Channel letters are the storefront's primary instrument.
For most commercial buildings, illuminated channel letters are the most-visible piece of branding the property has. They identify the tenant, set the visual standard for the storefront, and pull traffic at night when the rest of the sign system has gone dark. The construction quality of those letters — the aluminum gauge, the LED specification, the face material, the weld and trim-cap technique — is the difference between signage that reads premium for fifteen years and signage that fades, flickers, and discolors within five. Signs PQ has been fabricating channel letters in-house since 2007. We build them to the standard we'd accept on our own building.
Construction that holds up to the Texas environment.
Our standard channel letter construction starts with aluminum coil for returns — coil-rolled and welded or trim-capped depending on the design intent. Faces are premium acrylic, internally illuminated with sealed LED modules selected against the face color and the lighting environment. Power supplies are UL-listed and remote-mounted inside protected raceways or behind the building face. Every set ships with documented UL 48 certification, ready for electrical inspection at install. Finish coatings are automotive-grade paint or vinyl applied for color stability under Texas UV.
Multiple illumination styles for the design intent.
Not every channel letter set needs to look the same. We fabricate face-lit channel letters (classic illuminated faces), reverse channel "halo" lit letters (concealed light that washes the wall behind the letter for a more architectural look), open-face letters with exposed neon or LED, and combination face-and-halo configurations. The illumination style is selected against the building, the brand intent, and the visibility distance the sign needs to cover. We work with the project's design team — or develop the concept ourselves — to deliver a set that looks like it belongs.
Mounting and installation.
Installation method is part of the design. We mount channel letters direct to wall (face-of-wall), on raceways (consolidated power and mounting), or on backer panels (architectural backgrounds) depending on the building substrate, the electrical run, and the visual intent. Every installation includes coordinated electrical hookup — power from the building's panel to the sign location, conduit run cleanly, and final connection by a licensed electrician working on our team. We install with the equipment the job calls for: ladders for low-mount installs, scissor lifts for medium-height work, and boom lifts or cranes when the building height demands it.
Permits, code, and landlord approvals.
Permits for channel letters vary widely across DFW municipalities. Some cities are fast, some are slow, and some have specific rules about size, illumination, and placement that aren't obvious until you read the ordinance. We know which cities review quickly, which require pre-application meetings, and which need stamped engineering for any sign over a certain area. When the storefront is in a shopping center or mixed-use development, we handle the landlord sign criteria submission in parallel. The client doesn't chase paperwork.
Frequently Asked
Can you fabricate a single letter for a repair or expansion?
Yes. We fabricate replacement letters and additions to existing sets, matching the original face material, return depth, and finishing as closely as possible.
What's the difference between face-lit and halo-lit?
Face-lit letters illuminate the front face of the letter — the classic glowing-storefront look. Halo-lit (reverse channel) letters illuminate the wall behind the letter, creating a glow around the letter for a more architectural, premium effect. Many projects use one or the other based on the building and brand intent.
Do you handle the electrical hookup or do we?
We handle it. Licensed electricians on our team run conduit, connect to the building panel, and commission the illumination before walk-through.
How long do the LEDs last?
The sealed LED modules we specify are rated for 80,000+ hours of service. The drivers are rated similarly. In practice that means a decade-plus of nightly illumination before any component needs service.