monuments
post & Panel signs
A lasting impression
Custom monument signs and post & panel signs create a strong ground-level presence, clearly marking your location and guiding visitors with ease.
Designed for street exposure, OPA fabricated freestanding signs are effective for businesses with vehicular traffic and open frontage.
With over 50 years of experience across New Orleans and the Gulf South, each solution is tailored to align with your brand, architecture, and district.
Monuments vs. post & panel signs
Knowing the difference
What is a monument sign? Monument signage is a solid, ground-based structure with a continuous base, creating a permanent, architectural presence that looks integrated into your site.
Post and panel signs, by contrast, are elevated between vertical supports, introducing negative space between the ground and the sign face. The exposed posts and in-ground structure become part of the design, giving it a lighter, more open feel.
At OPA, both monument signs and post and panel signs are expertly fabricated from durable aluminum and anchored securely with embedded poles or concrete footings. Each can be produced as illuminated or non-illuminated, and both support dimensional lettering along with real or faux finishes.
YOUR MONUMENT SIGN COMPANY
The OPA approach
As a sign company with over 50 years of experience in New Orleans and the Gulf South, OPA Signs & Graphics applies the same disciplined approach to post and panel signs and custom monument signs as we do to larger architectural projects. Each piece is designed as a permanent installation with long-term performance in mind.
We build for the realities of New Orleans and the Gulf South. Heat, humidity, storms, historic guidelines, and constant street activity all factor into our process. Structure, materials, and finish are selected with care. Every sign is designed to meet local codes while holding up to demanding conditions.
STRONG FOUNDATIONS
Out of sight but not mind
A custom monument sign or post and panel sign is only as sturdy as its foundation. OPA factors in your location, soil conditions, and sign dimensions to develop a footprint that keeps your signage secure without over-engineering and added cost. Every element below-ground is considered part of your signage.
Posts are set deep and anchored securely to prevent movement over time, and reinforced concrete and steel is utilized as needed, ensuring your structure remains stable over time. When the project calls for a lighter touch, the substructures of aluminum post and panel signs add rigidity and durability without weight.
Already have a foundation, pole or post?
OPA will survey your existing structure and can build custom monument or post and panel sign to fit. When needed, we can upgrade hardware, add finials, and refurbish elements with fresh paint.
PERFORMANCE
Designed & fabricated for durability
OPA uses materials selected for both performance and aesthetic versatility in every custom monument sign and post and panel sign project:
Precision-cut to any shape, size, or brand silhouette
HDU (high-density urethane), aluminum panels, and mechanical-grade PVC for strength and longevity
CNC textures that can replicate woodgrain or incorporate branded surface patterns
Dimensional lettering mechanically fastened with studs, not just adhesives, for long-term durability
Automotive-grade paints and clearcoats that lock in color and resist fading, moisture, and wear
Cast vinyls and laminates only: no shortcuts, no premature failure
The goal: signage that is structurally and visually strong, even in demanding environments.
BRAND CURATED SIGN DESIGN
From logo to landmark
OPA provides full-service monument sign and post and panel sign, guiding projects from early ideas to fully realized installations. Whether you have a logo, a loose concept, or an established brand, we translate it into a clear, site-specific sign.
Our team develops scaled renderings for your location and conducts on-site evaluations to study sightlines, traffic flow, and potential obstructions. Each design responds to its environment, aligning with surrounding architecture and your overall brand. Every component is considered, including structure, mounting, foundations, and lighting.
We work closely with you through a focused proofing process, refining details before fabrication begins.
ILLUMINATED SIGNAGE
LED monument sign options: high-impact day & night
OPA offers a range of illumination modes tailored to your brand and environment. Options include push-through lettering for a clean, dimensional glow, channel letters for bold visibility, up-lighting for dramatic effect and fully illuminated face panels for a straightforward solution.
Signs can be lamped with state-of-the-art LEDs, faux neon, or true neon glass.
Every illuminated LED monument sign is expertly fabricated with careful consideration of ambient light, viewing conditions, and neighborhood context. Whether installed in a dense urban corridor or a historic district, OPA designs LED monument sign systems that are bright without being harsh, distinctive without overwhelming.
UL LISTED
OPA Signs & Graphics is a UL Listed illuminated monument sign and post and panel sign manufacturer, meaning our illuminated signage is fabricated in accordance with rigorous safety and electrical standards verified by Underwriters Laboratories.
This certification ensures your illuminated monument or post & panel sign adheres to nationally recognized safety requirements, helping streamline permitting, satisfy landlord and municipal codes, and ensure reliable long-term performance.
OUR PROCESS
Handled from survey to install
OPA manages every phase of your monument or custom post and panel sign’s production through installation to ensure a smooth, code-compliant process.
We begin with pre-installation site surveys to assess structure and access, followed by full permitting services to navigate local regulations and historic district requirements.
Our team works closely with clients to establish clear timelines, and our professional, experienced installation crews execute each project with precision.
MORE SIGNS
If you dream it, we can make it.
OPA’s custom fabricated sign options are broader than just blade and hanging signs.
Explore vehicle wraps, channel letters, printed panels, wall logos, custom murals, and more.
Start Your Project
Working with you
Monument and post & panel signs do more than add visual interest. They attract attention and direct customers with clarity.
With OPA Signs & Graphics, every sign is built for legibility and long-term performance, backed by decades of hands-on experience and local expertise.
Carefully designed, precisely built, and made to perform.
FAQs
Have questions about custom monument signs or post and panel signs?
Start below, but remember our New Orleans team is ready to help.
Monday-Friday 8-4:30pm 📞504-524-1415
What is a monument sign?
1
A monument sign is a freestanding structure with a solid, continuous base that sits at or near grade level. Unlike post and panel signs, which are elevated between visible supports, a monument presents as a single architectural mass, reading as part of the site rather than an addition to it.
Custom monument signs are most common at entrances to commercial properties, healthcare campuses, office parks, and institutional facilities where a strong ground-level identifier is often needed.
How much does a monument sign cost?
2
Answering the question “how much does a monument sign cost” depends on its size, materials, illumination, and foundation requirements. A non-illuminated custom monument sign on an HDU or aluminum face sits at a different price point than a large LED monument sign with dimensional lettering and a reinforced concrete base. Site conditions including soil type and permitting complexity also factor in. OPA provides detailed estimates after surveying your site so you have accurate numbers from the beginning.
Can a monument sign survive intense weather events?
3
Durability always depends on how your aluminum post and panel signs or custom monument signs were initially constructed. These signs must be engineered for Gulf South conditions in order to account for wind load ratings, below-grade anchoring depth, and material performance under sustained storm exposure.
OPA designs every monument sign with local weather realities in mind, specifying concrete footings, steel reinforcement, and corrosion-resistant hardware appropriate to your site.
This is one of the primary reasons property managers choose custom post and panel signs over monument structures; individual panels on aluminum post and panel signs can be swapped out independently, meaning a tenant addition, departure, or rebrand requires replacing one panel rather than the entire sign.
Custom post and panel signs are the standard choice for shopping centers, office parks, and medical campuses where occupancy changes regularly. OPA fabricates replacement panels to match existing systems, whether originally built by our team or another monument sign company
How do post and panel signs handle tenant changes over time?
4
What else should I know about monument sign permitting in New Orleans?
5
Monument sign design in New Orleans is subject to zoning regulations that vary by district, and properties within historic overlays face additional review requirements. Setback distances, maximum sign height, total square footage, and illumination type are all regulated and can differ block by block.
OPA manages permitting for every custom monument sign we produce, submitting drawings, coordinating with city offices, and navigating historic district review when required. For LED monument sign projects specifically, UL Listing documentation is typically required as part of the permit package, which OPA provides as standard.