Hello Schaef
First…I say there is no standard.
Next…in my area…everything “seems” to be 12″ lettering. ( I started with 10″ lettering, then switched to 12″. )
In California 8″ lettering rules the world.
BUT…it is all up to the owner.
I manufacture stencils. I have 4″ all the way up to 12 Feet !
There are NO PARKING stencils for the curb = 4″. There are 24″ NO PARKING stencils for the Fire Lane.
I’ve seen 12″ NO PARKING in the Fire Lane too.
And again…I’ve seen Red Curbs with White NO PARKING on the Curb’s tread.
( Remember, stenciling is not enforceable by law. The stencil may be faded, covered with snow, under water…etc. So…”hard signs” are really needed. Such as NO PARKING FIRE LANE…or H/C signs in a bollard…in the stall too. That said…I’ve just finished striping a Menard’s. It’s the size of a Lowe’s or Home Depot. It had NO H/C stencils…ONLY H/C hard signs in the stalls. )
Next…you can order a one piece…or two piece. First…the 12″ can all be put onto one piece of plastic. The plastic is 8′ long.
1) You can then use it as a one piece or…spray the NO…then slide the “PARKING” part to the right about …any…dimension you want…say three feet…and spray that.
2) When you get into the 18″ lettering and certainly the 24″ lettering…there isn’t enough room to put the entire NO PARKING onto the sheet of plastic. So…we make it a two piece. Then again…you decide the spacing between the words. And you can “stack” them if you want. ( That’s why I manufacture DRIVE THRU in two pieces. Do what looks best for that job. )
Last…the phrase “Standard” is subjective. I’ve had a 36″ H/C for 17 years. THEN someone says “Standard 39″ H/C”. And the world begins to think that the STANDARD IS 39″. ( remember, we live in American…bigger is better AND…39″ is simply one meter AND…it may as well be 39″…because if I cut two H/C stencils from ONE sheet…I have waste that I throw away. SO…I might as well make the H/C bigger! ) OR…why not just give more “Edge Distance”? blahblah…
Next…if some architect calls out a SIX FOOT H/C…!…paint it. Have you seen Wal Mart?.
Next…I’ve also seen “Home Made” stencils. These are totally understandable. BUT…I…nor you…can match everything down there ( on the pavement ).
Bottom line…buy a good, long lasting stencil. Black their’s out…nicely. Put yours down…and do a nice job. Space the words nicely. Measure if you want to. But take a look at it too. ( Maybe you shouldn’t straddle the ramp. Scoot it over. )
OK…last…last…I’ve seen 42″ tall lettering with a 9″ wide letter. What? Picture that. Now, if that’s what they want…cool. But I just cut a 42″ STOP with MY STANDARD 17″ wide lettering. It just looks much better. And, my prices are still low. And, by the way…they actually wanted a 48″ tall STOP. I suggested a 42″ tall letter. WHY? Not because of any “standard”…but price. I cannot cut a one piece 48″ tall letter from a 48″ wide piece of plastic. I can cut 4 individual letters though. SO…let’s go with a 42” tall letter. Less cost to you and it’s done.
OK…last,last,last…if you’re on a Public road, there may be “requirements”…actual “drawings” that tell you what to do. Also, there is a D.O.T. “Standard”. “Department of Transportation”. THAT needs to be…but on the neighborhood business…you’ll see everything.
Pretend it is your parking lot. That’s my best advice. Well…and know this…you’re doing fine. Press on.
Dan
