OUR EXPERTISE
House numbers | Address plaques | Mailboxes | Logos & signage
for residential and commercial properties
Learn more about our 100% custom-made, timeless and sustainably made products.
Methodology and process
Our design process is a crucial part of our mission and it is what distinguishes us from other larger signage companies and mass produced off-the-shelf sign distributors. We strive to design the perfect house number, plaque or commercial sign for every type of project and we work hand in hand with our customers, whether they are architects, designers or homeowners with a passion for design.
We take into consideration many details about the space you are working with, including whether it is an indoor or outdoor piece, how it fits in with overall branding and aesthetic of the space, lighting, and much more.
There are many details to consider beyond choosing the right font style and size. All our signs are individually designed and then fabricated made-to-order.
Our home number and address plaques AND logo and signage services both work directly with our team of designers - we work with you as people, not simply clicking off boxes on a form for a “personalized” experience.
Some clients come to us with a very clear idea of what they want with every detail already planned out (everything from size, font, colour, finishing, materials, etc.). Fantastic, enjoy the quick turnaround time!
On the flip side, an equally large group of clients know that they want our products but are looking for our guidance and expertise in designing the piece that works perfectly for them and their space. They love our collaborative approach and how we walk them through each option, step by step, for their ideal finished product.
By carefully analyzing the space and creating renderings to scale based on the photos provided by our clients, we offer a fully personalized service that ensures the client is confident they are making the right choices for their storefront, their home or their office; from typography to placement to materials.
CREATIVE DESIGN
Beyond function
Yes, exterior signage of all types need to respect certain municipal requirements, but signs and house numbers are more than just utilitarian. Like all other architectural features and hardware found on a building, your sign or numbers will have an impact on the curb appeal of your building and reflect on the general surroundings.
When should you start thinking about your house number or signage?
We encourage clients to reach out to us during the early planning phase to begin the creative process so we can ensure a seamless and integrated approach. Even if you’re not undertaking a large renovation project but would like to change your house number to better reflect your home’s architecture, we will carefully consider the details of your façade to recommend an ideal placement, style and design.
The same is true for commercial projects, wherever you are in the planning phase, it’s a good idea to integrate the interior or exterior signage in your drawings as soon as possible to ensure that everything is coherent and thought through.
ARCHITECTURE
Meaningful font types
Some might say that a sign or house number is only a set of identifying symbols and fail to recognize the importance of deliberate design choices. There are so many choices of typography; each one is unique and conveys a different feeling.
To design an address sign, there are endless possibilities of font types and the initial selection that we propose is always carefully chosen with your architecture and style preference in mind. You can come to us with a font choice already in mind, or else choose from our extensive font collection.
From classic Times New Roman to a digital rendering of your child’s handwriting, we can do it all!
Based on the placement choice, your specifications and our design expertise, we may modify the stroke, the spacing or height as needed.
Whether your house number is one-digit or five-digits or even spelled out in letters, we will propose a typography with specific characteristics that will best suit your space and style.
For commercial signs, the logo has often been designed by your graphic designer and therefore doesn’t require choosing a new typography. In which case, the wayfinding signage or additional text throughout the space will be chosen to either match perfectly or to complement the logo. We love supporting cohesive branding, from the fonts you use on your website and marketing materials, all the way to the signage on your office doors!
TYPOGRAPHY
High-quality materials
We are particular about the materials we choose and always seek out high-quality sustainable materials for your project.
We work with sustainable materials including:
solid aluminum, stainless steel, brass or bronze
engraved slate
sandblasted glass
acrylic
printed vinyl
fine delicate vinyl film lettering
We offer an almost endless variety of materials and finishes. Most finishes even require further specification (the direction of the brush or the intensity of anodization, for example).
We like to match the numbers or signs with existing elements on the building (door hardware, mailbox, light fixtures, windows, etc.). We love challenges and thrive on developing remarkable one-of-a-kind projects.
Sustainability is at the heart of our creative process, whether it be the choice of materials or their durability. As specialists of custom made-to-order products, we aim to have a positive impact on the environment, rather than just trying to minimize the damage.
We are proud to be working only with lead-free and mercury-free metals with a high concentration of recycled materials. The production process utilizes advanced pollution-control engineering, which reduces wastewater, air pollution and general waste. All solvent waste is reclaimed for reuse or sent to a recycler and all trims and scraps generated in the manufacturing process are recycled.
MATERIALS - SUSTAINABILITY
INDOOR & OUTDOOR DURABILITY - BUILT TO LAST
Indoor & Outdoor
House numbers and address plaques are usually placed in exterior settings (for example, on the side of the house or down on the fence/gate near the entrance to the property off the road). As such, they are designed and made to last and withstand all weather elements (including air pollution, sunlight, rain, snow, sea salt, wind, etc.).
Our logo and signage options can be mounted both indoors and outdoors, depending on your needs. Again, they are intentionally built to hold up for years to come, whether it’s mounted indoors in a temperature controlled office building or outside on the exterior of the building.
Lifetime guarantee
At Orthografica, we take pride in offering a lifetime warranty on all our products.
Orthografica custom products are designed with architectural and wayfinding principles as well as the environment in mind. We take pride in planning for the long term and value long-lasting design above all.