Custom projecting blade signs for San Jose storefronts, restaurants, and office buildings. Mounted perpendicular to the building face so pedestrians and drivers can read you from down the block — illuminated or non-illuminated, permitted and installed by our local team.
A blade sign — also called a projecting sign or hanging sign — mounts perpendicular to the building face and extends out over the sidewalk. Unlike a flat fascia sign that reads only from directly in front, a blade sign is visible to foot traffic approaching from either direction. For businesses in dense downtown corridors, mixed-use retail strips, or anywhere pedestrians are the primary customer, that 90-degree orientation is the difference between being seen and being missed.
Blade signs are typically double-sided and constructed from aluminum cabinet frames with acrylic faces, flat aluminum panels, or wooden substrates depending on the building aesthetic. They can be internally illuminated with LED for nighttime visibility, or finished as non-illuminated signs with vinyl or painted graphics. Bracket hardware mounts directly to the building fascia or a wall-mounted arm above the entrance.
In San Jose, projecting signs require a sign permit from the City's Development Services Department, and depending on the building, landlord approval as well. We handle both — permit submittal, landlord approval package, fabrication, and installation — so you don't have to manage multiple vendors or the permitting process yourself.
Aluminum cabinet with translucent acrylic face panels, internally lit with LED. Bright, even illumination visible day and night. The most common choice for retail storefronts and restaurants that operate into evening hours.
Non-illuminated flat aluminum panel with routed or applied graphics. Clean, modern look suited to professional offices, boutiques, and buildings with architectural restrictions on illuminated signage.
Aluminum frame with digitally printed or vinyl-applied acrylic faces. Durable, weather-resistant, and available in any shape — rectangular, arched, or custom profile to match the building aesthetic.
HDU foam or natural wood substrate with metal hardware and bracket — suited to restaurants, cafes, boutiques, and historic district buildings where a warmer, handcrafted aesthetic fits the brand.
Dimensional letters or logo mounted on a blade panel with LED backlighting for a halo effect at night. Upscale look for restaurants, hotels, and premium retail — visible and distinctive after dark.
A graphic or icon shape — scissor, coffee cup, medical cross — rather than a text panel. Fast visual shorthand for the type of business, readable at a glance by pedestrians moving past the storefront.
Projecting signs in San Jose require a sign permit and structural review for the bracket attachment. We prepare and submit the permit package to the City's Development Services Department and manage the process through approval — you don't have to deal with the city directly.
Most commercial leases require written landlord approval before any exterior sign goes up. We prepare the approval package — sign drawings, dimensions, materials spec, and installation method — so your landlord has everything they need to sign off quickly.
One team handles design, fabrication, permit, and installation. We spec the bracket hardware for your building's wall construction, ensure the sign meets San Jose's projection and clearance requirements, and handle the installation from lift to final mounting.
Blade signs take weather, wind load, and years of sun exposure. We build with commercial aluminum extrusion, powder-coated hardware, and UV-stable graphics that hold color and don't delaminate. No warping, no fading in the first California summer.
Blade signs are standard equipment for restaurants in San Jose's downtown corridor and neighborhood retail strips — visible to foot traffic before they reach the entrance and readable from across the street.
Boutiques, specialty stores, and service retail in mixed-use buildings and shopping corridors where a projecting sign adds sidewalk visibility that a flat fascia sign alone can't provide.
Professional blade signs for medical practices in office buildings and street-level suites — clean finish, ADA-compliant mounting height, and a look that fits the building's professional character.
Distinctive blade sign designs for salons, barbershops, and spas — icon-based or text, illuminated or flat, that match the brand aesthetic and attract walk-in traffic from the sidewalk.
Law firms, financial advisors, insurance offices, and consultancies in street-level commercial space where a blade sign signals presence and permanence to clients approaching on foot.
Building identity blade signs for multi-tenant commercial properties — directory-style or building-name panels that help tenants and visitors locate the right entrance in dense urban blocks.
Blade sign projects typically take 4–6 weeks from quote to installation, with permit timeline being the primary variable. We start the permit process early so fabrication runs in parallel and nothing waits unnecessarily.
We visit your location or review photos and dimensions. We'll assess your building's fascia, existing signage, landlord restrictions, and San Jose sign code requirements — then recommend a blade sign type, size, and mounting approach that works for your specific situation.
We produce sign drawings for your review and prepare the permit submittal and landlord approval package simultaneously. Once you approve the design, we submit to the City of San Jose and your property manager. We track both approvals and keep you updated.
Once permits are approved, your blade sign goes into production. Aluminum cabinet, acrylic faces, LED components if illuminated, and powder-coated bracket hardware are fabricated and assembled in-house, then quality-checked before the installation date is scheduled.
Our installation crew handles the full mount — bracket attachment, sign hang, electrical connection for illuminated signs, and final level check. We clean up the worksite and walk you through the finished installation before we leave.
Based in San Jose, permitting and installing projecting signs throughout the South Bay and greater Bay Area.