Northern Virginia Signs The Preston Sign Company
Jim Preston and Marshall McDade met while serving in the armed services in
1965 at the Engineering School at Ft. Belvior, VA. After military service, including
a tour in Vietnam, they started what is now Preston Sign Company in 1968.
Since it's inception (before the days of computer graphics), both Jim and Marshall
studied and became masters of their trade - sign painting. The skills required to be
a "sign painter" in those days were highly specialized, including training in many
different trades. The old timers in the business held on to the "secrets" of the trade,
only passing along advice to the most talented young upstarts. Both Preston and
McDade, worked from apprentice through journeyman, and now with 40 years
of graphics experience behind them, bring to the sign trade a huge storehouse of
talent, skills and capabilities not found in other companies.

 

Northern Virginia Sign Production

Preston Signs main production facility is a 4000 sq ft. building on the main
street in a busy suburb, a few minutes from Washington, D.C. We have served the metro area in this building since 1980, having been located less than one block from here since the late sixties.

Preston signs always took pride in the fact that we manufacture everything that we sell. Custom sign/display fabrication has always been a specialty. "From concept to finished product" has been an on going tradition.

Each project is personally overseen by the owner, Jim Preston, from start to finish. This attention to detail has given us a reputation for quality and service that is unsurpassed in our market. possessing traditional "signpainter" skills, we are regularly called upon to restore lettering on an antique piano, or other musical instrument, repairing goldleaf on antiques, or perform a myriad of other jobs that other shops "can't do" .

There is a lot more required to being a Full Service Commercial Sign Company, than owning a computer and a vinyl cutter. Our Customers have been aware of this difference, since the late 60's.

1. Northern Virginia Exterior Commercial Signs
Exterior Signage directs and welcomes customers and employees, it also sets the
entire tone for a business or enterprise. Preston Signs has experience in creating
all types of exterior signage. From monument signs, to channel letters on the top
of buildings, to custom shapes and logos, Preston Signs can make your exterior
look great with signage you can "grow into" not grow out of.

2. Northern Virginia Interior Signs
A building's interior signage does more than direct a customer where to go. It
sets a tone and feel for the company that makes both employees and customers feel,
welcome, and relaxed. Suite signs to directional, utility, restroom and other ADA
required signage, Preston Sign Company has the creative edge and practical
experience to manufacture the perfect sign for your building's interior.

3. Northern Virginia Wall Graphics
Preston Signs has always kept true to traditions in the sign industry while
exploring "cutting edge" fabrication technology. We are constantly trying new
techniques and materials and experimenting to create better-looking and more
creative wall graphics, without sacrificing traditional graphic standards that
have been in place for a century or more. We work with architects and designers
to refine their vision of graphics to practical application that makes signs last,
and make signs affordable. Contact us about your next project.

4. Northern Virginia Silk Screen Printing
Preston Sign Company has a complete in-house photo silk screen department,
and has been a major supplier in the decal-fleetmarking business in the tri-state
area since the late 60's. Initially started as an upscale replacement for "display quality"
hand lettering, today most short run screen printing projects are better served by the
digital printing format. Keep in mind that at the time of this writing no digital printing
can provide the commercial utility and longevity of quality screen printed graphics.
To this end we have kept our screen printing department open and ready for business.

5. Northern Virginia Truck Lettering, Vehicle and Police Graphics
Commercial truck lettering has always been a big part of the sign painting trade since the turn of the last century. We keep an extensive photo record of our work in this area and welcome any new customer to our shop to see our personal "archives". From the largest tractor trailer to the smallest kids pedal car, Jim has lettered them all over the years. Contact us about your next project no matter if it is a simple pick-up truck, a gold leaf race car, a full computer graphic "wrap" or upgrading the look of you fleet. We have specialized in emergency vehicle lettering for may years. We currently letter many local and government law enforcement vehicles, including the Pentagon and CIA. These services include production of screen printed multi colored shields and insignia patches, as well as application of reflective striping, lettering and numbering.

6. Northern Virginia Metal Letters and Cast Plaques
Preston Sign Company has 40 years experience supplying cast plaques and letters,
in both brass and aluminum, for many of the more important government buildings,
museums and galleries in the Washington area. Projects include the White House,
Smithsonian Institution, Architect of the Capital as well as many of Washington's
finest restaurants.

7. Northern Virginia Real Estate Signs, Leasing and Development
Preston Signs has been providing full real estate sign service for 40 years. From
logo design to development of home sales sign package, including site signs
"snipe" signs, and a full range of directional signs and stakes, we have got you
covered. We can even match business cards to realty signs. Leasing and Development
signs can be fabricated and installed in any size, with any specialty graphics,
including building renderings.

8. Northern Virginia Laser Cutting & Engraving
Preston Sign Company has the ability to custom mark may surfaces with the latest
state of the art "laser" cutters and engravers. We are not in the "engraving" or
"award" business, but we have found this technology invaluable in creating custom
cut out letters (from our type library of over 6000 fonts),, and logos, and
graphics and manufacturing one of a kind prototypes. Adding laser cut elements to
otherwise ordinary signage can be just the ticket to making your graphics a
memorable experience.

9. Northern Virginia Banners, Grand Opening Banners
Preston Signs is the banner king. Any Size, Any Color we can handle you next
banner project. Our custom sewn double re-inforced banners are high quality and
able to withstand any application and they last. We use paint exclusively for
marking on long term and large banner applications because of it's proven
durability. No peeling letters or wrinkled graphics at Preston's.

10. Speciality Cartoons, Caricatures and Portraiture
Preston Signs has been known in for decades as the company to see for this highly specialized work. Also specializing in animal portraits. We use these special talents in all phases of our design department. Don't hesitate to inquire about your special needs.