Custom Neon Sign FAQs

Yes! Neon Signs need to be plugged in to a dependable outlet, it may be three pronged or two pronged depending on the sign and transformer used. An unreliable outlet will result in the neon sign shutting off. However most outlets do not have an issue but because of the safety feature on neon transformers any issues with the electrical flow from the outlet will cause the transformer to shut off for safety. The signs can either be hard wired to an electrical point using the help of an experienced electrician or a simple plug can be left for ease of instillation.

Neon Signs have a slight level of heat to them but anything in the excessive range where it burns to the touch likely indicates the neon tube is failing and should be replaced. This happens more often with smaller footage pieces of neon that larger. Sometimes micro cracks exist within the piece and they survived for a while before the gas escapes the tube and it no longer functions. A replacement is needed if this happens, which should be the responsibility of the neon bender for replacement. Most sign shops offer a warranty for this issue as it is not the customers fault.

Yes! Neon signs can be installed outside. It requires waterproofing certain elements and applying weather proof parts to better maintain the stress of changing weather conditions. If done correctly a neon sign can thrive outdoors - note these special parts can be more expensive than their indoor rated counterparts so expect the pricing for an outdoor sign to be a degree more expensive.

With Glass Neon Signs once the tube is made using the phosphor powder pre-coated inside and the gas has been inputted it is impossible to change the color. LED signs have diodes that allow for color changing.

Neon signs work by passing an electrical current through a tube filled with neon gas. The tube is made of glass and is shaped into various letters or designs. The electrical current ionizes the neon gas, which causes the gas molecules to emit light. The color of the light depends on the type of gas used in the tube. Neon gas emits a reddish-orange color, while other gases like argon, helium, and krypton can produce different colors. The tube is typically filled with a small amount of mercury, which helps to create the electrical current when voltage is applied to the electrodes at each end of the tube. To create the various shapes and designs, the glass tube is heated and bent using a torch to the desired shape. The electrodes are then sealed onto each end of the tube, and the tube is filled with gas and a small amount of mercury. Neon signs are known for their bright and colorful glow, which can be seen even in daylight. They are commonly used for advertising and are popular in bars, restaurants, and storefronts.

The lifespan of a glass neon sign can vary depending on several factors, including the quality of the materials used, the operating conditions, and the amount of use it receives. Generally, well-maintained neon signs has the potential to last decades long. Some signs have been known to last up to 40 or 60 years with proper care. For example Clifton's Republic in Los Angeles had a neon sign that was left on accidentally within a wall inclosure for 77 years and is still glowing to this day! The lifetime of the neon sign is dependent entirely of the care you provide it but it does have the ability to last your entire lifetime and then some! Factors that can affect the lifespan of a neon sign include exposure to extreme temperatures, moisture, and vibration. Over time, the electrodes at the end of the glass tube can also degrade and affect the performance of the sign. Regular maintenance can help extend the life of a neon sign. This includes keeping the sign clean and dry, checking for any damage or wear, and replacing any damaged components. Additionally, turning off the sign when not in use can also help prolong its lifespan greatly.

Neon signs are commonly used for advertising and decorative purposes. They are popular in bars, restaurants, and storefronts to attract customers and create a distinctive ambiance. Neon signs can be used to display a business name, logo, or product, and can be designed in a variety of shapes and colors to match the theme or branding of the establishment. They are often used in conjunction with other types of signage, such as channel letters or hand painted sign painting. Neon signs are also used in art and design, as they offer a unique and eye-catching way to display text and images. They have been used in installations, sculptures, and other artistic works to create a dramatic and colorful effect. In addition, neon signs have historical and cultural significance, particularly in the United States, where they were widely used in the mid-20th century. They are often associated with the glamour and excitement of urban nightlife and have become a symbol of nostalgia and retro style.

Neon signs are generally safe when used and maintained properly. However, as with any electrical device, there are some potential safety concerns to be aware of. The high-voltage electrical current used to power neon signs can be dangerous if proper safety precautions are not taken. It is important to ensure that the sign is properly installed by a licensed electrician and that all wiring and electrical components are in good condition. Neon signs also contain small amounts of mercury, which can be hazardous if the sign is broken or if the gas is released into the air. However, the amount of mercury in a neon sign is typically small enough that it does not pose a significant risk to human health, as long as proper cleanup procedures are followed in the event of a broken sign. In addition, neon signs can be fragile and break easily, which can pose a hazard if glass shards are not properly cleaned up. It is important to handle neon signs with care and to avoid placing them in areas where they are likely to be knocked over or damaged. Overall, neon signs can be a safe and effective way to add a unique and colorful element to your business or home decor, as long as proper safety procedures are followed.

Neon signs were invented in the early 20th century, with the first neon sign being demonstrated in Paris, France in 1910 by Georges Claude, a French engineer and inventor. Claude had been experimenting with different gases and electrical currents and discovered that when high-voltage electricity was passed through a tube filled with neon gas, the gas would emit a bright and colorful light. He realized that this could be used to create a new type of signage and lighting system. Claude's first neon signs were used to advertise a French automobile company, and they quickly gained popularity for their bright and eye-catching glow. By the 1920s, neon signs had become a common feature in cities around the world, and they continued to be a popular form of advertising and decorative lighting throughout the mid-20th century. Neon signs were first introduced to Los Angeles in the early 1920s. They quickly became popular among businesses and advertisers as a way to create eye-catching and memorable signage. One of the earliest examples of neon signs in Los Angeles was the "Hollywoodland" sign, which was erected in 1923 to promote a new real estate development. The sign originally featured individual light bulbs, but these were later replaced with neon tubes to create a more dramatic effect. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, neon signs became increasingly common in Los Angeles and other major cities around the world. They were used to promote a wide range of products and services, from hotels and restaurants to movie theaters and gas stations. Today, Los Angeles is still known for its vibrant and colorful neon signage, which can be seen throughout the city in historic districts, commercial areas, and entertainment venues. The city is home to several iconic neon signs, that have shine upon the Los Angeles streets for decades and decades.

When buying a neon sign it is important to shop local, as neon signs are quite fragile it is challenging to ship safely. Also current crating and shipping rates are at an all time high causing the expense of shipping these signs to be much higher. This can all be removed by going with a local sign shop to fabricate the neon sign for you. This can be a good option if you are looking for a custom sign that is tailored to your specific needs or branding. When purchasing a neon sign, be sure to consider factors like the size, design, and color of the sign, as well as the quality of the materials and the reputation of the seller. Additionally, be sure to factor in the cost of shipping and any installation or maintenance requirements. Neon Flamingo offers for sale a wide range of neon sign options for the Los Angeles area, please feel free to contact us to start the production of your custom neon sign!

A medium-sized neon sign typically measures around 3 to 4 feet in length and 1 to 2 feet in height, which would provide enough space for the wedding couple to pose in front of the sign while also allowing the sign to be easily transported and positioned at the photoshoot location. Of course, the size of the neon sign should also be in proportion to the overall size of the wedding backdrop, and the sign's design should complement the overall theme and style of the wedding. It's always a good idea to consult with a professional neon sign maker or event planner to determine the appropriate size and design of a neon sign for a wedding photoshoot backdrop.

Neon Glass Signs cannot be powered via a battery source, the amount of voltage required to power the sign will drain the battery completely within minutes.

Most standard custom pieces land between roughly $500 and $2,500 depending on size, the number of glass bends, colour count and mounting. Large, detailed, multi-colour, high-labour commercial glass neon signs can run $2,500 to $10,000+. Hand-bent glass costs more than LED neon of the same size, and complex script or multi-colour artwork adds bending time. We keep our overhead lean so we can pass the savings on to you — offering fair, honest pricing on custom glass neon without compromising craftsmanship. Send your artwork and rough dimensions and you'll get a firm quote rather than a range.

Yes glass neon signs can be repaired! Often the issue is due to one piece of the glass being broken, which would require for that piece to be removed from the sign and either patched up or be completely remade. Another possible error could be that the transformer has gone bad after years and years of use (or a faulty one). With a neon sign repair if the breaks in the glass are not bad it is quite easy to repair and fix the sign to good as new standards. The cost to repair a neon sign will be a fraction of the cost to completely getting a new sign so it is worth the investment to repair your glass neon sign whenever a problem does occur.

Yes glass neon signs are expensive due to the labor, materials, and skill required to make them. The materials that are used in a neon sign include: -transformers (run around $50-250 depending on brand) -glass (comes as a 4 or 5 foot hollow glass stick with desired color already embedded the range in cost per stick is from $4-25 depending on color used and most signs consist of many sticks) -electrodes, GTO wire, tube supports, electrode caps: these miscellaneous parts are all required on a sign and can be around $20-50 in cost per sign generally (this is often the lowest expensive in sign production) -labor: there are many labor intensive steps in making a neon sign, designing and creating a neon blue print, getting the glass to molten heat to be able to shape and create the correct pattern for the sign, block out painting all the units so the light is exposed in the correct places per the design, fabricating the backing for the sign including drilling all holes and attaching all tube supports/structural components, wiring up the sign so that it can glow correctly. All of these steps lead to each sign requiring multiple hours of intensive work (from 10 to 40 hours depending on the sign detail!) -skilled labor: because it takes many years to become proficient at neon bending you are hiring a craft professional who has spent hundreds and hundreds of hours learning the craft and breaking glass and materials to get to the professional caliber this skilled craftsmanship required ends up making its way to the cost of the sign. As a result all these factors using high quality safe materials and skilled labor result in the cost of the sign being quite significant. This investment can pay off however as the craftsmanship is at such a high caliber that the sign can glow for decades on decades whereas with an LED sign you are likely to get approximately 4 years of use out of it before it needs to be replaced. Neon is the superior lighting source for something you want to last generations and LED for something very temporary.

No neon signs are not bad for the environment because of the following qualities: 1) They are made up of inert noble gasses that cannot react with anything to create a bad chemical reaction. The gasses that are inside neon tubes are already present in our air at low qualities that need to be purified out. When a neon sign breaks the gasses return to the air where they were extracted from. 2) You get a great lifetime out of glass neon, neon signs are durable and if taken care of correctly they can last decades if you compare that to LED neon signs which are only able to provide roughly 4 years of lighting time before they end up in the landfill. Neon glass signs are the superior environmental option because there is less waste over the long term with them, the parts can be fixed and used again whereas LEDs are much more challenging to repair and keep in use once they start to go bad. Neon glass sign result in less waste long term which is a very good factor for the environment.

There is a frequent misunderstanding in the cost of running a neon sign. A lot of people have the presumption that a neon sign will cause their electricity bill to be very high. On average Los Angeles area households and residents pay **_26.0 cents per kilowatt hour_** and if we do the math say you had an average length of a neon sign at around 10 feet of neon glass that would use around 40 watts of power. If you had that on for 24 hours a day we are looking at around 300 kilowatts per year. The total for that on your electricity bill is about $78 extra for the full year of running it 24/7 (which likely would not happen as it is better to give the neon transformer some time each day to rest). Running a sign year round would only bare an extra $78 on your bill but has the potential to attract so many more customers and eyes to your sign! That very much outweighs the electricity bill associated!

If a neon sign has been installed and created using UL Standards then they are absolutely not dangerous! We create all our signs strictly following the UL code to ensure maximum customer safety. Some dangers when not following UL code include using the wrong materials in production such as the: transformer (one that does not have an automatic regulating shut off feature), electrodes (not using the correct rating for the amount of glass), as well as the wrong thickness of the GTO wire (this must match the transformers rating not be any degree lower), additionally if any splice in the GTO is not correctly insulated and covered this offers exposure to live wire which may be a fire hazard. Also the instillation of the neon is very important, the correct tube supports should be used to avoid repeated contact from drywall to neon tube and neon tube to neon tube. When you go with a skilled neon craftsperson all these issues will be considered and the correct high quality materials will be used to avoid any of these potential hazards. This is why it is important to hire and use a professional when working with glass neon signs.

Flexible LED neon is a dense run of surface-mount LEDs inside a silicone or PVC diffusion jacket, usually mounted to a laser-cut clear acrylic backing that carries the shape. There is no gas and no glass. The quality difference between a good and a bad LED sign is almost entirely LED density, the diffuser material, and whether the power supply is properly rated — cheap tube shows visible dots and yellows over time.

Choose glass when the piece is permanent, seen up close, or is meant to be an object of value: the light comes from the whole gas column, so the glow has depth and a halo that LED diffusers approximate but do not match, and a glass sign is repairable for decades. Choose LED when budget, weight, safety, shipping or dimming/colour-change matter more — kids' rooms, rentals, travelling event pieces, large-format low-budget signage. Most of our commercial clients end up with one of each: glass for the hero piece, LED for the secondary runs.

Roughly 30,000–50,000 hours of illumination for a well-built sign. Lifespan is dictated by three things: LED density and binning, a correctly matched and rated driver, and heat. A sign sealed into an unventilated box runs hot and ages fast; the same sign with airflow will outlive it comfortably.

Good LED neon dims gradually rather than failing outright — that is what the 30,000–50,000 hour figure describes, the point at which output has dropped noticeably. Low-grade tube also shifts colour as the silicone yellows under UV and heat, which is most obvious on whites and cool blues. Warm colours hide age better than white does.

Yes, and this is LED's clearest advantage. Inline dimmers, IR/RF remotes, wall dimmers and RGB colour-change are all straightforward if specified at the design stage. Retrofitting dimming later usually means swapping the driver, so tell us up front.

No — we repair and re-tube hand-bent glass neon only. If an LED sign fails, switch it off at the outlet and have an electrician look at the power supply. That is one of the practical trade-offs of LED versus glass, and we would rather say it plainly than sell you a service we do not offer.

Yes. It runs on low-voltage DC, stays cool to the touch and will not shatter, which is why we recommend it for nurseries, classrooms, rentals, market stalls and anywhere the sign is within reach. Glass neon runs high voltage in the transformer circuit and should be mounted out of reach or behind an enclosure in those settings.

Only in a build specified for it: IP65-rated tube or a sealed enclosure, an outdoor-rated driver, a GFCI-protected supply and drainage so water cannot pool in the channel. Indoor LED tube hung outside will fail at the joints within a season. Tell us the sign is going outside before we quote it.

Very little. Wipe the acrylic with a dry microfibre cloth — no solvents or abrasives, they haze acrylic permanently. Keep the driver cool and unobstructed, and re-check mounting hardware once a year. That is the whole routine.

The most common points of failure in LED neon signs are the power supply/driver and the connections between LED segments — these components take the most electrical stress over time. Sun exposure and temperature swings can also degrade the flexible tubing and adhesives faster than expected, especially outdoors. Cheaper LED signs tend to use lower-grade diodes that dim or fail unevenly, which is why sourcing quality components matters as much as the design itself.

A sealed glass tube is pumped to vacuum, filled with a small amount of neon or argon, and a high-voltage transformer excites the gas until it emits light. Pure neon glows red-orange; argon with a trace of mercury glows blue and, inside a phosphor-coated tube, produces the whole rest of the palette. That is why "neon" colours are physics plus coating, not paint.

Because it is made by hand, one section at a time. Every letter is heated on a ribbon burner, bent to a paper pattern, welded, electroded, pumped down, bombarded, gas-filled and aged before it is ever wired. It is a multi-day skilled process with no shortcut, and the cost reflects craft hours rather than materials.

Commonly 20–30 years and often longer. The tube itself does not wear out in normal use; the transformer is the consumable, and replacing one is quick and inexpensive. Signs from the 1950s are still running on their original glass.

It can almost always be fixed. A cracked section is re-bent from the pattern, re-pumped, re-gassed and refitted, and an ageing transformer is swapped for a modern protected unit. Working with a local shop matters here — repairs mean driving the sign across town, not crating glass across the country.

Flicker is usually a symptom, not a personality. A cold-weather stutter on startup is normal and settles. Persistent flicker generally means a failing transformer, a loose or corroded electrode connection, or a slow gas leak at a weld. A dark segment with a glowing end means the tube has lost pressure. Any of those are worth diagnosing early — running a failing tube shortens what is left of it.

The tube runs warm — typically comfortable to touch briefly, around body temperature to slightly above depending on diameter and current. The transformer runs hotter and needs airflow. Neither is a fire risk in a correctly wired sign, but the transformer should never be buried in insulation or sealed into a tight cavity.

No. A typical mid-size interior neon sign draws roughly the same as a household lightbulb — often 30–100 watts depending on tube footage and diameter. LED draws less again, but neither is a meaningful line on a power bill.

Neon and argon are inert atmospheric gases. The environmental question is mercury, used in trace amounts in blue and phosphor-coated tubes; it is sealed inside and safe in use, and end-of-life tubes should go to a lamp recycler rather than a bin. Set against that, a glass sign that runs and is repaired for thirty years compares very well with imported plastic signage replaced every few years.

Not if it's unplugged and you have a basic understanding of electrical wiring and circuits. Neon transformers carry high voltage, so the sign must be fully powered down before you touch anything — but for someone comfortable with basic electrical work, it's a manageable task. If you're not confident working with wiring, we recommend leaving it to the experts. The good news: neon transformer replacement is one of the most affordable services we offer, so it's rarely worth the risk of doing it yourself if you're unsure.

Glass neon has a reputation for lasting decades — and it's earned. Some of the very first signs I made back at the start of my career in 2016 are still running today with little to no service required, and it's honestly a little magical to watch a hand-bent glass tube keep glowing exactly as it did on day one, year after year. The most extreme example of neon's staying power is right here in LA: at Clifton's Cafeteria on Broadway, a neon light was discovered behind a partition wall during renovations, still lit after apparently running continuously for 77 years — likely installed when the space first opened in the 1930s. Neon experts consider it possibly the oldest continuously lit neon lamp in the world, and it was found completely by accident, sealed inside a wall the whole time. That's the kind of longevity that makes glass neon genuinely unique as a medium — we'll only find out its true limits as more pieces keep running for decades (or generations) to come. LED neon, by comparison, typically runs 5–10 years before noticeable dimming or failure depending on quality — solid for most commercial needs, but nowhere near that kind of track record.

Usually yes for anything exterior or illuminated. LA's Department of Building and Safety reviews sign size, illumination and placement, and requirements shift by zone, by sign district and by historic overlay — a landlord's approval is not the same as the city's. We build to permit-ready specification and supply drawings, load and mounting details for your permit expeditor or contractor.

Rule of thumb: about one inch of letter height for every 10 feet of viewing distance, and add height again if traffic is moving. A sign read from across a four-lane street needs cap heights measured in feet, not inches. Send us the sightline — where people stand or drive when they first see the façade — and we will size the letterforms to it rather than to the wall.

We colour-match to Pantone using coloured glass, phosphor coatings and gas selection for glass, and binned LED for flexible tube. Be aware that emitted light behaves differently to printed ink: some brand colours, particularly deep navies, browns and pale pastels, cannot be reproduced literally as light. We will show you the closest achievable match lit, before we build.

Continuously, if it is built properly. Plenty of our signs run 12–18 hours a day on a timer, and glass in particular is happier left on than switched repeatedly. A timer or photocell is worth adding: it saves the driver or transformer more than it saves electricity.

Constantly. The best outcome comes from being brought in at rough-in, when a junction box can be placed exactly where the sign needs it and the transformer can live in a ceiling void. We supply mounting details, weights, power requirements and shop drawings for coordination.

Yes — reception logos, corridor markers, bar backs, ceiling runs and window graphics are a large part of our commercial work. Interior neon reads as an architectural feature rather than signage, which is why hospitality and retail clients use it where a printed sign would look cheap.

For visibility at night and in photographs, yes. A neon or LED neon sign is the single most photographed object in most bars, salons and boutiques we work with, which turns the sign into ongoing social media reach rather than a one-off fitting cost. It also lasts far longer than vinyl.

Most do, with adaptation. Neon is a continuous line of a fixed minimum radius, so hairline strokes, tiny type, gradients, drop shadows and tight interior corners have to be reinterpreted. We send a marked-up version showing exactly what changes and what stays, so you are approving the compromise rather than discovering it.

A vector file — AI, EPS, SVG or PDF — plus your Pantone or hex references and an intended overall width. If all you have is a photo, a sketch or handwriting, send it anyway; redrawing is a normal first step and we quote it separately so there are no surprises.

Yes, and it is one of the most requested things we do. Handwriting bends beautifully as long as the stroke weight is consistent enough to hold a tube radius; we tidy the tightest loops and keep the character. You approve a to-scale mockup before any glass is heated.

Neon is one unbroken tube, so the sections that travel between letters would otherwise glow too. Blackout paint or opaque sleeving hides those crossovers so only the intended letterform reads as light. Good blackout work is one of the clearest tells of a well-made glass sign.

Typically 8mm–15mm. Thinner tube gives finer, more delicate lettering and suits interiors and script; thicker tube throws more light and holds up at distance, which is what storefronts need. Diameter also changes the character of the glow, so we choose it alongside the design rather than after it.

Yes — large-format work is built in sections and joined on site, with the frame, mounting and power planned around the install rather than the drawing. Anything above roughly eight feet gets engineered as a system: sections, service access, and how a single tube can be replaced later without dismantling the whole piece.

Interior pieces usually go on standoffs, a concealed French cleat or a backing panel fixed into studs. Exterior and large-format work is mounted to a frame anchored into structure. In every case the transformer or driver wants to be accessible for service — hiding it permanently behind sealed drywall is the mistake we see most often.

Yes, if it is planned early. With a junction box placed during construction and the transformer remote-mounted in a wall or ceiling void, the sign appears to float with no visible cable at all. Retrofitting that look afterwards means opening the wall, so raise it at design stage.

Small LED neon pieces can run from a battery pack or USB power bank for a few hours, which is enough for a photo shoot or a ceremony. Glass neon cannot — it needs a mains-fed transformer. If there is no outlet where the sign is going, plan for a discreet extension or a floor-based power route.

We deliver and install across the LA area, including stages, venues and location shoots. For hardwired exterior signage or anything requiring a permit inspection, a licensed electrician makes the final connection — we coordinate with yours or recommend one.

LED comes off its mounts, disconnects at the driver and travels flat. Glass travels too, but it wants a purpose-built crate, careful handling of electrode connections and a re-test on arrival. Tell us you are moving and we will pack, transport and reinstall rather than have you learn this the hard way.

Two to four weeks from approved artwork for most custom work, covering design, fabrication, wiring and testing. We've built signs in under 24 hours for genuine emergencies, but our typical preference is 2–4 weeks so the work gets done properly. After-hours and weekend work can be accommodated for urgent rush jobs when the deadline demands it. If you need a sign extremely quickly, contact us first and we'll tell you straight whether your date is realistic.

Power it off, let it cool, and use a dry or barely damp microfibre cloth. Never spray liquid at the sign, and never use solvents or abrasive cleaners — they haze acrylic and can attack blackout paint. Dust on the tube dulls output more than people expect, so a wipe twice a year is worth doing.

LED ships nationally without much drama. Glass neon we prefer to deliver ourselves within Southern California, or crate professionally for further afield with the understanding that glass is glass. Local clients get the real advantage: in-person consultation, hand delivery and repairs that do not involve a freight carrier.

Rent when the wording is generic — "Better Together", "Cheers", an arrow, a heart. Commission when it is names, a date, a lyric or a logo you want on a wall afterwards. Tell us the wording and we will tell you which way we would spend the money if it were ours.

Yes. Workmanship is covered, and glass neon is supported for life in the sense that we can always re-tube, re-gas and re-transformer a sign we built. LED is covered against manufacturing fault on delivery; beyond that we do not undertake LED repairs, which we would rather state up front than bury in terms.

Four things: your wording or artwork, an approximate overall width, where it is going (interior wall, storefront, outdoors, event stand) and your date. With those we can usually come back with a real number rather than a range, and tell you whether glass or LED is the better spend for what you are doing.

Every Neon Flamingo sign — glass neon or LED — comes with a 1-year warranty covering manufacturing defects in electrical parts and, for glass neon, gas loss. Covered: Electrical component issues (transformers, power supplies, wiring, drivers) and gas loss in glass neon tubing. Not covered: Glass breakage or cracks, cracks or damage to LED housings/panels, and damage from improper installation, extreme weather, power surges or misuse. If something goes wrong within a year of delivery, just reach out — we'll come take the sign down, repair or replace the affected unit or components, and reinstall it, all at no cost to you.