How to Install a Slate House Sign
In this post, I'm going to show you how to install a slate house sign safely to an outside wall and how to care for it.
This post is far more than that though. It's about how a pretty Welsh mansion house, inspired me to get going on this project and about the engraver's shop in North Wales which made my dream come true. Come and get the full story on all that, over on the blog at Chalking Up Success.
A quick note on safety: We already knew that no electricity cables were running up the wall. If you are doing something like this and you're not sure where your wires are, always use an electrical wire tester to test the area first. If there are wires behind the wall and you drill into them, you could get a nasty electric shock!
This tutorial is for applying a slate sign to a masonry wall. If you are applying a slate sign to a wood base - see the extra tip for that over on the blog.
ANOTHER QUICK REMINDER: When attempting any DIY project, please take care to undertake the necessary safety precautions. You should always follow the manufacturer’s safety recommendations when using any product or tool. When following my instructions for a DIY project, you are doing so at your own risk.
First, we had to decide where we wanted the sign to go. We tried it high and low and on both sides of the door but in the end, we decided it should be placed roughly at eye-level, between the door and the small window.
Next, we measured and placed the sign on the wall. We rested a spirit level over the top of the sign to make sure it was level. Then, we pre-drilled into the holes on the sign just enough to make a mark for the holes.
We took the sign away and drilled into the wall where we'd pre-drilled. Then we inserted some masonry rawl plugs into those holes.
Our sign came with the screws included. We just pushed the screws into the rawl plugs and used a handheld screwdriver to mount the slate sign to the wall – Easy, even for me!
Add screw caps
Lastly, we added the screw caps (included with the delivery). As the name suggests, they just screw on to the screw-head, making them look prettier and protecting them from the weather.
That's how to install a slate house sign all done and dusted!
Talking about 'dusted' you might need to clean the sign now and again but don't worry, it's super easy!
Cleaning a slate house sign
All we've done so far is to wipe our slate house sign down with a soft cloth and warm soapy water.
The engraving is so deep that you can cover your finger with the cloth and trace over the letters to clean them. It always cleans up a treat!
Once the slate sign is clean, we wipe away the excess water and let it dry – that's it!
I'm more than happy, now that we've finally installed our slate house sign. I can't explain it but somehow our entrance seems more grounded. When they come to our door, visitors always comment on how lovely the slate house sign looks.
If you are looking for a British style house sign made of engraved Welsh slate, then I can't recommend this Etsy shop enough! (All the details are on the blog). I left a review and uploaded a photo which you'll see if you decide to hop on over to the shop.
What do you think? Do you like my Welsh slate house sign? Does your dwelling have a name or numbers or both?
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Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?