A Practical and Versatile Signage Solution
When it comes to installing channel letters on a building’s exterior, one popular method is mounting them on a raceway. A raceway provides a practical, streamlined solution for businesses and sign makers, offering a variety of benefits such as easier installation, fewer building modifications, and compliance with landlord requirements. Whether you’re using face-lit, halo-lit, or non-illuminated channel letters, raceways are an effective way to achieve a professional look while simplifying the installation process.
In this blog post, we’ll dive into what raceways are, how they’re made, why they’re often required by landlords, and the specific benefits they offer for different types of signage—including halo-lit channel letters mounted with a backer panel to preserve the illumination effect.
What Is a Raceway for Channel Letters?
A raceway is a thin, rectangular metal box that houses the wiring, power supply, and mounting hardware for channel letters. The raceway is attached to the building’s facade, and the channel letters are mounted onto the raceway rather than directly onto the building itself. This method is particularly useful for illuminated channel letters, as the raceway conceals all the electrical components in a neat, organized way.
The raceway is typically made from aluminum, which is lightweight, durable, and resistant to rust, making it an excellent material for outdoor use. The box can be painted to match the building or the letters themselves, ensuring that it blends seamlessly with the overall appearance of the sign.
How Are Raceways Made?
The fabrication of a raceway involves several key steps to ensure durability, functionality, and aesthetic appeal. Here’s a breakdown of the process:
- Design and Customization: The size and dimensions of the raceway are determined by the size and layout of the channel letters. The raceway needs to be large enough to house the electrical components and support the letters, but small enough to avoid detracting from the sign’s overall appearance.
- Fabrication: The raceway is typically made from high-quality aluminum sheets, which are cut and formed into a rectangular box. Openings are created for the letters to be mounted, and holes are drilled for the wiring to pass through.
- Wiring and Electrical Components: Inside the raceway, the necessary electrical wiring is installed, connecting the LEDs or other light sources inside the letters to a power supply. By containing all the electrical work within the raceway, the need for drilling multiple holes into the building for wiring is greatly reduced.
- Painting and Finishing: Once the raceway is fabricated and the wiring is complete, the exterior of the raceway is typically painted to match the building facade or the color of the channel letters. This ensures the raceway blends in and doesn’t distract from the signage itself.
- Mounting Brackets: Depending on the design, mounting brackets or standoffs may be attached to the back of the raceway, allowing it to be securely mounted to the building.
Why Are Raceways So Popular?
Raceways are a preferred choice for mounting channel letters for several important reasons. Here’s why they’re so popular:
- Landlord and Building Code Requirements: Many commercial landlords have strict rules about what can be mounted on their buildings, and raceways help businesses meet these guidelines. Landlords often prefer raceways because they reduce the number of holes drilled into the facade, which can help preserve the integrity of the building and make future sign changes easier. Using a raceway means fewer individual holes, as only the raceway itself needs to be secured, rather than each individual letter.
- Simplified Installation: Without a raceway, each letter would need to be individually mounted, which requires precise alignment and the drilling of multiple holes for both the letters and the wiring. A raceway simplifies this process, as the letters are pre-installed on the raceway, which can then be mounted with far fewer holes. This makes the installation quicker, easier, and more cost-effective.
- Concealed Wiring: A major benefit of using a raceway is that it hides all the electrical wiring and components inside the box. This not only makes for a cleaner, more professional look but also protects the wiring from the elements, reducing the risk of weather-related damage and the need for maintenance.
- Flexibility in Design: Raceways can be customized to fit a variety of signage needs. They can be designed to match the building’s architecture and ensure the letters are displayed at the correct height and position, even on uneven or difficult surfaces.
Halo-Lit Channel Letters on Raceways with a Backer Panel
One common concern when using raceways for halo-lit channel letters (also known as back-lit channel letters) is that the raceway might block the light that creates the signature halo effect. However, this issue can be easily solved by using a backer panel.
A backer panel is a flat piece of material—usually made from aluminum or acrylic—that is mounted behind the letters. This panel provides a surface for the halo illumination to reflect off of, ensuring that the glow is still visible, even when the letters are mounted on a raceway.
Here’s how the process works:
- Raceway and Backer Panel Installation: The raceway is first mounted onto the building’s surface. The backer panel is then installed over the raceway, covering it entirely. This creates a smooth, continuous surface behind the letters.
- Mounting the Halo-Lit Letters: The halo-lit channel letters are then mounted onto the backer panel. The standoff distance between the letters and the backer panel ensures that there’s enough space for the light to diffuse and create the desired halo effect.
- Preserving the Halo Illumination: By using a backer panel, businesses can achieve the glowing halo effect that is characteristic of this signage style, while still benefiting from the practical advantages of using a raceway. The backer panel also adds an extra layer of dimension and texture to the sign, enhancing its visual appeal.
Different Mounting Options for Channel Letters on Raceways
When mounting channel letters on raceways, there are several different ways the letters can be positioned, depending on the building’s design and the desired aesthetic. Here are some common mounting options:
- Flush Mounting: In this method, the raceway is mounted directly to the wall, with the letters sitting flush against the building’s surface. This is the most straightforward installation method and creates a clean, polished look.
- Standoff Mounting: With standoff mounting, the raceway is installed a few inches away from the building’s surface, creating a floating effect. This method is often used to add depth and dimension to the sign, especially when paired with halo-lit letters.
- Top Mounting: For signs that are placed above entrances or awnings, top mounting is a great option. The raceway is mounted on top of a structure, with the letters sitting above it, creating a sleek, elevated appearance.
- Side Mounting: Side mounting is useful for narrow spaces or locations where wall space is limited. In this method, the raceway and letters are installed on the side of the building or a structural feature, allowing the sign to be visible from different angles.
Why Choose Raceways for Channel Letter Signs?
Using a raceway to mount channel letters offers several key advantages, from simplifying the installation process to complying with landlord and building code requirements. Whether you’re installing illuminated, non-illuminated, or halo-lit channel letters, raceways provide a clean, efficient solution that reduces the number of holes drilled into the building, protects wiring, and enhances the overall durability of the sign.
For businesses looking to install halo-lit channel letters, raceways combined with backer panels ensure that the signature glow remains visible while still enjoying the practical benefits of raceway installation. The backer panel not only preserves the illumination effect but also adds depth and style to the overall design.
In short, raceways make channel letter signage easier to install, maintain, and modify, all while offering a polished, professional appearance that can enhance your brand’s visibility. Whether you’re complying with building requirements or simply looking for a more efficient installation process, raceways are a smart, versatile solution for your signage needs.