What Are HDU Signs?
HDU signs are dimensional signs made from high-density urethane, a rigid, closed-cell material built for sign making. HDU signs have the look of hand-carved wood, with smooth or textured backgrounds, crisp edges and fine detail. Our shop in Edgewater routes each one from your artwork, then finishes it for long outdoor life.
What Exactly Is HDU?
High-density urethane (HDU) is a form of polyurethane that is waterproof and resists petroleum-based solvents. It will not shrink, swell, warp, twist or bow, so a finished sign holds its shape year after year. It also cuts and routes cleanly, which keeps costs down on detailed work.
We make community entrance signs from HDU and finish them with Sherwin-Williams exterior paint and 23 karat gold leaf. For a traditional look, we add a woodgrain texture to the background that resembles sandblasted cedar. The photo below shows a community entrance sign for Cedar Ridge in Eastport, MD.
A High-Density Urethane Sign at Westbard Mews
We can route your sign with a smooth, recessed background. Raised flat letters and trim are covered in 23 karat gold leaf. Before gilding, we prime the HDU and paint it with Sherwin-Williams exterior paint. Most of our dimensional signs start with a 1.5-inch sheet of 18 lb high-density urethane, which gives the sign real depth and a solid feel.
V-Cut Incised Letters in HDU
Another option for a dimensional sign is v-cut lettering, which resembles hand carving. A v-cut letter finished in gold leaf takes more time and patience to gild, but the result is hard to beat. The photo below shows a v-cut letter in the gilding process. Our gilders remove the loose excess gold, then polish the letters gently with cotton.
