A-Frame & Sidewalk Signs in Colorado Springs

Types of A-frame and sidewalk signs

The right frame depends on how often the message changes, how windy the spot is, and how much the sign gets moved. Most businesses want a sturdy frame that lasts for years and inserts they can change.

A combination works well for many businesses: a printed brand header with the logo and name at the top, and a chalkboard or dry-erase area below for today's message. The brand stays consistent even when the handwriting changes.

Colorado Springs A-frame sign rules

A portable A-frame or sidewalk sign at a non-residential business needs no permit under the current Colorado Springs sign code, adopted with Ordinance 26-01, as long as it stays within the code limits. Those limits are specific, and they apply to every A-frame on the property.

The right-of-way rule matters most in practice. Public sidewalks are usually in the right-of-way, so an A-frame on the public sidewalk in front of a downtown or Old Colorado City storefront needs a revocable permit, while one on a private walkway in a shopping center does not. Shopping centers may also have their own rules in the lease or in a coordinated sign plan. Our guide to sign permits after Ordinance 26-01 covers the rest of the code.

Wind and weighting in Colorado

Wind is one of the most common reasons A-frames fail in Colorado Springs. A 4 by 2 foot sign acts like a sail, and a gust that tips it into a parked car or a customer is a much bigger problem than a lost sign.

• Weight the base. Plastic frames with fillable bases are among the most wind-resistant. Sand adds more weight than water and will not freeze and crack the base in winter.
• Add weight to metal frames. Sandbags or weight plates on the bottom crossbar, or a frame with a wide, heavy base, keep a metal A-frame standing.
• Consider a spring or swinging frame. Spring-mounted and swinging signs give in a gust instead of catching it.
• Watch the forecast. On high wind days, bring the sign in. The code only allows it out during business hours anyway.
• Pick the spot. A sign tucked beside a column or wall is shielded from wind that would flatten it in an open corner.

Snow and ice add their own wear. Powder-coated metal frames handle winter well, and laminated inserts hold up to wet snow better than paper or unlaminated prints.

Keeping the sidewalk clear

An A-frame has to leave room for people walking past, including people using wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers. The 2010 ADA Standards set the minimum clear width of an accessible walking surface at 36 inches, and a sign that squeezes the path below that creates a barrier.

• Leave at least 36 inches clear. Measure from the edge of the sign to the nearest obstacle, such as a planter, a bench, a column, or the curb. More space is better on busy walks.
• Keep it out of the path of travel. Place the sign beside the walkway or against the building, not in the middle of the route to the door.
• Do not block the door. Keep the sign clear of the door swing, the entrance landing, and any accessible parking access aisle or curb ramp.
• Check the frame shape. A sign with a wide base and no overhang is easier to detect with a cane than a sign with parts sticking out above the ground.

Revocable permits for signs in the public right-of-way typically come with their own placement conditions. We confirm current requirements with the city before a sign goes on a public sidewalk.

Printed inserts you swap by season

The frame is a one-time purchase; the inserts are where the marketing happens. A metal frame with changeable inserts lets you run a different message each season for the cost of a new print, not a new sign.

• Seasonal promotions. Spring cleanups, summer patio hours, back-to-school, holiday gift cards. Many businesses order a set of four inserts at once.
• Directions. A permanent insert that points to a second-floor suite or a rear entrance, kept on one side while the other side changes.
• Hiring. A "Now hiring" insert reaches people who walk past every day.
• Events. An insert for a grand opening, open house, or ribbon cutting.

Inserts are printed on rigid sign material and laminated to resist scuffs and UV at 6,035 feet. We keep the insert size on file so the next set fits your frame. Inserts are designed to read at walking distance, with the key words large and the rest short. Once the estimate is approved and the deposit is received, our team will begin the design and proofing process.

What to put on an A-frame

An A-frame is read in a few seconds by someone on foot or in a slow car. The best ones carry one message, not five.

1. The hook. One short line that gives a reason to come in: a special, an offer, or "Open."
2. The name or logo. This makes the sign clearly yours, matching your building sign and window graphics.
3. The direction. An arrow if the entrance is not obvious.

Skip the phone number and website unless they are the point of the sign. Large letters, strong contrast, and plenty of empty space do more than extra text.

How an A-frame sign project runs

1. Pick the spotSend a photo of your entrance and where you plan to put the sign, and tell us whether it is on private property or a public sidewalk.
2. Estimate and depositYou receive a written estimate for the frame and inserts. Once the estimate is approved and the deposit is received, our team will begin the design and proofing process.
3. Design and proofInserts are laid out for walking distance and sent for approval, along with any seasonal versions.
4. Print and assembleInserts are printed on rigid material, laminated, and fitted to the frame.
5. Pickup or deliveryYou receive the sign ready to use, with guidance on weighting and placement. New inserts can be ordered any time to the same size.

Is an A-frame sign right for your business?

A-frames work best where foot traffic passes close to the door.