Cedar is a lightweight softwood with a warm color, a pleasant scent, and natural oils that help it resist rot and insects. Those qualities have made it a favorite for outdoor signs for generations. When it’s sandblasted, its soft grain wears away and the harder growth rings stand out, so the background takes on a deep, natural texture. At our shop in Edgewater, Maryland, we still sandblast cedar signs by hand.
Sandblasted Cedar Signs
First, we choose the wood. For our best signs, we use vertical grain clear heart cedar, which has few knots and stays stable outdoors. Then we mask the letters and sandblast the background, leaving the name raised above a textured surface. Finally, we paint the sign and often finish the letters in genuine 23 karat gold leaf. As a result, every cedar sign has a grain pattern that no other sign can match.
Cedar Signs for Businesses, Farms, and HOAs
Cedar suits almost any setting. For example, we built and installed many cedar wayfinding signs at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center here in Edgewater. We also made a sandblasted cedar sign with gold leaf for Cardinal Plaza Shell and a gold leaf entrance sign for the Evergreen Square HOA. In the country, a cedar sign at the top of a driveway helps visitors find their way, like our farm entrance signs at Tally Ho. Shops and boutiques love the look too, as you can see in our signs for specialty shops.
Cedar or HDU?
Many customers ask whether to choose cedar or HDU (high-density urethane). Cedar costs a bit more, but it’s real wood, with a natural grain that’s unique to every board. HDU, on the other hand, never rots or warps, and we can give it a woodgrain texture that looks remarkably like cedar. Either way, we’ll help you pick the right material for your sign and your budget. For more, see our CNC routed signs and our guide to wood for hand-carved signs.
See the Work
- Wayfinding signs at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
- Gold leaf sign for Cardinal Plaza Shell
- HOA entrance sign for Evergreen Square
- Farm entrance signs at Tally Ho
- Signs for shops and boutiques
Browse the full gallery. Our What We Do page shows everything we build.
Contact Designs & Signs
Thinking about a cedar sign for your home, farm, or business? Send us a message through our contact form, or call (410) 798-5115.