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October 8, 2008
Gold Address Lettering
I just finished installing a refurbrished double door entrance to my brownstone. The final detail would be the old fashioned gold lettering i see done in the transem above the doors.
Does anyone have an idea who can do this well ?
Comments
Congratulations. Don't know about gold lettering, but can you tell us how to restore front doors when the original front door is missing?
Posted by: mopar at October 8, 2008 5:30 PM
There are two ways of doing it- real or fake. The difference may be obvious depending on how far away you will be from the letters when you view them.
The fake "gold leaf" are gold vinyl foil cut reversed with a black vinyl outline and applied with transfer tape to the inside of the glass above the freize rail or transom. Eli at sign select on 9th Street dose this for me.
The real gold leaf requires someone with artistic skills to paint on an adhesive and apply gold leaf. If you want the real gold leaf call Antonio Romano 646.415.0773. He did the front of Bar Tano and 200 Fifth.
Posted by: southslope at October 8, 2008 6:08 PM
The fake ones don't have to look fake at all. I had the same issue as you and looked all over brooklyn for some realistic looking pre-fab numbers to no avail (they were all seriously cheesy) and real gold leaf was uber pricey. So I reached out to a friend of mine that is a graphic designer and sign maker in Conn and it just so happened that he has special machinery that allowed him to make our detailed and extremely cool gold numerals. Seriously, you would never know that they aren't goldleaf. I think he charges in the ballpark of 100. Let me know if I should inquire for you. If you'd like a pic email me at southstuy@gmail.com
Posted by: HomeSweetstuy at October 8, 2008 8:09 PM
I just got a quote from from a woman named Aimee to do the real gold leaf lettering. She sent a couple of examples of her work. Her email address is aimshow@hotmail.com.
Posted by: StuyIvy at October 9, 2008 9:25 AM
there is also fake gold leaf, which is applied the same way as real gold leaf but it isn't real gold. don't know if that would cut cost though.
Posted by: werner at October 9, 2008 10:04 AM
Gold leaf isn't the expensive bit... it's the technique. Clarification though -- are you applying these numbers to glass? You made it sound like you wanted gold lettering "like" the glass transom letters... are you actually applying the letters to the wood door? or glass panel?
That would make a big difference - and would make the "fake" methods a little less believable.
Posted by: tybur6 at October 9, 2008 11:21 AM
OP
Thanks goodness for your post. I am looking for the same thing, but first I have to remove the old numbers, which are not in great shape. Did you have to do this, too? Also, I am considering just replacing the transom all together. because it has some old paint and an overall messy appearance.
Posted by: homey at October 9, 2008 11:40 AM
CrowHill, I don't have a reco, but would you care to share some of the details of your project? I need to have new or refurbished double doors installed on our home to replace the single door 1970s style replacement we were left with.
Posted by: cornetor at October 9, 2008 2:22 PM
Aimee did my #s as well, and did a really good job. It cost around $400 for 3 numbers, as I recall. I did not remove the old #s, though...they were just not there.
Posted by: new2hood at October 9, 2008 3:37 PM
When I had mine done in the vinyl, I was able to match the original font script of the original gold leaf.
It's 12 feet up in the air and looks great!
Posted by: SenatorStreet at October 10, 2008 6:50 PM
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