--- title: Metal Rail Hardware Guidelines description: Metal Rail Hardware Guidelines --- [Skip to content](https://hub.geminimade.com/knowledge/metal-rail-guidelines#main-content) English Show submenu for translations ![Gemini Incorporated](https://hub.geminimade.com/hubfs/gemini-logo-horizontal-1.svg) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English Show submenu for translations Try the "Ask me anything" icon at the bottom right to use our AI search - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Gemini Product Guide](https://hub.geminimade.com/knowledge?hsLang=en) 2. [More Resources](https://hub.geminimade.com/knowledge/more-resources?hsLang=en) 3. [Mounting and Installation](https://hub.geminimade.com/knowledge/more-resources?hsLang=en#mounting-and-installation) September 23, 2026 # Metal Rail Hardware Guidelines ### **Rails** | [**Flat Rails**](https://hub.geminimade.com/knowledge/metal-rail-guidelines#Flat) | [**C-Channel Rails**](https://hub.geminimade.com/knowledge/metal-rail-guidelines#C-Channel) | | --- | --- | | [**Angle Brackets**](https://hub.geminimade.com/knowledge/metal-rail-guidelines#Angle) | | ### **Required Options** | **[Rail Length](https://hub.geminimade.com/knowledge/metal-rail-guidelines#RailLength)** | **[Punctuation and Small Pieces](https://hub.geminimade.com/knowledge/metal-rail-guidelines#Punct)** | | --- | --- | | **[Rail Seams](https://hub.geminimade.com/knowledge/metal-rail-guidelines#Seams)** | **[Rail Position](https://hub.geminimade.com/knowledge/metal-rail-guidelines#Position)** | | **[Sanded Top/Bottoms](https://hub.geminimade.com/knowledge/metal-rail-guidelines#Sanded)** | **[Tieback Holes](https://hub.geminimade.com/knowledge/metal-rail-guidelines#Tieback)** | --- Metal rails are for metal letters only. ### Flat Rails Standard rail for flat cut products ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-48-19-3729-PM.png?width=134&height=186&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-48-19-3729-PM.png) Produced from 1/4" flat cut aluminum Painted: 95" long Anodized: 84" long 1/2" width minimum **Rail Placement** | **Single/Double Rail** Rail width to match stroke | ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-32-30-4932-PM.png?width=177&height=117&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-32-30-4932-PM.png) | | --- | --- | | **Top/Bottom Rail** Rail width to match material thickness | ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-32-43-0505-PM.png?width=158&height=149&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-32-43-0505-PM.png) |   --- ### C-Channel Rails Standard rail for cast products ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-48-42-1633-PM.png?width=131&height=192&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-48-42-1633-PM.png) Painted: 94" long Anodized: 84" long **Sizes** | 1/2" x  1" 1/2" stud area | ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-39-54-9668-PM.png?width=202&height=106&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-39-54-9668-PM.png) | | --- | --- | | 1/2" x 1.5" 1" stud area | ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-39-41-4758-PM.png?width=264&height=106&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-39-41-4758-PM.png) | | 1" x 2" 1.5" stud area | ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-40-32-4620-PM.png?width=315&height=173&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-40-32-4620-PM.png) | | 1" x 3" 2.5" stud area | ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-40-43-6766-PM.png?width=449&height=186&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-40-43-6766-PM.png) | **Rail Placement** **![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-43-48-5948-PM.png?width=271&height=207&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-43-48-5948-PM.png)**   --- ### Bottom/Top Angle Brackets | 1" x 1" .625" stud area | ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-44-50-3966-PM.png?width=191&height=170&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-44-50-3966-PM.png) | | --- | --- | | 1.5" x 1.5" 1.0625" stud area | ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-45-51-6585-PM.png?width=270&height=241&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-45-51-6585-PM.png) | | 2" x 2" 1.5" stud area | ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-46-14-7177-PM.png?width=305&height=281&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-46-14-7177-PM.png) | **Rail Placement** | Back of Letters **\*Default\*** | Bottom of Letters | Top Back of Letters | Top of Letters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-51-02-2391-PM.png?width=96&height=245&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-51-02-2391-PM.png) | ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-51-09-6732-PM.png?width=76&height=283&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-51-09-6732-PM.png) | ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-51-17-1966-PM.png?width=90&height=250&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-51-17-1966-PM.png) | ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-51-23-9107-PM.png?width=83&height=293&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-51-23-9107-PM.png) |   --- ### Single/Double Rail Placement Guidelines | Align Rails with the Center of the horizontal strokes | Align rails with the flat top of the bottom edge | DO NOT put rails beyond the flat top or bottom edge | | --- | --- | --- | | ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-54-48-2015-PM.png?width=216&height=256&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-54-48-2015-PM.png) | ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-54-55-2417-PM.png?width=232&height=248&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-54-55-2417-PM.png) | ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-55-02-3907-PM.png?width=220&height=259&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-55-02-3907-PM.png) |   --- ### **Rail Options** All options below are required when placing a rail order.  ### Rail Length | **Max Length** Rails will span the space between words | ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-59-20-1344-PM.png?width=468&height=69&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-04-59-20-1344-PM.png) | | --- | --- | | **By Word** Rails don't span the space between words | ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-05-00-21-3569-PM.png?width=332&height=70&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-05-00-21-3569-PM.png) | --- ### Punctuation & Small Pieces | Punctuation Seperate | Punctuation attached to letters | Attached via rail | | --- | --- | --- | | ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-05-01-49-3875-PM.png?width=290&height=105&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-05-01-49-3875-PM.png) | ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-05-01-55-8702-PM.png?width=295&height=100&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-05-01-55-8702-PM.png) | ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-05-02-03-0355-PM.png?width=348&height=104&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-05-02-03-0355-PM.png) |   --- ### Rail Seams | When possible, seams are hidden behind letters | ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-05-03-55-1777-PM.png?width=532&height=81&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-05-03-55-1777-PM.png) | | --- | --- | | By request, rail ends can be hidden behind | ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-05-04-02-9096-PM.png?width=554&height=72&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-05-04-02-9096-PM.png) | | A single letter cannot be attached to two rails | ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-05-04-13-0650-PM.png?width=532&height=72&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-05-04-13-0650-PM.png) |   --- ### Rail Position End Flush - Rails end flush with the letters, matching the farthest edge ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-05-05-13-7732-PM.png?width=545&height=79&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-05-05-13-7732-PM.png) Extended - Rails end past the letter ends. Rail length rounded up to next inch+2. ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-05-06-01-8076-PM.png?width=556&height=66&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-05-06-01-8076-PM.png) --- ### Sanded Top/Bottom Letters may be requested with sanded bottom, to ensure they sit flat on the rail Example: See "G" ![](https://hub.geminimade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Sep-23-2026-05-08-40-0232-PM.png?width=431&height=133&name=image-png-Sep-23-2026-05-08-40-0232-PM.png) --- ### Tieback Holes Required for all 8" tall bottom stud/rail mounted letters Required for all 12" tall bottom angle bracket mounting What is a tie-back? A tie-back is typically a piece of metal bar or bent conduit that has been fabricated to help secure bottom stud mounted letters to a wall or roof.  Tapped mounting holes have been provided in each letter to allow for attachment of tie-backs.  Why is a tie-back needed?  Tie-backs are designed to help reinforce freestanding letters.  Without a tie-back or frame support system, bottom mounted exterior letters, may move in the wind and eventually fatigue the mounting studs. Tie-backs will provide extra support, to help insure a long-term safe installation.  As we are not engineering the mounting surface & installation, we cannot provide proper tie-backs to fit all installation situations.  ---   - [Quote and Order Lead Times](https://hub.geminimade.com/knowledge/quote-and-order-lead-times?hsLang=en) - [Partner Portal "How-To" Articles](https://hub.geminimade.com/knowledge/partner-portal-how-to-articles?hsLang=en#main-content) - [FAQs](https://hub.geminimade.com/knowledge/partner-portal-how-to-articles?hsLang=en#faqs) - [General](https://hub.geminimade.com/knowledge/partner-portal-how-to-articles?hsLang=en#general) - [Artwork](https://hub.geminimade.com/knowledge/partner-portal-how-to-articles?hsLang=en#artwork) - [Quoting/Ordering](https://hub.geminimade.com/knowledge/partner-portal-how-to-articles?hsLang=en#quoting-ordering) - [Help & Support Messaging](https://hub.geminimade.com/knowledge/partner-portal-how-to-articles?hsLang=en#help-support-messaging) - 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