Hoisting a flag on your front lawn can signify both patriotism and a sense of belonging. Hoisting a flag properly, however, is not as easy as most people think. Getting a good flagpole should be your first consideration. An industry leader in manufacturing flagpoles, like Atlantic Flag & Pole, will give you good deals and special offers when you shop for a high-quality flagpole at their website.
A well-installed flagpole will stay solid for years.
The right materials are essential for a long-lasting flagpole. Ensure that you have:
Gravel
Concrete
Dry sand
Posthole auger
Plumb line
Shovel
A mixing tray for the concrete
Wooden shims
Once you gather all the required materials, it is time for the actual installation:
Table of Contents
Choose A Suitable Location For Your Flag Pole
Visibility is critical when deciding the position of a flagpole on your lawn. A flagpole that hides among trees is not appropriate when the wind blows. You should also avoid a location that is near tall buildings. Such buildings will impede wind speed.
Ensure that the flagpole location is in the general direction of the wind. When these winds blow, the flag will fly in the wind’s general direction, making it look spectacular. An area with clear visibility and ample natural lighting is the most suitable for the location of a flagpole.
Ensure That The Spot Is Safe For Digging
Although this is a seemingly trivial point, this could have grave consequences if a homeowner does not adhere to it. In today’s world, internet and TV cables all run underground. The average person may not consciously think about such a fact regularly; however, damaging one of these wires can cause significant chaos.
Loss of TV service, disruption of phone and electricity to a specific neighborhood are some of the possible consequences. Such inconveniences do not include the enormous repair costs that such a perpetrator will incur. Therefore, before digging a spot for a flagpole, always ensure to contact the relevant authorities. If necessary, a technician will have to examine the ground to ensure that no wires or any sensitive hardware are underneath your property.
Dig A Hole
Once a technician has given the all-clear, digging can then begin. An auger is very efficient at digging a hole, assuming you do not want to do it manually. An auger also saves time if you need to dig several holes for multiple flagpoles.
Factors to consider when digging a hole include the general wind patterns of your neighborhood and the soil type. Sandy soil may require a hole whose diameter is about six times the flagpole diameter. If the area experiences light winds then a hole about four times the diameter of the flagpole will suffice.
A flagpole comes equipped with a plastic sleeve; this helps to estimate the depth of the hole for the flag pole. You add 6 inches after digging to the depth of the sleeve plastic. The extra 6 inches provide enough space for pouring gravel.
Create a Solid Foundation
Shovel about 6 inches of gravel into the hole; then place the ground sleeve on top. Pour an appropriate amount of gravel into the hole until the top of the ground sleeve is level with the surface around the hole.
Afterward, set the sleeve in place as you prepare to pour the cement. Using shims, make sure that the sleeve is level with the two axes before securing it in place.
The sleeve needs to hold when you are adding the cement. Don’t pour the cement inside the ground sleeve. To ensure this, use newspapers or other pieces of paper to block the opening of the ground sleeve. The amount of cement you need will depend on the hole size. An 80lb cement bag is ideal; this amount is not too much as to be wasteful.
Once the cement mixture is ready, shovel it around the ground sleeve, not inside. The cement should fill the hole to about an inch below the ground level. This level is optimal; it allows the addition of topsoil to enable grass to grow around your flag pole.
Allow the concrete to dry overnight for best results.
Ready your Flagpole
Assemble the flagpole to its full height. This assembly should include all ornamentation and the halyards. Some flagpoles come as separate sections. You will need to affix each piece to another, one at a time till you assemble the flagpole fully. After this, attach the truck to the top of the pole. Trimming the halyard should come after inserting the pole into the ground.
By following the above stages, you will be able to hoist your flags without many problems!
