One of the most common questions we get asked before our customers’ make a purchase is ‘how big should my house number be?’
The answer is very hard for us to advise without being able to stand outside the property, so here are 5 questions to help you make the right decision for your home.
1. How far back from the street is your property?
In order to determine the ideal house number size you will need to get a general idea of what distance your number will be viewed at. Our 150mm high stainless steel numbers are our best selling size, and generally speaking these are readable 10-15m away. We also stock larger house numbers at 250mm high and these would be readable at about 20-25m away. A useful question is - Do you want your house number to be a big statement or simply clearly legible from the road? We think our 250mm high numbers (helvetica pictured below) make a big impact by a front door!
2. What surface are you fixing to?
The colour and texture of the installation surface can influence how readable your number will be. For example we usually recommend black house numbers or grey house numbers for installation onto a white rendered wall, as stainless steel can get lost against the white. If your wall is particularly uneven and textured then a larger number would be a better option to ensure it is clearly legible against the wall. For front doors our most popular choice of height is 95mm high, for a clear nicely proportioned door number.
3. Is there a specific area on the wall or door you want to fill?
If you have a particular space, for example a pillar or a panel of the door then this needs to be taken into consideration. Ideally there should be an area around the numbers left free to help with the overall look: taking the numbers to the very edge of a space will make things look crowded. To help our customers we can provide a visual of your chosen style at the height you think is right. For example if you live at a number 230 and want the 150mm size, then we can draw this up to show you the overall effect and total combined width of the numbers.
3. What style of house number are you choosing?
The style of your house number can impact how easy it is to see, for example if you compare our Impact House Numbers with our Century House Numbers there is a huge difference in the surface area of the steel, which ultimately affects how easy it is to read. The Century House Numbers and Serif House Numbers are a lovely choice for a period property, but they are very slender and delicate so you may want to consider sizing up on these styles. These ‘impact’ house numbers below at 150mm high fill this pillar perfectly and have a big surface area to contrast against the stone.
4. Is your property on a well-lit street?
If your street is dimly lit you may want to consider an LED house number, which will help to guide visitors to your front door. Our LED numbers are completely IP rated for outdoor use and are adaptable for installation with dusk till dawn sensors or a timer. If LEDs are not for you but you are not on a well lit street then a larger stainless steel number would be preferable to any of our powder coated ranges – the stainless steel surface will catch the light at certain times of day and reflect the headlamps of cars arriving at your home. Pictured below is our best selling LED number plaque
How big is too big for a house number?
If you aren’t afraid to make a statement and have the space then your house number is yours to create! Whilst 95mm 150mm and 250mm are the most common choices, creating a custom house number can be the way to go when it comes to adding the finishing touch to a house front. We can produce up to 800mm length parts and help you to create something that can’t possibly be missed! Take a look at ‘We Love Home’ blog to see how blogger Maxine used our service to make a beautiful No. 8 (pictured below).
