Different Types of Posts & Bases

Signs are, without a doubt, our first love. We obsess over making sure we produce the highest quality of signs we can, putting the knowledge and experience we’ve gained from our 35 years in the industry to work. Like every superhero needs a sidekick, every sign needs a solid foundation to keep it upright and visible.

When it comes to the structural support for your signs there are several options, each optimal for a different setting. There are zero and minimal ground disturbance methods, as well as regular and heavy duty posts. We’ll walk you through each type so that you’ll be confident which option is best for your project.

Posts - Regular & Heavy Duty

Posts are by far the most popular and reliable method of putting up a permanent sign in a location with no restrictions on ground disturbance. ⅓ of the post is typically put into the ground, which usually equates to roughly 2-2.5 feet for an average post. The reason you’ll want to make sure that you get this deep into the ground is that this ensures that the post is beneath the frost line which will prevent the likelihood of the post shifting during a frost heaving.

While there’s little difference between regular sign posts and heavy duty sign posts aesthetically, when it comes to function you’ll want to make sure you have the right post for the job. Regular posts are used for smaller signs (up to 2 sq ft) in places where the ground is relatively soft and there isn’t a lot of wind. And, just as we figure you’ve assumed, heavy duty posts are best used for larger signs and in places where the ground is rocky or harder, and they are much better for areas that tend to be windier.

Minimal Disturbance

Our minimal disturbance bases are designed for easy transport and are made up of 2 90 degree “V” brackets, each with 6” spikes on the end that penetrate the ground and provide a solid foundation for the signpost. Another bonus for minimal disturbance bases is that you don’t have to worry about locating lines with MGD.

There are a couple of scenarios when placing a permanent post a couple of feet into the ground isn’t a viable option. First, there are times when permission is required to put anything into the ground more than a twelve inches. Second, perhaps you need a semi-permanent solution for putting up a sign. In other words, you need the sign to be secured but you want to be able to easily remove it easily after the project has been completed.

Zero Disturbance

For situations where the ground is just way too hard for a post, or you simply need a temporary sign, we’d suggest you go with zero disturbance options. We covered quad stands in our blog post What You Need to Know About Temporary Road Signs, but there is a second option that we’d like to tell you about: concrete bases.

Concrete bases are a solid option (pun definitely intended) for putting your signs where they need to be. These solid and stable bases provide perfect anchors for either a regular or heavy duty posts without the need to penetrate the ground, plus they’re great for windy areas. These bases can be custom made, giving you total control over the diameter, thickness, and weight.

Spring Assembly

Regardless of if you’re putting you’re using a minimal or zero disturbance option, if it’s going to be put in a windy location you may want to consider adding a spring assembly. A spring assembly will allow for the sign to be temporarily pulled toward the ground, providing just enough give in your sign to reduce the stress on your post to prevent the sign from shearing off or the post to be uprooted. Spring assemblies also work well for parking lots or farmland with animals since the flexibility it provides lends itself well to minor bumps and nudges.

Regardless of the location, you’ll be placing your sign we’ve got a post option that will work both in terms of practicality and functionality. Take a look at our posts and bases and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need a quote or would like to place an order!