How to Install a Flagpole: Proper Flagpole Foundation (Parts ii of 7)

In this flag story, we have on an in-depth journeying into installing a 20 ft. commercial aluminum flagpole with upgrades. From part 1 to office seven, we will remove an existing flagpole and bank check upward on the flagpole after 21 months of flying the same flag!


Installing a flagpole can be a great projection for an eagle scout, abode possessor, church, country club, or business. In role one, we talked about how to remove an old flagpole. We also addressed the best flagpole location for the property. Sometimes, where the flagpole has been for decades is not the all-time identify for the flagpole today. A little investigation goes a long way.

This tutorial assumes you have establish the right flagpole for you and are ready to dig the pigsty and go started with installation.

In this instance, nosotros take an ESS20B31-02. This means that the flagpole is 20 feet tall with a .125 wall and a 3" butt bore. The current of air zone is this expanse is mild and this commercial class aluminum flagpole has plenty of tolerance to handle the stress of the flag. We upgraded the flagpole with diverse parts including a revolving truck. Merely we'll cover that in later on parts of this tutorial series.

If you are however looking for a flagpole, click hither for a great guide!

Flag Foundation


Flag Before Concrete

Making a professional pedestal out of a Sonotube form

Sonotube is a heavy cardboard corrugated cylindrical sleeve which acts as a form. Sonotube is a great style to finish the flagpole with a pedestal. The pedestal base forestall lawn mowers or other vehicles to hitting and dent the wink collar. This keeps your flagpole looking like new. The pedestal besides is a great style to set up for water run-off. More on that after.

Once you accept dug the hole with the correct dimensions, even all the manner around, it is fourth dimension to cut the sonotube. You want the sonotube to exist near vi" deep. For back-fill up around the base of the flagpole, garden plants require six inches but grass only needs near 3 inches. With a string you can brand a guideline and saw the cardboard tube. This tube acts equally a form at the top of the foundation. This will besides allow y'all to plant grass, or other plants effectually the pedestal base of operations.

Nosotros are talking about the critical step of flagpole installation, the foundation. Wind loads are calculated based on the flagpole's butt diameter and wall weight or thickness. Still, this assumes the flagpole is in a sturdy base. We tin tell you what a flagpole is rated for, CLICK HERE (fill out the FLAGPOLE FINDER). But this rating is just as expert as the foundation it sits on. We will show y'all how to determine a proper flagpole base of operations dimension as well every bit how to setup and finish the hole.

Things to keep in mind
when preparing the pigsty

How do you lot figure out what size pigsty you lot demand to dig for the flagpole? How many bags of concrete will you need? How much sand (if you are doing a standard in-footing installation with a corrugated foundation sleeve)? Do you need to worry about electrolysis or galvanic action? Believe it or not, all of these questions need to exist answered before you dig your hole. But we have some clever ways of figuring information technology out.

The flagpole pigsty is beveled (notice the diagram above). This means that the flagpole hole has a different dimension on the top every bit it does on the bottom. The bottom is typically narrower than the elevation. Manufacturer recommends 3" of rock at the bottom of the hole. We did not show this in the video, just it is something we exercise too. Lastly, it is important to dig the hole evenly all the manner around. It volition assist for centering, the pedestal base and for the flexibility while leveling.

Flag Before

Before

Flag After

Later on


Making concrete Foundation

All information technology takes to brand concrete is h2o and physical mix. The all-time manner to mix concrete is in a container shut past the pigsty yous want to fill. In this video, we used a plastic tub, but you can besides utilise a wheelbarrow. It is adequately uncomplicated to mix concrete, nonetheless, merely the right amount of h2o and concrete mix will give you lot a beautiful base which lasts a life-fourth dimension. It is important to use physical. Mortar will not have the bonding agents you need for a sturdy flagpole foundation. Also, use a bucket to measure and command how much water you lot are adding. Employ a written report handled shovel or spade. Wear gloves and other safety gear as necessary.

Information technology is good to start small. Add a fiddling bit of water at a fourth dimension. Equally y'all add the h2o, fold the concrete carefully as to non create too much dust. If the concrete is clumpy, add more water. If there is a layer of water across the meridian, you've added besides much. The rule of pollex is about 5 pounds of h2o to an fourscore pound bag of concrete mix. But this will very on the type of mixture y'all have.

Pouring physical and leveling

Place the foundation in the center of the hole. As nosotros mentioned earlier, you tin can use rocks at the base of the hole to hep for drainage and leveling the foundation sleeve (steel foundation sleeve or PVC foundation sleeve). One time the sleeve is in place, carefully brainstorm pouring physical effectually the sleeve. The more concrete you lot use, the more difficult it will become to level the sleeve. It is of import to go on checking that the sleeve is level. Also be conscientious to non get concrete into the sleeve itself. Getting a little concrete in the sleeve will not ruin the foundation, merely a lot will. Half dozen (six) inches from the ground level, add the sonotube form (or however long you cut the form). You will have to center the sleeve and the class for the pedestal. Heart the form to the sleeve so that the altitude between the form and sleeve is the same all the way around. As well level the sleeve to the ground making sure it is not tilted in the concrete. The form for the pedestal should exist slightly lower than the sleeve. This gives the sleeve a slight lip. When finishing the pedestal, you tin can make a slope from the sleeve to the outside edge. This will permit for water run-off.

Flag leveling
Flag Foundation

Finishing touches

The terminal step is to cover the foundation for prophylactic and to insure the concrete stop stays smoothen. Clean your tools from dirty and more often than not the physical mix. You gotta keep your tools in good working order. Later the foundation is dry, you can tear away the sonotube to reveal your professional pedestal which looks great, protects the flag collar and allows for h2o run-off. Finally, dorsum fill in grass or flowers per the mural.

How to Install a Flagpole: Parts 1 through 7


Receiving the Flagpole (Role 3)

  • Nature of shipping flagpoles
  • How to recieve the flagpole / check for amercement / properly sign cargo credence
  • How to unpack the flagpole safely and without harming the flagpole
  • Tips for flagpole storage

Read more...

Assemble Flagpole (Part 4)

  • Diverse types of flagpole trucks (caster systems)
  • How to find the best truck for you
  • How to find the best ornament (brawl ornament or hawkeye ornamentation)
  • Proper fashion to install the flapgole truck and the ornamentation

Read more than...