Ordering the right ESP sign cabinet kit starts with knowing how the cabinet will be built, mounted, and serviced.
The Excellart Kit Finder walks through the main decisions in the order they matter: face type, visible faces, depth, frame type, trim style, and kerf cutting. Each choice affects the next one, so it helps to understand what the questions are really asking before you order.
1. Face Type
The first decision is whether the cabinet uses a rigid face or a flex face.
A rigid face is a solid face material that sits in the cabinet and is held by retainers. This is common on standard shape and sized cabinet builds.
A flex face is a flexible sign face that gets tensioned across the frame. Instead of sitting in the cabinet like a rigid panel, the flex face is stretched and held under tension using the flex face system.
2. Visible Faces
The next decision is whether the cabinet is single-face or double-face.
A single-face cabinet is built for one visible sign face, usually mounted against a wall or structure. A double-face cabinet is built so the sign can be seen from both sides, which changes the frame configuration, depth, and retainer decisions.
Double-face cabinets also introduce a service question. Some can be built with built-in retainers, where the retainer is integrated on three sides and one side opens for access. Others use retainers around the full perimeter. The right choice depends mainly on cabinet depth, with service access as a secondary consideration.
3. Depth
Cabinet depth needs to match the installation, not just the face size.
A shallow cabinet may work for a wall-mounted sign, but other installations need more room. A pole-through pylon is the clearest example. If the pole runs up through the cabinet, the cabinet has to be deep enough to clear it. If the cabinet is too shallow, the installer may have to cut into the structural walls to make room, which takes strength out of the cabinet.
The 12-series is Excellart’s deepest frame. With the right face and trim, a 12-series cabinet can be built out past 20 inches. The deepest configuration is an ESP-12 Standard w. Flex and Standard Trim and ESP-12 Hinged w. Flex and Standard Trim at about 20.12 inches.
Depth also affects how much room the cabinet has for structure, face clearance, retainers, and service access. That is why it should be chosen around the install conditions, not just the preferred finished look.
4. Frame Type
A standard frame works when the face does not need to open regularly. It is the typical choice for fixed-face cabinet builds.
A hinged frame is used when the face needs to open for service or access. This can matter when the cabinet will be installed in a place where removing the face would be difficult, or when the sign may need more frequent access after installation.
5. Trim Style
Standard trim leaves a visible perimeter around the face. It comes in different sizes, so the amount of face coverage can be adjusted based on the retainer size.
Bleed trim hides the trim for a cleaner, full-bleed finish with no visible border. It is used when the project needs the face graphic to read edge-to-edge instead of being framed by a visible perimeter.
6. Kerf Cutting
Kerf cutting is needed when the cabinet has to follow a radius, curve, or custom perimeter.
If the cabinet is a standard square or rectangle, kerf cutting is not part of the build. If the cabinet has curved sections, rounded corners, or a custom shape, this needs to be confirmed before ordering so the right profile and kit configuration can be selected.
Find the Right Sign Cabinet for Your Project
Use the Excellart Kit Finder to answer a few project questions and find the right kit configuration. For project-specific questions, or just to chat contact the Excellart team at (800) 627-9044 or hello@excellart.com.