Project Overview
We completed a full restoration of three timber entrance signs marking the entry points into Torbay Village.
The original plywood panels — routed with engraved artwork — had deteriorated over l year due to insufficient sealing and weather exposure, leaving the surface swollen, rough, discoloured and water-damaged.
As a local business operating within the North Shore community, we offered to restore the signs on behalf of the Torbay Business Association, aiming to preserve the artwork and extend the lifespan of the original timber rather than replace it.
The restoration required fine hand-tool detail, surface recovery and complete re-sealing to ensure the signs could withstand long-term exterior exposure.
Brief & Challenge
The plywood faces had absorbed moisture, causing raised grain and swollen engraved lines.
Restoring definition without altering the original artwork required:
• controlled sanding to maintain relief depth
• blade-carving to return crisp linework
• careful surface drying to prevent future delamination
This was a manual craftsmanship process, not a strip-and-replace exercise — the value was in saving and elevating the original work.
What we did
Once prepped, the signs were sealed in two high-build coats of satin polyurethane, applied to both face surfaces and routed channels to prevent moisture re-entry.
The finish returned clarity to the artwork, smoothed the timber, and gave the signs a natural, clean, matte-reflective appearance true to the original intent.
• Full restoration of three routed timber entrance signs
• Sand-back to remove degraded topcoat + re-expose clean timber
• Re-cut and refined routed artwork using fine chisels + craft blades
• Complete re-seal with two heavy coats of satin polyurethane
• Surface strengthened, smoothed + UV and moisture protected
• Performed as a community project in cooperation with Torbay Business Association
Materials
• Existing plywood panels
• Fine chisels + detail knives
• Sanding equipment
• Satin polyurethane exterior sealer
Processes
• Moisture dry-out
• Sand-back resurfacing
• Hand-tool relief restoration
• Dual-coat polyurethane sealing
• Community deployment
Outcome
The restored entrance signs now present sharply and cleanly at all village access points, improving the first impression of the Torbay retail district and giving longevity back to community assets.
This project highlights our ability not only to manufacture new signage, but also to carry out restoration, heritage work and fine detailing where precision and material respect matter.
Related Services
Plinth/Stacker Signs : https://www.signageworks.co.nz/other-services/plinth-%2F-stacker-signs