Struts for free-standing boards
A strut is the folding leg on the back of a mounted print, the same idea as a desktop photo frame. It lets a board stand on a counter, shelf or table without being fixed to anything.
Think counter, not floor.
Struts are at their best on a flat surface around waist height: a bar top with the week's specials, a hotel reception with the wifi details, a table of architect's boards at a public consultation. They suit small and medium boards. Once a panel gets tall, a single leg at the back stops being enough, and the board wants a proper stand instead.
| Board size | On a strut | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| A3 and below | Very happily | Counter cards and table signs |
| A2 | Yes | A good size for shop counters |
| A1 | Possible, with care | Allow plenty of depth behind, and use a stiff board |
| A0 and above | Ask us first | Usually better fixed to a wall or stand |
The depth people forget.
A strut needs room behind the board. Measure the depth of the shelf or counter before you order. As a rough guide, the leg spreads back by something like a third of the board's height, so an A2 portrait board at 594mm tall wants around 200mm of clear surface. A narrow windowsill or a shallow shelf may not have it. In that case, a board that leans against the wall, or one fixed in place, is more reliable.
Which board?
The board has to stay flat with only a small base touching the surface, so bowing matters more here than it does on a wall.
| Board | A2 | A1 |
|---|---|---|
| 3mm Foamex | £7 | £12 |
| 5mm Foamex | £8 | £14 |
| 080 Board | £7 | £15 |
| 060 Board | £8 | £16 |
Guide prices from our price list. They exclude VAT and delivery and assume print-ready artwork.
At A1 we would lean towards the thicker option. Our guide to choosing board thickness explains why, and a laminate is worth adding to anything that will get handled.
Four slips a phone call avoids.
- Not saying which way up. The strut is fitted for portrait or for landscape. Tell us before it goes on.
- Printing on both sides. The strut covers part of the back, so a double-sided board needs a different solution.
- Using one outdoors. A gust will flatten it. Struts are for indoor use. For the pavement, see pavement sign graphics.
- Placing it where it gets brushed. On a busy bar, a board at the edge will get knocked. Set it back, or fix it down.
Struts are available on request. Give us the size, board and orientation, and they can be added to your mounted print.
Mounted boards and panels.
Your questions.
Can a strut be added to a board I already have?
Possibly. It depends on the board and what is on the back. Send us the size and material, and ask before you bring it in.
Do struts fold flat for transport?
Usually, yes, which keeps a set of boards easy to stack and carry. Pack them with protection between the printed faces.
Will a strutted board stand on a carpet?
Not reliably. Struts need a firm, flat surface, so use them on a table or counter and not on the floor.