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How to build a outdoor wood sign that is personalized! This tutorial includes tips for for creating a frame, weather proofing, sealing, and painting so you can have your own unique creation for your home.
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We really like to go all out at my house for Halloween, and the kids in my neighborhood get a huge kick out of it. A few years ago, I had seen some “Dead and Breakfast” Signs (B&B) signs and I loved the idea!
However, I wanted to put my own little spin on it (of course!) and made a Potion Shoppe Sign to go with the theme of most of our decorations…plus that I get to dress up as a witch to hand out candy to trick or treaters!
I love working with outdoor projects like a front porch welcome sign, and even building an outdoor dining table. Working with wood outdoors always has a few challenges, so I made this tutorial to guide anyone through making an outdoor wood sign because there are so many uses from displaying house numbers to seasonal décor!
Supplies Needed
For the sign:
- Appropriate Wood (see below)
- Exterior Paint, stain, or sealer
- Stencils and decorations
To hang the sign:
- Eyelet screws
- Carabiners and chain
- Frame and anchor (options and sources are below)
What kind of wood to use Outdoors?
To make the sign, we used MDO plywood (medium density overlay). It’s a plywood that is safe for outdoor use and water resistant. It’s mostly used for outdoor commercial signs and siding or garage panels.
However, it can be difficult to find and may need to be ordered at a local building supply company. Other options for outdoor wood signs are pine, outdoor fencing, pvc panels, and marine plywood. Do not use red oak, regular plywood, mdf or other porous wood surfaces that are prone to rot.
How to Build an Outdoor Sign
I have included a printable step by step card at the bottom of this post but added some tips and how I completed our project in this section.
- Cut the wood to size. In my case, I painted the sign black, let it dry, and then added a stencil to get the right shape for my cut. This particular template was designed and made using a Cricut Machine. Then we cut it out using a jig saw and a lot of patience.
2. Prep. Sand the edges from the cuts and, if needed, sand the top layer of the board lightly to get the best bond. Plywood generally doesn’t need to be sanded.
3. Paint. On the stencil, I used both gold and white exterior paint to bring in different elements. With outdoor projects, I recommend sealing or painting the entire surface. If you don’t want to paint the entire surface, you can seal with an outdoor polyurethane.
4. Hang the sign. I found these porch columns at Lowe’s for $47. We used a large drill bit and hand chisels to create the hole for a pvc board to be anchored across the top. Lastly, we attached the top with some eyelets and carabiners like these.
I have also made these types of signs to hang on mailboxes for classy house numbers or a last name and they look great.
5. Anchor in the ground. I don’t plan to have this post up year-round, so we found a deep post spike and drove it in the ground. The top anchors the post nicely but we can take the post down any time we want!
Other options for anchoring include concreting the post in the ground or anchoring it with a large plant pot filled with gravel.
And here is how the sign turned out…
Pretty Spooky-Awesome, right?!
This sign is a part of our Witch Decor Halloween Display with Dancing Witches in a Séance and Luminaires, but it’s the one item that brings the whole style together. I also made the sign reversible, so the backside has a Santa Workshop theme, so it’s great fun!
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wood to use outdoors?
For signs and outdoor furniture, teak, cedar, and redwood are some of the best softwoods as they are resistant to both insects and rot. Pine and pressure treated wood are generally the best value. For signs and flat surfaces, waterproof plywood, such as marine plywood or Medium Density Overlay (MDO) plywood. PVC “wood” is also a great option as it will never rot, warp, and won’t be attractive to insects.
Does exterior paint seal wood?
Paint is one of the best sealers as it provides the most protection against ultraviolet degradation and moisture. The seal, however, is only as good as the condition of the paint. If the paint starts chipping or flaking, the seal will be broken.
What do you seal outdoor wood signs with?
You can use outdoor rated polyurethane over raw wood or oil-based stain. It does have a tendency to amber which gives a warm, rustic look. Although exterior paint does not necessarily need a sealer, polyacrylic or water-based sealer works best over water-based stain and any kind of paint. A sealer may help the paint last longer and reduce weathering.
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How To Make an Outdoor Wood Sign
How to build a outdoor wood sign for your home or yard! This tutorial includes tips for for creating a frame, weather proofing, sealing, and painting so you can have your own unique decor to display house numbers, names, or seasonal decorations.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
Project Time: 1 hour hour
Total Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes
Author: Rachel
Cost: 75
Tools
Supplies
For the Sign
- 1 Wood Sign See appropriate types of wood in the notes
- 1 Appropriate Wood
- 1 Stencils and decorations
- 1 Exterior Paint or Stain
- 1 Sealer Optional (see note)
Hanging Materials
- 4 Eyelet Screws
- 4 Carabiners
- 2 pieces Chain links
- 1 Post frame or place to hang the sign
Instructions
Cut the wood to size.For more intricate shapes, you can use a jigsaw to cut out the template.
Prep.Sand the edges from the cuts and, if needed, sand the top layer of the board lightly to get the best bond. Plywood generally doesn’t need to be sanded.
Paint.With outdoor projects, it's best to paint or seal the entire surface. If you don’t want to paint the entire surface, you can seal with an outdoor polyurethane.
Hang the sign, if desired.You can build a frame fromthese porch columns. Attached top with eyelets carabiners, and chain.
Anchor in the ground. Build a supporting frame in a larger planter and fill with gravel or use a deep post spike driven into the ground to anchor the post frame.
Notes
What kind of wood to use outdoors?
For signs and outdoor furniture, teak, cedar, and redwood are some of the best softwoods as they are resistant to both insects and rot. Pine and pressure treated wood are generally the best value. For flat surfaces, waterproof plywood, such as marine plywood or Medium Density Overlay (MDO) plywood is great. PVC “wood” is also a great option as it will never rot, warp, and won’t be attractive to insects.
Do I need to seal Outdoor wood?
You can use outdoor rated polyurethane over raw wood or oil based stain. It does have a tendency to amber which gives a warm, rustic look. Although exterior paint does not necessarily need a sealer, polyacrylic or water based sealer works best over water based stain and any kind of paint. A sealer may help the paint last longer and reduce weathering.
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Laura says
What size is your sign?
Reply
Rachel says
My particular sign is about 18×24.
Reply
