We install signs for a living, which should be fun. No injury is worth the ego boost from showing off or ignoring safety precautions.
Safety is a critical element of installation. Our projects can be a blend of trades like electrical, carpentry and painting, for example. Each one has its inherent risks. We are often high off the ground as well. So having a good site survey and pre-execution plan are really important to make sure the team has the right skill set, equipment and tools to get the job done safely.
Crew size depends a lot on the size and weight of the sign, as well as team members’ skill sets. For example, one person may not be proficient with the electrical aspects of the job and may need some supervision. Use a lot of common sense. Make sure one person isn’t assigned when you know you’ll need two people just to lift the sign or hold it in place as it is being fastened to a wall, for example.
Getting it right
Every project is different and sometimes you just never know when Murphy’s law will strike. My best advice: Don’t shortchange your site survey, and the more effort you put into your proofs and drawings, the higher the probability of a successful project.
Signage installation is like most other aspects of business: It’s all about relationships, communication and trust. Get to know your installers and find out what projects they are best at – then give them more of that sign type whenever you can. The project will benefit from their skills and experience, and everyone is happier doing what they’re good at. Keep looking for new installers to have on your team and always strive to have the right person for the right project.
Brooks Roffey is the president and franchise owner of Signarama Carlsbad / Encinitas and Signarama San Marcos / Vista, based in San Marcos, California. He has over 20 years of experience in the commercial construction industry.
