MOUNTING YOUR BRONZE OR ALUMINUM PLAQUE (Products with GM- Prefix)
BLIND MOUNT (TYPE A)
The most common configuration of a bronze plaque is the blind mount. The blind mount has 4 studs, one in each corner. About 90% of these plaques are ordered with blind mounts. (Rosettes are optional with blind mounts because there are no screw heads showing.) What we do: We drill and tap the back of the plaque to receive thread studs. What you do: Press the studs into pre-drilled wall holes and secure with adhesive and/or anchors - based on the wall type. Studs can be aligned in-line for brick or block mortar. If you need this, include the request with the information that you email for creating the plaque.
Bench plaques: There are some small narrow plaques that can be ordered with two studs, one in the center of each side. We suggest using blind mount studs (A) for most benches. You can also use two #6 machine screws (Type B Option). The blind mount studs can go through the bench and secured with the nut and screw. The studs can be sawed off for the desired length. The blind mount studs don't have exposed screws heads. It is recommended that rosettes not be used. On a small plaque, the lettering has to be smaller to allow for the rosettes and, in vandalism situations, the rosettes can be removed and only the glue will remain on the plaque. Bench plaques can be ordered here: Bronze Plaque - Narrow for Benches & Small Areas or Custom Aluminum Plaque - Narrow for Benches & Small Areas
Blind Mount - Bosses and Studs
Threaded rods screw into back of plaque or boss and are inserted into cement-filled holes.
The standard length of the stud is 3". However, the following stud lengths are available: 2", 1.5" or 1". If you want a length other than 3", enter 2", 1.5" or 1" stud length in the Comments section of the Order form. You can also cut the stud length when you receive it. Rosettes are not recommended with blind mounts. The stud diameter is 3/16" for plaques up to 18"x 20". Plaques over 18"x 20" have .25" diameter.
Recommended Uses:
- Brick walls
- Stone walls
- Masonry surfaces, including stone benches. If the surface is not flat, you may want to use Type B with anchors.
- Flat rocks (use silicone to hold the stud in place). If the surface is not flat, you may want to use Type B with anchors.
- Plastic benches (provide depth for screw in Comments section of the Order form.)
BLIND MOUNT (TYPE A)
The most common configuration of a bronze plaque is the blind mount. The blind mount has 4 studs, one in each corner. About 90% of these plaques are ordered with blind mounts. (Rosettes are optional with blind mounts because there are no screw heads showing.) What we do: We drill and tap the back of the plaque to receive thread studs. What you do: Press the studs into pre-drilled wall holes and secure with adhesive and/or anchors - based on the wall type. Studs can be aligned in-line for brick or block mortar. If you need this, include the request with the information that you email for creating the plaque.
Bench plaques: There are some small narrow plaques that can be ordered with two studs, one in the center of each side. We suggest using blind mount studs (A) for most benches. You can also use two #6 machine screws (Type B Option). The blind mount studs can go through the bench and secured with the nut and screw. The studs can be sawed off for the desired length. The blind mount studs don't have exposed screws heads. It is recommended that rosettes not be used. On a small plaque, the lettering has to be smaller to allow for the rosettes and, in vandalism situations, the rosettes can be removed and only the glue will remain on the plaque. Bench plaques can be ordered here: Bronze Plaque - Narrow for Benches & Small Areas or Custom Aluminum Plaque - Narrow for Benches & Small Areas
Blind Mount - Bosses and Studs
Threaded rods screw into back of plaque or boss and are inserted into cement-filled holes.
The standard length of the stud is 3". However, the following stud lengths are available: 2", 1.5" or 1". If you want a length other than 3", enter 2", 1.5" or 1" stud length in the Comments section of the Order form. You can also cut the stud length when you receive it. Rosettes are not recommended with blind mounts. The stud diameter is 3/16" for plaques up to 18"x 20". Plaques over 18"x 20" have .25" diameter.
Recommended Uses:
- Brick walls
- Stone walls
- Masonry surfaces, including stone benches. If the surface is not flat, you may want to use Type B with anchors.
- Flat rocks (use silicone to hold the stud in place). If the surface is not flat, you may want to use Type B with anchors.
- Plastic benches (provide depth for screw in Comments section of the Order form.)
- Interior dry wall (while a through hole mount with toggle bolts is ideal for drywall installation, sometimes this is not possible and a blind stud mount is required. Please see instruction link below.)
Installation
1. Create a paper template outline of the reverse side of the plaque, marking on the paper where the holes are on the plaque. Then, mark the wall where the holes should be drilled.
2. Measure, level and mark the the drill holes in the surface of the building or wall.
3. Drill holes slightly larger than the diameter of the threaded studs.
4. Hand-tighten the four threaded studs into the plaque. Fill the drilled holes with industrial-grade silicone epoxy or quickset cement. Place the studs into the holes. Let the epoxy set according to the manufacturer's directions. If you have access from the back, you can request washers and nuts from us. (Enter it in the Comments section of the Order form.)
4. Hand-tighten the screws and then tighten with a screw driver.
5. If rosettes are provided, glue the rosettes over the screw head.
HOLLOW WALL MOUNT (TYPE C)
Installation using toggle bolts/wings countersunk with optional rosettes for hollow or drywall mount. Holes are drilled through the face of the bronze plaque for toggle bolts. Toggle bolts are threaded machine screws 3" to 6" long with spring-loaded butterflies that fold up and pass through the wall holes. Please enter the wall thickness in the Comments section of the Order form. If you have access from the back, you can request washers and nuts in the Comments section of the Order form. (Rosettes are not used with blind mounts, Type A.) If vandalism is a concern, we recommend using blind mount studs without rosettes.
WOOD MOUNT (TYPE D)
Holes are drilled through the plaque and countersunk to accept flat head wood screws. If rosettes are used, use a larger head to accept a rosette cover.
Recommended Uses
Use for mounting to:
- Wood walls
- Plaster walls (no bigger than 11.5" x 8")
Installation
1. Using the plaque's holes as a template, drill wall holes
2. Insert wood screws through the plaque holes and tighten with a screwdriver.
3. If rosette covers are provided, glue the rosettes over the screw head.
SPECIAL MOUNTING
Poured Foundation
If the plaque will be mounted in a poured foundation (no slab, block or pad yet), request a hook option in the Comments section of the Order form. The hooks are similar to the studs, except that a hook replaces the threaded end. Before the foundation sets, the hooks are screwed into the back of the plaque and set into the cement before it dries. This eliminates the use of epoxy.
Walkway Installation
If your plaque will be walked on, we have a special process. Instead of painting the background as we normally do, we use a chemical oxidation process to darken the background from the raised polished letters and border to withstand pedestrian traffic better. Bronze doesn't shrink or expand after being cast. Some customers seal or grout the edges around the plaque, but only to fill in the gap against dirt and debris for aesthetic purposes. Contact us for a custom quote.
Stake Mount
Insert the machine screws through the stakes to attach the stake to the the back of the plaque. The stake is
bent to display your plaque at a 45 degree angle. The
plaque height can be adjusted by changed the depth of the stake in the
ground. (Normally 12"-14" is buried in the ground.) Plaques that are 20"
W or more should have two stakes.
Custom mount on site: As an alternative, we can place 4 studs/bosses in the center (10" apart that can be used by a local welder to use to attach it to a post. Studs can also be unscrewed for flat-mounting to a flat surface.
POST MOUNT
Installation
1. Create a paper template outline of the reverse side of the plaque, marking on the paper where the holes are on the plaque. Then, mark the wall where the holes should be drilled.
2. Measure, level and mark the the drill holes in the surface of the building or wall.
3. Drill holes slightly larger than the diameter of the threaded studs.
4. Hand-tighten the four threaded studs into the plaque. Fill the drilled holes with industrial-grade silicone epoxy or quickset cement. Place the studs into the holes. Let the epoxy set according to the manufacturer's directions. If you have access from the back, you can request washers and nuts from us. (Enter it in the Comments section of the Order form.)
* Click here for Blind Mount Installation Detailed Instructions
SOLID WALL MOUNT (TYPE B)
Machine screws through optional rosettes into cement-filled holes. Lead shields available for masonry and can be requested in Comments section of the Order form.
Machine screws through optional rosettes into cement-filled holes. Lead shields available for masonry and can be requested in Comments section of the Order form.
Machine screws with masonry anchors can used to mount plaques on that are uneven. For uneven surfaces, select Option B on the order form (screws with anchors). The screws are 1.5" long. The surface should be as smooth as possible. The screw goes through the face of the plaque and tightening the screw head causes the anchor to expand and hold in plaque. Rosettes to cover the screw heads are optional. See installation instructions for Stud Mount (Type A).
Recommended Uses
- Drywall
- Hollow tile
- Cement block
- Wood paneling over stud construction
Recommended Uses
- Drywall
- Hollow tile
- Cement block
- Wood paneling over stud construction
- Uneven rock surface
Installation
1. Create a paper template outline of the reverse side of the plaque, marking on the paper where the holes are on the plaque. Then, mark the wall where the holes should be drilled.
2. Drill holes.
3. Insert screws.
Installation
1. Create a paper template outline of the reverse side of the plaque, marking on the paper where the holes are on the plaque. Then, mark the wall where the holes should be drilled.
2. Drill holes.
3. Insert screws.
4. Hand-tighten the screws and then tighten with a screw driver.
5. If rosettes are provided, glue the rosettes over the screw head.
HOLLOW WALL MOUNT (TYPE C)
Installation using toggle bolts/wings countersunk with optional rosettes for hollow or drywall mount. Holes are drilled through the face of the bronze plaque for toggle bolts. Toggle bolts are threaded machine screws 3" to 6" long with spring-loaded butterflies that fold up and pass through the wall holes. Please enter the wall thickness in the Comments section of the Order form. If you have access from the back, you can request washers and nuts in the Comments section of the Order form. (Rosettes are not used with blind mounts, Type A.) If vandalism is a concern, we recommend using blind mount studs without rosettes.
1. Create a paper template outline of the reverse side of the plaque, marking on the paper where the holes are on the plaque. Then, mark the wall where the holes should be drilled.
2. Drill holes through the wall large enough to accommodate the butterfly assembly.
2. Drill holes through the wall large enough to accommodate the butterfly assembly.
3. Insert the machine screws through the bronze plaque and screw on each butterfly. Fold the butterfly assemblies and insert them through the hole until the wings spring open inside the hollow surface.
4. Pull back the screw heads to press the butterfly against the inside wall.
4. Pull back the screw heads to press the butterfly against the inside wall.
WOOD MOUNT (TYPE D)
Holes are drilled through the plaque and countersunk to accept flat head wood screws. If rosettes are used, use a larger head to accept a rosette cover.
Recommended Uses
Use for mounting to:
- Wood walls
- Plaster walls (no bigger than 11.5" x 8")
Installation
1. Using the plaque's holes as a template, drill wall holes
2. Insert wood screws through the plaque holes and tighten with a screwdriver.
3. If rosette covers are provided, glue the rosettes over the screw head.
SPECIAL MOUNTING
Poured Foundation
If the plaque will be mounted in a poured foundation (no slab, block or pad yet), request a hook option in the Comments section of the Order form. The hooks are similar to the studs, except that a hook replaces the threaded end. Before the foundation sets, the hooks are screwed into the back of the plaque and set into the cement before it dries. This eliminates the use of epoxy.
Walkway Installation
If your plaque will be walked on, we have a special process. Instead of painting the background as we normally do, we use a chemical oxidation process to darken the background from the raised polished letters and border to withstand pedestrian traffic better. Bronze doesn't shrink or expand after being cast. Some customers seal or grout the edges around the plaque, but only to fill in the gap against dirt and debris for aesthetic purposes. Contact us for a custom quote.
Stake Mount
------ Click here for larger image.
Custom mount on site: As an alternative, we can place 4 studs/bosses in the center (10" apart that can be used by a local welder to use to attach it to a post. Studs can also be unscrewed for flat-mounting to a flat surface.
POST MOUNT
MOUNTING HELP
If you don't have anyone to help mount your plaque, we suggest asking a local hardware store for a contractor's name.
ADHESIVE
Adhesive only mounting on large bronze plaques is not recommended. For example, a 12" x 10" plaque weighs 12 lbs. Any damage resulting from plaque falling is not covered by the manufacturer's warranty.
WALKING ON PLAQUES
Walking on bronze or aluminum plaques is not recommended and is not covered by the manufacturer's warranty.
If you don't have anyone to help mount your plaque, we suggest asking a local hardware store for a contractor's name.
ADHESIVE
Adhesive only mounting on large bronze plaques is not recommended. For example, a 12" x 10" plaque weighs 12 lbs. Any damage resulting from plaque falling is not covered by the manufacturer's warranty.
WALKING ON PLAQUES
Walking on bronze or aluminum plaques is not recommended and is not covered by the manufacturer's warranty.
Installer specs for professional installers available with order.
ROSETTES AND TOGGLES
