// buying guide
Choosing house numbers & signage.
House numbers do one job — they have to be read, quickly, from the road, by a courier or an ambulance crew who've never been to your street. Get the size, the contrast and the fixing right and a steel number will look sharp and do that job for decades. Here's how to choose.
1. Size it for reading distance
The most common mistake is going too small. A number that looks bold in your hand can vanish on a wall ten metres back from the road. The practical rule we use: allow roughly 25mm (1 inch) of character height for every 10 metres it needs to be read from.
- On the house, set back from the road: 100–150mm tall reads cleanly.
- On a gate, gatepost or by the front path: 75–100mm is plenty.
- Flats or a shared porch where you're close up: 50–75mm works.
When in doubt, size up. Emergency services and delivery drivers will thank you, and a confident number always looks more intentional than a timid one.
2. Choose a font that reads, then a style you like
Legibility first, character second. Numerals with open counters and clear, distinct shapes (so a 6 can't be mistaken for an 8, or a 1 for a 7) read fastest. Heavier weights hold up better at a distance and cast a cleaner shadow. Within that, the style is yours — a clean modern sans for a contemporary build, something with a little more character for a period property.
Mixing numbers and letters? Keep the font and height consistent across the whole address so "12A" or "Flat 3" reads as one unit, not three mismatched pieces.
3. Contrast against the wall
A number only works if it stands out from what's behind it. Dark powder-coat (anthracite, black, dark bronze) pops against pale render and light brick — the most common and reliable combination. On a dark wall, flip it: a light or stainless finish reads far better than black-on-dark. Stand-off mounting helps here too, because the shadow line lifts the character off the wall and sharpens its outline whatever the colour.
4. Fixing — flush or stand-off
There are two ways to mount steel numbers, and both are easy with the right approach:
- Flush mount: the piece screws flat to the wall through fixing holes. Simple, secure and low-profile.
- Stand-off mount: small spacers hold each character a few millimetres proud of the wall, casting a shadow line that looks premium and improves legibility.
On render, drill slowly with a masonry bit and seal each hole to keep water out of the substrate. On brick, fix into the brick face, not the soft mortar joint, which won't hold a plug reliably. On timber cladding, a stainless screw straight into the board is fine — just pre-drill to avoid splitting.
5. Finish for a British winter
Outdoor signage takes everything the weather throws at it, so finish is critical. Powder coating is our default for anything exterior — a baked-on shell that shrugs off UV, rain and frost on even a north-facing wall. Raw bare steel is a deliberate choice for a rusted, rustic look that suits a barn conversion or country property. Keep brushed-and-lacquered steel indoors or in a fully covered porch only. Our care guide covers maintenance for each.
6. Bespoke name plaques & signs
House name, business plaque, a sign with your own wording or logo — that's exactly the kind of thing we cut and finish in-house. Send your wording, font preference and size, or a sketch, and we'll quote it. We can match most RAL powder-coat colours and produce one-offs or matching sets.
Shop letters & signs
Steel letters and numbers, made to order in Andover. Examples to get you started:
Keep reading
More from our workshop: the complete guide to metal wall art, the garden metalwork buyer's guide, and the full guides & resources hub. See our materials guide for the steel behind every piece.