Custom Monument Signs and Installation in NH and North Shore MA

Signs East designs, builds, and installs monument signs for businesses, offices, plazas, and residential communities across Southern NH and North Shore MA. Owner Tor Larson has handled these projects since 2012, start to finish: design, permits, fabrication, and the concrete work on install day. You get one shop for the whole job and a straight answer at every step.

Schedule Your Monument Sign Consultation with Signs East

A monument sign is a low, freestanding structure at a property entrance, usually under 8 feet tall. Signs East builds them in brick, stone, aluminum cabinet, and carved HDU foam, with LED lighting when you want night visibility. We run the full project: site survey, design, town permits, fabrication in our Kingston, NH shop, foundation, and install. Most projects take 6 to 12 weeks, and permitting is usually the longest part. We serve Rockingham and Strafford County NH and Essex County MA.

Turnkey design, permit, and install
We handle the town paperwork
Serving NH and MA since 2012

What Is a Monument Sign?

A monument sign is the ground-level, freestanding structure you see at building entrances, shopping centers, office parks, and residential communities. Unlike pole signs or building-mounted channel letters, a monument sign sits close to the ground, usually under 8 feet tall. That gives it a solid, permanent look that reads as established.

It is often the first thing a visitor sees when they pull onto your property. A well-built monument sign tells people they are in the right place, carries your brand, and adds curb appeal that holds up for decades.

We design, fabricate, and install monument signs out of our Kingston, NH shop. Need a single-tenant sign for your business or a multi-tenant directory for a plaza? We run the whole project, permits through installation.

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Blue and white monument sign for Pratt & Whitney, a United Technologies Company, with stylized logo.

Which Type of Monument Sign Is Right for You?

Monument signs come in a few core styles. We help you pick based on your property, your zoning, and the look you are after.

Masonry and Brick Monument Signs

Built with real brick, stone, or stone veneer to match your building. These carry a sense of permanence and quality that works for banks, medical offices, professional practices, and upscale developments. We coordinate with masons or handle the full build in-house.

Aluminum Cabinet Signs

Fabricated aluminum structures with push-through or applied graphics. Light, durable, and a good fit for illuminated signs. They work well for retail centers, gas stations, and any business that needs bright nighttime visibility. Tenant panels swap out easily on multi-tenant versions.

HDU and Carved Foam Signs

High-density urethane can be carved, routed, and painted to look like wood, stone, or a custom shape. Lighter and more affordable than real masonry, and still built to hold up outdoors. A popular pick for HOA entrance signs, churches, and businesses that want a classic carved look.

Multi-Tenant Directory Signs

Shopping centers, office parks, and plazas need signs that list several businesses. We build these with interchangeable tenant panels so names can be swapped when leases change. Illuminated options keep every tenant visible day and night.

Why Hire Signs East for Your Monument Sign?

Plenty of shops can print a panel. Fewer will run the whole project and pick up the phone when you call. Here is how we compare.

What matters
Signs East
Typical sign shop
One shop for design, permits, and install
Handled start to finish
Often subs it out
Town permits filed for you
We do the paperwork
Left to you
Answers the phone and returns calls
Same or next day
Weeks of waiting
Handmade, built in the USA
In our Kingston, NH shop
Sometimes outsourced
Matches your building and brand
Custom every time
Template options
Straight pricing after a site visit
No hidden costs
Surprises on the invoice

Why Do Monument Signs Work So Well?

There is a reason property owners invest in permanent ground signage.

Easy to Find

Drivers spot you from the street without slowing to a crawl or second-guessing the turn. A clear sign at your entrance cuts down on missed turns and confused first-time visitors.

Reads as Established

A ground-mounted sign signals stability. Where a banner says temporary, a monument sign says you are set up here and planning to stay.

Adds Curb Appeal

A quality monument sign lifts the whole property. It is one of the first things people notice about your location, and one of the things they remember.

Corporate logo sign for Boston Children's at Peabody, featuring a blue logo with a child and caregiver, "NO Emergency Room" notice above, and landscaped flower bed below.

Do Monument Signs Need Lighting?

Most benefit from it. You can go with internal illumination, such as LED-lit cabinet faces or channel letters, or external ground-mounted spotlights. We use commercial-grade LEDs rated for 50,000+ hours. If you have an older sign running fluorescent or neon, we can retrofit it to LED for lower energy costs and fewer service calls.

How Does a Monument Sign Project Work?

From the first call to the finished install, here is what to expect.

1

Site Survey and Consultation

We come to your property to check the location, measure setbacks, look for underground utilities, and hear your goals. We go over materials, size, lighting, and any HOA or landlord rules. You get a detailed quote with no hidden costs.

2

Design and Engineering

Our designers create scaled renderings so you can see the sign on your site before anything is built. For larger signs, we provide engineered drawings covering foundation specs and wind load. You sign off on the design before we go to permitting.

3

Permitting and Fabrication

Monument signs almost always need permits: a sign permit, sometimes a building permit for the foundation, and an electrical permit if the sign lights up. We handle all of it. While the town reviews the paperwork, we build your sign in our shop.

4

Foundation and Installation

Once permits clear, we pour the concrete foundation or coordinate with your contractor, then set the structure, graphics, and electrical. We handle final inspections and walk you through everything before we pack up.

What Do Customers Say About Signs East?

Rated 5 stars by local businesses on Google

Tor is the best. He has made many signs for my construction company. He is always giving me ideas on how to make my signs look better. Signs East have gone out of their way to get signs printed and delivered to my jobsite in an impossible turnaround time. Wouldn't even consider going anywhere else.

Kevin W.Construction company owner

Tor Larson of Signs East was our go-to for a custom branded PVC sign for our law office building in Concord. He handled everything: estimate, design, permit, installation. Highly recommend.

Heidi B.Law office, Concord NH

Signs East is always a pleasure to work with. Whether it is signs, lettering, window tint, or other custom work, everything is handled quickly and with great attention to detail. Communication is excellent, turnaround is fast, and they consistently go the extra mile to make sure the job comes out right. Highly recommend.

Skyler O.Repeat customer

Monument Sign Questions

Answers to what we hear most often.

It depends on size, materials, and lighting. A basic HDU foam sign can start around $3,000 to $5,000. A masonry monument with channel letters and LED lighting can run $15,000 to $30,000 or more. Multi-tenant signs for plazas usually start near $20,000. We give you a detailed quote after a site survey so you know exactly what is included.
Almost always. Most towns require a sign permit, and many require a building permit for the foundation. If the sign is illuminated, you will also need an electrical permit. We handle all the applications, drawings, and approvals. Permitting is often the longest part of the project.
Plan for 6 to 12 weeks from deposit to installation. Permitting runs 2 to 6 weeks depending on your town. Fabrication takes 2 to 4 weeks. Foundation and installation take 1 to 2 weeks. We can sometimes speed up fabrication, but permit timelines sit with the town. We give you a realistic schedule up front.
Most towns cap monument signs at 6 to 8 feet, though it varies by zone and setback. Commercial zones often allow taller signs than residential areas. Some towns measure to the top of the sign, others to the top of any decorative cap. We check your zoning during the site survey.
Real brick and stone hold up the longest and take the least upkeep, which is why banks and medical offices lean that way. Carved HDU foam is close behind at a lower cost and shrugs off rot and insects. Aluminum cabinets last for years and make lighting simple. We match the material to your budget, your building, and how much maintenance you want to deal with.
Yes, we do a lot of it: new faces, tenant panel swaps, LED retrofits, and cosmetic repairs. If the structure is sound, updating is usually cheaper than a full replacement. Take a look at our sign repair services or give us a call to talk through what you need.

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Tell us about your project. We visit your site, walk through the options, and give you a straight quote.

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