Custom HDU signs
High-density urethane carves like clay, holds detail like stone and ignores weather entirely.
What you get
Custom HDU signs, made properly
HDU — high-density urethane — is the material most of our exterior work is made from, and for good reason. It is a closed-cell board with no grain, so it carves cleanly in every direction and holds detail that timber simply cannot. It does not rot, warp, split, swell or feed insects.
We shape it two ways. Sandblasting blows away the softer background around a masked letterform, leaving a textured, wood-grain-like field behind raised letters. CNC carving cuts precise relief for logos, crests and sculpted work. Both get primed, painted and sealed the same way a timber sign would.
- Sandblasted texture or CNC-carved relief
- Will not rot, warp, crack or absorb water
- Holds fine detail on crests, seals and logos
- Available up to large monument sizes
- The standard choice for exterior municipal and civic work
Questions
Before you commission a sign
Two weeks is typical for most carved and dimensional work once the design is approved. Hand-carved and sculpted pieces, and anything with gold leaf, run four to six weeks. Permit review by your township is separate and can add several weeks, so it is worth starting early.
Yes. Most New Jersey municipalities regulate sign size, height, setback and illumination, and many require scaled drawings for zoning approval. We prepare the drawings and submit the application as part of the project.
HDU is high-density urethane — a closed-cell board that carves like clay and holds crisp detail. Unlike timber it will not rot, warp, split or absorb water, so it is the better choice for most exterior signs. We still carve solid cedar, cherry and mahogany when a client specifically wants real wood.
Genuine 23K leaf is almost pure gold, so it does not oxidise or tarnish. Properly laid and sized on a well-prepared surface, exterior gilding regularly lasts decades. Imitation leaf and gold paint will dull within a few years, which is why we use the real thing.
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