Gold Lettering
Show Off Your Family's Noble Heritage
Gold lettering and gilding is an ancient practice, dating back to pre-Egyptian times when gold would be hammered into thin sheets and used to accent sculptures, masks, and sarcophagi. The sight of gold, even today, inspires a sense of nobility and wealth.
While the effect of gold is often replicated, nothing can accurately mimic the true glow of gold. Gold lettering in signs, for example, such as a house number plaque, can easily be separated from false golden-painted letters on a store sign. Even a casual onlooker can tell the difference between "real" and "false" gold.
The Use of Alloys
Gold is a flexible and changeable metal. When mixed properly, it can retain its handsome glow in a nickel or mercury alloy, allowing a small amount of gold to be transformed into enough to complete a gilding project. Gold lettering is often done in such an alloy. This makes the gold better able to bond with the base materials; it's also cheaper for the manufacturer to produce, and thus, cheaper for the customer to buy.
Gold lettering on a home signs speaks volumes about the inhabitants of the home. It's not gaudy, but just flashy enough that people will slow down and look over the house number plaque. The shine of gold lends a house number plaque a wealthy, comfortable, and businesslike air. Gold lettering on a glossy black house number plaque is a solid and impressive marker of financial stability.
Why Gold?
A house number sign may be lettered in gold, gold-colored aluminum, or in some cases, pewter or steel. While the gold lettering on most kinds of house number plaque is pressed into the carved letters, the pewter and steel variants are often attached to the house number plaque by screws. Whether you prefer the "attached" look of those metals or the "innate" appearance of gold, adding the glint and gleam of metal to your house number sign is a great and easy way to grab attention.
Any house number plaque should be noticeable from the street, but imagine how noticeable your house number plaque will be when it shines in the mid-afternoon sun, or reflects moving headlights back across the lawn. A house number plaque accented with gold is more than just a piece of home decoration; it's a beacon guiding you home, catching the eye of all who pass.
Maintaining Your Gold
No special care is needed to keep your house sign looking as good as new. Regular washing with a soft cloth and warm, soapy water will help clear away dust, debris, or storm damage, and keep your house number plaque shiny and clean.
If the gold in your house number plaque begins to peel or flake, it may be time for a replacement. True gold should not peel or flake, but some alloys are not as strong as the pure mineral itself.