Wave that flag and show your pride
Whether you want to show off your patriotic pride or allegiance to a favorite sports team, a flagpole is a great way to broadcast that to the neighborhood. Learn how to install a flagpole yourself in a few easy steps and save money on labor costs.
You can complete the installation in a short amount of time, as long as you have the proper tools and supplies. This quick how-to guide will help you get your flagpole up in no time.
Preparing to install a flagpole requires choosing a location, digging a hole, pouring concrete, and maintaining a level PVC pipe. All you really need to know is how to read a tape measure to determine whether the hole is deep enough, and how to mix concrete by following the instructions on the bag.
Choosing the perfect location for your flagpole is an important step. The flagpole will be anchored by concrete, so while it is possible to move a flagpole after installation, it would also require removing the concrete, which is a big job. Choosing the right location the first time around can save time and hassle later.
Ideally, the location will have good visibility but not obscure any views you want to maintain. The dirt should be easy to dig but not too soft. To choose a location, take a walk around the yard, mark where you want the flagpole to go, and then stand in other areas around the yard and even inside the house to imagine how the flagpole might look from different vantage points.
The next step is to grab a shovel and dig a hole for the flagpole to sit in. It should be no more than 1.5 feet in diameter, and anywhere from two to three feet deep. Your flagpole kit will come with a PVC sleeve, which you will anchor in this hole. As such, the hole should not be deeper than the PVC sleeve, as you will want a few inches of the PVC sleeve sticking up out of the ground above the concrete.
Start mixing concrete. You may need two or three 50-pound bags, depending on the depth and width of the hole. Then, place the PVC sleeve in the hole, duct-taped side down, and start pouring the concrete around it. Use your level to keep the sleeve straight throughout the process. If the concrete sets around the sleeve and is not level, your flag will be tilted and you will have to dig it out and start all over again.
Keep filling the hole until the concrete is a few inches below the top of the PVC sleeve, then allow it to set. Use a trowel to level out the concrete. Keep checking the PVC sleeve with the level throughout the drying process, so you can adjust as necessary until the concrete sets.
Once the concrete has hardened and the PVC sleeve is set, it is time to assemble the flagpole. Each flagpole is different, so assemble according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Then, slide the completed flagpole into the PVC sleeve. If you have used the level properly, it should stick straight into the air without tilting. Fill the area around it with dirt until it blends in with the rest of the environment.
With the flagpole in place, now you can raise the flag. But first, you will need to feed a rope through the flagpole’s pulley system and attach carabiners to it. Then, attach the flag and raise it.
If you have run into difficulty finding a good spot to dig a hole or just do not feel like doing this project yourself, you can hire a handyperson to take care of it for you. That is an especially good option if someone already comes over to do work on your house, as you can just ask them to take care of this little project as well. The cost of hiring a handyperson typically is about $60 to $125 per hour. Contact a handyperson near you to get a quick quote.
No, you do not need to do anything special to ground a flagpole in case of a lightning strike. Because it is set in the ground, if a flagpole is struck by lightning, the lightning will travel into the soil. Only poles that do not contact the earth have to be grounded by something.
The standard residential flagpole is between 20 and 25 feet high. This places the top of the flagpole near the top of a two-story home. If you have a one-story home, you may want a slightly shorter flagpole, and if your home has more than two stories, you may choose to have a taller flagpole.
It is a good idea to check with local ordinances or your homeowners’ association (HOA) to see if there are any rules or guidelines on flagpoles in your neighborhood. For example, while flagpoles may be allowed, there might be a rule about them being above a certain height or needing to be taken down at certain times.
