How to Make a Granite Post Sign

Mason Mark McCullough helps a farm manager bring an old granite post back to its original glory. To do so, Mark measures, grinds, and drills to attach an antique road sign to the face of the post. After that, he uses a Dremel tool and stencils to sculpt the street number into the post for a timeless look.

There are few things as exciting for a homeowner as finding some of an old home’s original antique touches. When a family farm uncovered a granite post and an old street sign, they wanted to display both at the entrance from the road proudly. Mason Mark McCullough knows just how to help.

Steps to Make a Granite Post Sign

1. Use the measuring tape to find the appropriate height for the road sign, as well as the center of the granite post, and mark it with a pencil. Use the level to draw a plumb line at the center mark.
2. Hold the sign against the stone pillar so that the screw holes are aligned with the plumb line. Mark the stone along the edges of the sign’s base with the pencil. This will mark the location for the sign as well as where the stone needs to be removed for the sign to sit flat.
3. Wearing eye and ear protection, use the grinder to remove the high points inside of the marks on the stone. Stop often and hold the sign against the post. Once the sign sits level and flat, stop grinding.
4. Hold the sign in place. With a dab of silicone on the end of the drill bit, slide it through the sign’s top screw hold and touch the granite to mark the screw location.
5. Using a hammer drill and masonry bit, drill a hole into the stone for the top mounting screw. Repeat the process of marking the stone with silicone and drilling for the bottom hole as well.
6. Fasten the sign to the post with masonry screws.
7. Measure from the top of the sign to the top of the post. Measure down this same distance from the bottom of the sign and mark the stone.
8. Place the number stencils at this mark and trace the numbers’ outlines with a permanent marker.
9. Use the rotary tool and a diamond grinding stone to remove the stone along the edge of the numbers on the stone. This will create an outline to work inside of.
10. Use the rotary tool, hammer, and chisel to remove and smooth the stone inside the number outlines.
11. Infill the numbers with black paint and a paintbrush to make them stand out from the stone. Over the next few years, the numbers will weather and blend in with the post perfectly.

Resources

Mark helps a homeowner refashion an old 1800s granite post into a road marker for their farm.

To rehang the original farm sign, Mark first has to make the front face of the post more plumb. To do
this, Mark traces the outline of the desired area with a pencil. He then uses an angle grinder to carefully chip away at the uneven stone, making sure that the HEPA vacuum is attached to clear out any dust. To secure the sign, Mark takes an electric drill with an SDS masonry drill bit, and drills two holes in the granite post, making sure that the holes are the same spacing as the sign. Finally, Mark anchors the sign to the post with masonry screws.

Mark measures from the top of the post down to the top of the newly hung sign. Then from the bottom of the sign down, he marks the same measurement with a pencil. This is where the top center of the first stencil will go. Mark tapes the stencils to secure them in place and traces out the numbers with a marker, coloring them in completely to get very clear numbers. Next, Mark uses an etching rotary tool and a grinding stone bit to begin carving out the numbers. To smooth out the carved sections of the numbers, Mark goes back in with a hammer and chisel. Finally, Mark uses a small angled brush and latex exterior black paint to paint in the numbers. The exterior paint will fade over time with the outdoor elements to bring out an authentic colonial-aged look.

Materials

• Masonry screws
• Number templates
• Black paint
• Silicone caulk

Tools