How to Create Eye Catching House Numbers

Wow, I love all these ideas and tips! Does Carter have a book in which all his great ideas are complied?

Enjoyed your house number segment. As a plumbing and heating contractor in the sevice business, it drives me nuts, the way some numbers are displayed.

This lady has far to much time on her hands

Posting of addresses (Part 11)

x. if it fronts on a body of water that is locally or more navigable, or beach beyond which the water is navigable, especially if emergency service providers may arrive to you, or others through your property, via water or the beach, the address must be clearly legible from some distance off shore because those unfamiliar with the area will not know where there are rocks or other navigation hazards in the area – if this waterfront property, also, has multiple street frontages whether the address has to be posted at each of those, as indicated at the heading of this section, depends if any other applicable conditions apply
Whether street designations and or the municipality are included in the posted address because they are, actually, needed or to appear more official is immaterial, but if they are there for any reason, they are to comply with the official municipal standard for the thoroughfare, or other addressable entity, at issue.

51. The numerals in addresses and unit designations, where appropriate, are the only numbers that may be unaccompanied by descriptive qualifying text that are to be visible as one approaches the property from any street, or other point of access, and even as one proceeds on to the property from any reasonably accessible side. This is because the name of the owner or occupant of the property, or part thereof, may include or consist of a number, such as the offices of a union local, a chapter of a veteran’s organization, or even the district offices of a Congressional Representative or a state elected official. If it does and it is only the number, itself, that is posted it could easily be erroneously interpreted as an address number and mislead folks as to where they are on the thoroughfare at issue. As an example, on the Harlem River in New York City is a complex known as 1199 Plaza. This happens to be a residential complex built by Union Local 1199 to provide housing for its members. Their having been able to do this for their membership is a great testament to their leadership. The problem with it, as I recall, and I do concede that it has been a long time since I have driven past it, is that it is not clarified that the number 1199 is the number associated with the organization that built it, as opposed to the address as one would expect. The address number itself, which would not be near 1199, is displayed far more discreetly if it is posted at all. It is acknowledged that some indications of the date of a structure may violate this point, but it is hoped that some means of distinguishing these from address numbers can be found, especially for new structures and even for existing ones as well.

This is all of it, although there may be other aspects of it elsewhere in the full document. I realize that this is a lot to go through, but hopefully the few that do will feel that it is worth it and perhaps be able to implement some or all of this in their areas.

Posting of addresses (Part 10)

o. there is a locality designation or other area entity with which addresses are or may be associated in the name of the business, organization or institution at the location at issue, especially if it is inconsistent with that for the location at issue such as Westwood Lincoln Mercury which for the last several years has been in Emerson, New Jersey and Westwood Sleep Shops which has or has had a store and warehouse in Westwood which are fine, but also has retail locations elsewhere to which this would apply (I do apologize to Westwood in that I am certain there are parties that endeavor to associate themselves with other localities, it is just that with this being adjacent to my hometown it is merely the one with which I am most familiar) – especially to apply if the one with which they are associating is in the vicinity, but perhaps should even if it is presumably obvious that it may not be anywhere in the area such as Boston Market which has locations well beyond its namesake city of Boston, Massachusetts or may not even have any addresses associated with it such as Mount Everest Ski Shops
p. it may otherwise be unclear
Addresses with street names are to be posted on each nonadjacent street frontage from which any improved property may reasonably expected to be accessed by any means, or on each street frontage if any of the following conditions apply for any of the street or other frontages of the property at issue:
q. on one way streets
r. on divided streets or highways
s. on streets in excess of two lanes, one lane in each direction, wide – moderate or heavily used parallel or angled parking at the curb would be considered to be an additional lane and thus, also, incur this provision
t. county or other heavily trafficked roads
u. at intersections where there are traffic lights or blinkers
v. because of no left turn signs, one way streets, or other conditions, situated so that one can not continue around the property in both directions whether by making successive left or right turns
w. in other areas where it might be difficult to reverse direction to access another side of the property at issue

Posting of addresses (Part 9)

e. if adjacent entrances are associated with different streets, but within each entrance all units are associated with the respective streets, than the street being indicated at the entrance should be sufficient
f. if the structure is accessed from both sides, and the units on each side are associated with the street to that side, than all of the units are to post the address and street name if all, or most, of the hallways from each side interconnect, but if there are only intermittent through passages than only the units on or adjacent to these passages need to post the street name
g. it is next to an adjacent improved property with the same address number
h. the year the building was built appears on its face or elsewhere in such a manner that it may be confused with the address
i. they are on an island, especially one with no roads, and their primary, or only accessible, frontage may be on the water, in which case there may be no place to put a “street” sign and the name of the island may be the “street” name
j. there is a street designation or other entity with which addresses are or may be associated as all or part of the name of the business, organization or institution at the location at issue, especially if it is inconsistent with that for the location at issue such as the Park Avenue Auto Group which has several locations spread around the area of which one, at most, may actually be on Park Avenue, Broadway Pediatrics which was originally on Broadway but has moved to a location that is one block from Broadway, and 6th Avenue Electronics
k. it may otherwise be unclear
As well as the municipality in any of the following or other such situations:
l. if the same address exists elsewhere in that zip code
m. the same address exists on an extension of that street, or an unrelated street that happens to share the same name, in the adjacent town even if it is discontinuous
n. they are on a town line or adjacent to a property on the town line where the town line can be crossed by the public

Posting of addresses (Part 8)

49. Every governmental, or institutional building is to have its address clearly indicated so that it is easily ascertained, even by passing motorists, in all weather conditions, and at all hours of the day or night. This is especially to include post offices. All commercial facilities, and individual businesses within them, are to display their addresses similarly clearly. As retail stores and other commercial facilities are often subject to strict signage ordinances and the posting of addresses is critical, the square footage of surface area, or other measure, of minimal, moderate or generous, although not perhaps grossly excessive, representations of the posted address number and/or unit designation, and street name and/or locality if necessary or optionally provided, itself and adjacent area, is to be exempt from being included as part of the qualifying signage. In the spirit of the once Saint Christopher, who was considered to be the patron saint of travelers, houses of worship and other religious facilities are, also, to clearly post their address. Even substantially unimproved properties or those on which any structures are incidental to the use are to be addressed with the address posted. My son has been on a traveling soccer team and my town has traveling baseball teams. Its tough enough to know where the fields are in your own town, but finding them in areas with which one is less familiar is even more of a challenge. This is especially appropriate if the fields are separate from any major structure such as a school, but if they are part of the school using the school address, if it is posted and if one enters for the field at the main school entrance, may be acceptable. This should apply as well to scout and other camps, nature centers, parks, etc.

50. All improved properties, and units thereof, of any kind, are to include the correct street designation in their posted address, on frontages with which it is associated or from which it may reasonably expected to be accessed, if any of the following or other such need applies:
a. It is a corner lot, especially if a some or all of the access is from a street other than that with which it is associated or the structure is situated at an angle such that it is unclear with which street it is associated by the way it is sited, a few in my area actually have the driveway curb cut right at the corner
b. it is in the area of a “Y” or triangular intersection
c. it is a through block lot
d. it shares a common entrance to a building in which units are associated with more than one street, or if it does not share an entrance it is adjacent to a unit associated with a different street at or near where you could easily go from one unit to the other

Posting of addresses (Part 7)

12. flags of and other than those of the United States or any other country for that matter (to include decorative banners depicting designs other than those of national or other location flags) – as flags are not always fixed, often hang, and may wave in the wind, a wide area of clearance around them is appropriate which is to be accomplished as follows:
i. the furthest point it may project out from the structure is to be considered a projection for which the rule above is to apply, unless the base of the pole where it meets the structure is below a 45 degree angle from the furthest point, furthest out or lowest whichever has more severe implications, of the flag, in which case the posted address is to be below the base of the pole
ii. to the sides the posted address is to be 150% or more away from where it is mounted than the furthest point it may project from the structure
iii. flag poles should not be placed between the street and the posted address, but if they are, no limp, mildly fluttering, strongly waving, up drafted or other position of a flag on a flag pole is to obstruct the view of the posted address from the street
cc. Temporary address numbers are to be initially posted prior to ground breaking and are to remain in place until permanent ones are properly posted and unobstructed. Additionally, if the permanent ones are to be obstructed or removed during any expansion, remodeling, improvement or maintenance work temporary ones are, again, to be provided for the duration of the project from before the permanent ones are removed or obstructed until after they are replaced or, again, become visible.
dd. It is improper to remove, vandalize or alter from accurate any permanent or temporary posted address, unit designations, street signs, or other location identification information

Posting of addresses (Part 6)

6. address characters posted facing the water are to be posted on land, at the shore line or public access line if they front on a long beach such as at the New Jersey shore, and are to be a minimum of twelve inches high
7. supplementary numbers may be placed at the end of above water docks, which would need to be at least eight inches high
i. these can not be the only posting of it facing the water for the following reasons
1. in northern areas docks are only in the water seasonally
2. they may be knocked off if they are hit when attempting to dock a boat
3. sometimes visiting boats may be tied up at the end of the dock
4. if the dock is parallel to the shore there may be no place to put the address that would always be unobstructed by boats tied up at it
8. in areas dense woods come all the way to the water it is not recommended to cut down trees to create a clear area at which to post the address designation because that could have severe ecological implications and lead to erosion, but as much as possible try to find the area that is least obstructed or shaded by trees and if possible cantilever it out past the vegetation high enough that it would be clear of most vessels and occupants thereof although clearing fishing yachts with flying bridges may be difficult
9. For the purposes of whether street designations are to be posted on various sides of the property as discussed elsewhere, water and land frontages are always considered to be nonadjacent because, except for rare amphibious vehicles, the sides from which you can access the location will be determined and limited by your mode of transportation
bb. these designations, whether near the curb, on, or near the façade of the structure, or within the structure itself, are not to be obstructed, even temporarily, by anything, including, but not restricted to, any of the following types of decorations:
1. patriotic – including, but not limited to, flags described in more detail below
2. yellow ribbons honoring absent members of the armed forces or others, this is not to be unsympathetic, but like everything else specified in this document on general principle and if there is bad news the next of kin do need to be easily findable
3. religious
4. seasonal
5. holiday
6. athletic
7. party – birthday, anniversary, wedding, graduation, holiday weekend or other summer barbeque, other event or no specific occasion
8. wreaths
9. balloons
10. garage, lawn, tag or other possession sale signs
11. sales or other product or service promotional materials however brief their usage may be, typically this would most likely be at issue for retail stores and other commercial locations, but also to include real estate sale, rental or leasing signs and other sale signs

Posting of addresses (Part 5)

z. where the mailboxes are all on one side of the street or otherwise removed from the immediate proximity of the user’s residence or business facility, such as at the entrance to a private road or shared driveway, especially but not only when they are in groups and may not be directly in front of or across from the locations they serve, it may become more difficult to correlate the address number on the mailbox to one’s intended destination, so in these areas it is especially critical that the address number and/or unit designation be even more prominently posted on the structures, at the access points to these properties or units, and/or other similarly effective placement for each location at issue
aa. posting of addresses on frontages of locally or more extensively navigable bodies of water
1. is to be posted on the most prominent point as viewed from the most navigable shipping lanes past the frontage if some or all of the location at issue juts out into the water
2. if it does not jut out into the water the address is to be posted near the dock, if there is one, or where the dock is placed in season, because that should be the area clearest of navigational hazards and docks are landmarks that are visible from the water
3. if the property does not jut out into the water and there is no dock, it is to be placed as far as possible from navigational hazards and/or at the clearest part of the shoreline
4. are to include “street” designation on general principle, but especially because in some areas emergency assistance could arrive via water, even in winter over frozen bodies of water
i. if the water frontage is the only frontage from which one may reasonably gain access the “street” designation, which in this case would often be the name of the island, may be a critical aid to navigation, although the concern with respect to water of the person who suggested I include this was “Camps” and other sites on lakes in the Adirondacks, if on each lake they are all addressed with that lake as the same “street designation”, including it will be of little benefit, but if they are addressed to separate portions of the shoreline, or are otherwise differentiated, then including the “street designation” would be appropriate
ii. if there are other land frontages, which presumably would usually be the street with which any such property at issue would primarily be associated, the numbers as seen from the water may have no meaning and those viewing them from the water may not be able to easily come ashore to ascertain the streets with which the waterfront properties are associated
5. addresses posted facing the water near docks or their extensions from the land access on to them are to be to posted sufficiently high that its view from the water will not be blocked by boats at the dock