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Why Are Visible Address Numbers So Important? (Residential & Commercial Properties)
1. Emergency
If your address numbers are hard to find, it isn’t just the inconvenience for anybody trying to locate your property, it could also mean that in the event of an emergency, firefighters, police and paramedics also can’t find. Every second counts during an emergency, and precious time can be lost if your homes or businesses don’t have clearly marked address numbers.
2. Curb Appeal
Increasing your home’s curb appeal makes a great first impression to your visitors. There’s a variety of simple, inexpensive curb appeal improvements that you can do including a new set of house numbers. Installing house numbers on your home is an easy and inexpensive way to add a personal touch to your home. But why go through the effort of mounting new address numbers if visitors can’t see them?
Tips for Visible Address Numbers
1. Size
The first consideration for visible address numbers is their size. Your address numbers need to be large enough to be easily viewable from the street. If your home or business is set significantly back from the street, buy as large as you can fit without being gaudy. Lathrup Village requires house numbers to be at least 4 inches tall per International Fire & Property Maintenance Codes:
International Fire Code 505.1 Address identification.
New and existing buildings shall be provided with approved address identification. The address identification shall be legible and placed in a position that is visible from the street or road fronting the property. Address identification characters shall contrast with their background. Address numbers shall be Arabic numbers or alphabetical letters. Numbers shall not be spelled out. Each character shall be not less than 4 inches (102 mm) high with a minimum stroke width of 1/2 inch (12.7 mm). Where required by the fire code official, address identification shall be provided in additional approved locations to facilitate emergency response. Where access is by means of a private road and the building cannot be viewed from the public way, a monument, pole or other sign or means shall be used to identify the structure. Address identification shall be maintained.
International Property Maintenance Code 304.3 Premises identification.
Buildings shall have approved address numbers placed in a position to be plainly legible and visible from the street or road fronting the property. These numbers shall contrast with their background. Address numbers shall be Arabic numerals or alphabet letters. Numbers shall be not less than 4 inches in height with a minimum stroke width of 0.5 inch.
2. Contrasting Color or Finish
For increased visibility, the color or finish of your address numbers should be in sharp contrast to its background. Create a light and dark contrast between the background and house numbers to make the address numbers jump.
3. Darkness
In addition to the color or finish of address numbers being in sharp contrast to its background, they also should be easy to spot at night. Install your house numbers in an adequately lit area. If installing near the front door, the area is probably already lit. But if installing your address numbers in a different location, such as at a gate or fence, consider illuminating address numbers with light or reflective coatings.
4. Location, Location, Location!
Ideally address numbers should be placed near the front door near a porch light and at or above eye level. If your front door is not easily viewed from the street, consider a second set of address numbers. Perhaps your home is set too far back, or trees or bushes block visibility of your front door from the road. In that case, mount a second set on a post, fence or tree at the driveway entrance so they can clearly be seen from the street. Avoid placing house numbers on a garage. And if you live on a corner ensure the address numbers face the street that matches your address.
5. Font Style
Improve the visibility of your address numbers by choosing the right font style. Thin, script font styles are more difficult to view from the street. Thick, wide, boldface fonts are designed for better visibility.
6. Spacing
In addition to size and font, it’s also important to space them for ideal readability. If your house numbers are spaced too closely to each other they could be hard to read. Walk down to the street to view and decide if the numbers are spaced appropriately.
7. Weather-Resistant
Most address numbers come in all-weather finishes sealed with a lacquer or glaze. Nonetheless, since they will be exposed to the outdoor elements, be sure to choose a quality material that is durable and weather-resistant so that your house numbers will look good for years to come.
8. Mailbox
In addition to installing house numbers on front door, consider also adding visible house numbers on your free-standing mailbox and number on both sides so it can be seen by vehicles approaching from either direction.
9. Commercial Properties
In addition to installing address numbers on the front of your building, add visible numbers on each rear door of the property to help differentiate between businesses.
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