DIY: Names and Numbers

Customised house names and numbers are not only a great way to put your unique stamp on your home and garden, they also serve a practical purpose in helping identify your property for first-time visitors.

Although there are plenty of ready-made house plaques and numbers available at most DIY stores, it’s very simple and satisfying to create your own.

Materials
EXTERIOR plywood makes an excellent base for both painted and mosaic house names and numbers. For smaller plaques (up to 300mm x 300mm) the ply needs to be at least 17mm thick. For anything larger, it’s best to go for a heavier grade (up to 22mm or thicker) to provide a stable base. Of course, the thickness of the base board may also be determined by your design – a smaller panel decorated with larger objects, such as seashells, pebbles or pumice, may need a weightier base of 32mm.

A section of treated fence paling can also form an effective base, especially if you’re after a more rustic look. When decorated with exterior wood stain or paint, the rough timber will quickly take on a weathered look. It can even be carved or you could cut out ßlettering using a jigsaw.

Decorative items, such as pumice and shell, can be glued on to this base but do not use it for a grouted mosaic – the wood can contract and swell and cause the grout to crack. Small concrete pavers and terracotta pot bases also make excellent bases for house numbers or plaques. Both can be decorated with paint or mosaic. Driftwood is another option and one that suits a coastal home and garden.

If you’re going to create a mosaic masterpiece on a base of exterior ply, always make sure of maximum adhesion. Score the base’s front face with a craft knife and prime it with a solution of exterior PVA mixed with water at a ratio of 3:1.

Potential mosaic materials can include pieces of broken crockery or coloured ceramic tiles, vitreous glass tiles, glass pebbles and small smooth stones – even objects such as metal washers can be incorporated into a mosaic design.

Before applying any of these mosaic pieces, prime and paint the panel edges and back for maximum weather protection, then use a generous amount of exterior PVA to glue the mosaic pieces in position. Once the glue is dry, finish your mosaic off with an exterior flexible grout.

If you’re painting your house plaque or number instead, preparation is also all important. Ensure the plywood base is ‘keyed’ by lightly sanding. This will also help to tidy up any rough sawn edges. Next, thoroughly prime and paint the entire board with an exterior primer/undercoat and then a base coat of exterior house paint. Take specialcare to ensure the ply’s edges are well sealed with paint as these can be particularly vulnerable to weather damage. Once you’ve decorated the plywood panel – test pots of exteriorhouse paint are ideal for this – give it a further layer of protection with a coat or two of clearexterior varnish. If you use one with gloss finish, it will bring out the underlying paint colours.

Inspiration
WHEN it comes to designing your house number or a plaque for your home or garden, look to them and their wider setting as a guide to style and materials.

An art deco house may call for something like an eye-catching Clarice Cliff-style mosaic, executed in vibrant shades of orange and purple, whereas a sleek contemporary building might suit a no-fuss plaque made from sheet copper or zincalume.

Look too, at the planting around you for ideas. A lavender hedge in your front garden might inspire a pastel palette of mauves for your house plaque. It might even inspire a name - Lavender Cottage.

Another possible option might be to repeat a distinctive leaf or flower, such as holly or rose, in your plaque. When it comes to the wider landscape around us, there’s always plenty to inspire.

A simple seaside bach may need no more than a driftwood sign decorated with sea shells or even coloured sand. A house in a volcanic area might have its plaque made from carved pumice or a scoria mosaic. Above all, you should have fun when creating your house name or number and, as with the best gardens and interiors, use it as an opportunity to use your creativity.

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