Stud Mount Letter Installation

Step 1.  Clean the wall where the letters will go to insure good adhesion of the drilling pattern.

Step 2.  Measure to find the center point of your sign letters on the wall.   If the center is not pre marked on the drilling template you can fold it in half to find the center.

Step 3.  Tape the drilling template/pattern to the wall.  A level or a measuring tape can be used to level the drilling pattern.  Tape one edge of the template to the surface and unroll it.  Level the template and tape the other edge to the installation surface.  When installing on brick make sure the pattern aligns with the mortar joints, since mortar joints are not always level.  In some cases it is better for the sign letters to "look" level than to be truly level.  Masking tape holds fine on some surfaces, but if you are installing on brick I recommend using duct tape since it holds much better.  In fact I usually use duct tape on any surface that would not be damaged by its aggressive adhesiveness like most metal as well as brick and stucco. 

Step 4.  Center punching the hole marks through the pattern is useful in helping to prevent the drill bit from drifting when you first start your holes, and to leave a mark in case the pattern falls off pre-maturely when drilling.  Wear safety glasses!

Step 5.  Drill 1/4" holes 3" deep where indicated on the template.  On a brick, stucco or cinder block installation use a Rotary Hammer Drill, metal siding and wood, use a regular electric drill or battery Drill (have extra batteries),  and when drilling on sheetrock  a battery drill works fine.  Tip- When drilling start off with a slow short burst with the drill as this will have a lesser tendency to drift from your  mark and will give you a chance to correct a drift.  When drilling brick this really helps and if you do get off a little you can correct by angling the drill back to the correct spot when you get deep enough to stop the drifting.

Step 6. Remove the template and clean out all the drill holes using any of the following methods:  a quick puff of air, using the vents on your drill,  compressed air or a turkey baster.  I have also used a  drinking straw to blow the dust out of the holes, but I usually get a face full of dust when I do it - you have to get the angle just right when using this method.  Canned air works great too.  Dust off the wall with a stiff brush after drilling the holes so that the surface is clean and it will allow the silicon to stick.

Step 6.  Insert the studs into the holes on the backs of the letters.  Place letters in holes on wall before applying silicone to verify position.  Adjust as necessary, now fill the holes in the wall of the first letter with silicone.

Step 7.  Push the tube of silicone over each stud on the first letter in order to evenly coat if with adhesive.  Apply silicone to pads if using a combination mounting

Step 8.  Push the letter into the drill holes.    Repeat for the rest of the letters.  A shim can be used to assure the proper standoff of the letter from the wall if a space is desired.  Plastic and metal spacers/standoffs are available for spacing the letter away from  the wall as well as the standard clear pads that screw onto the mounting studs.

Step 9.  Tape the letters down until the silicone sets up if necessary.

Step 10.  Clean the letters with a little soap and water if necessary.