When you order a sign from SignShine you choose three things: the material, the size and the finishing. Finishing is the option people think about least, but it decides how the sign goes up. Pick the wrong one and you end up drilling your own holes or taping a heavy panel to a rough wall. This guide explains each finishing option and when to use it.
No finishing
The sign arrives as a plain panel with no holes, tape or eyelets. Choose this if you are framing the sign, fixing it with your own brackets or adhesive, or slotting it into an existing sign holder.
Pre-drilled holes
Available on rigid materials like aluminium and ACP, pre-drilled holes are the go-to for screwing a sign to a wall, door, fence or timber post. Four holes (one in each corner) gives the most secure hold and stops the sign twisting.
Best for: brick or masonry walls, plant room doors, fences, timber posts and anywhere the sign is staying put for years.
Post mount holes
Post mount holes are positioned to suit fixing to a round or square post with brackets or straps. This is the usual choice for parking and traffic signs on poles in car parks and private roads.
Best for: parking signs, traffic signs and anything mounted on a pole or bollard.
Double-sided tape
Tape is applied to the back so the sign can be stuck straight onto a smooth, clean surface with no drilling. It's popular for statutory door signs, glass, painted plasterboard and metal cabinets.
Best for: statutory signs on doors, office and bathroom signs, and anywhere you can't drill. Tape works best indoors on smooth surfaces; for rough or outdoor surfaces, choose holes instead.
Eyelets (corflute)
Eyelets are metal-reinforced holes punched into corflute signs so they can be cable-tied to temporary fencing, mesh or star pickets. They're the standard for construction site, event and real estate signs.
- 4 eyelets (one in each corner) suits most corflute signs and is available on every size.
- 6 or 8 eyelets are available on larger corflute signs, 450mm x 600mm and up. The extra fixing points stop big panels flapping and tearing in the wind on exposed fences.
Fixings aren't included
Signs are supplied on their own, without screws, cable ties or brackets, so you can use fixings that suit your surface and conditions.
Quick reference
| Where it's going | Material | Finishing |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary site fence | Corflute | Eyelets (6 or 8 on large signs) |
| Brick wall or fence, long term | Aluminium or ACP | Pre-drilled holes |
| Car park pole | Aluminium (reflective for night) | Post mount holes |
| Fire door or plant room door | ACP or vinyl | Double-sided tape |
| Glass or smooth indoor wall | Vinyl sticker | Self-adhesive (no finishing needed) |
Still not sure?
Read our guides to choosing a sign material and reflective vs non-reflective signs, or contact our team and we'll help you choose. Every sign is made to order and dispatched in 2–3 business days.
Related guides
Looking for something else? Browse every guide in our Sign Guide Library.