[EmailPoster]

Gentlemen,...

Originally Posted by goldjones7

Gentlemen, please add a page that clarifies the correct size of a flag when flown upon differing sizes of flag poles. I have seen flags too large for the pole supporting it and the flags was just two feet above the ground with no breeze.

Fred Jones

You make a good point, Fred.

A lot of people just want to put out the biggest flag they can, even if it's a much larger flag than should go on the pole they have purchased. It is not a sign that you are more patriotic just because you have the biggest flag on the block, especially if the flag is almost dragging the ground.

A good rule of thumb when buying your flag is to select a flag that is about a quarter of the length of your flagpole's height. So if your flagpole is 20 feet high, a five-foot flag would be appropriate.

Of course most individuals don't have flagpoles that tall, so they should buy a three-foot by five-foot flag or a four-foot by six-foot flag if their pole is a little taller.

Thanks for your comment!

Sarah

[mknowlan]

That is a good question. You also want to make sure that the flagpole is designed to withstand the winds that are in your area. You can see the different American Flag and Flagpole wind load ratings.

Click here to go to their site

[coasterville]

Very good point given the winds we just experienced in Ohio last month. We are used to the occasional tornado but sustained 75mph winds was a new one on us. I was at the local flag store last week and while chatting it up with the owner I had asked if they had a rush on people replacing wind beaten flags (which was my main purpose for being there), and they responded that they are in the in-ground flagpole business and that they were much busier with repairs or replacements to tall poles that did not stand up to that kind of punishment.

Of course if a person was researching prevailing winds in our area, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have planned for such strong winds either.

And yes, bigger is not always better. It's all about proportion, usually you can look at a flagpole and if the flag 'looks' too large or too small, it probably is. The various major flag makers also publish guidelines on the matter. I really like the spinning poles myself for home display and they are self governing in that matter, the spinning portion of the pole is only 40" long which means you can't go larger than the 3x5 (given traditional sizes)

[Cimerron]

I sell flagpoles for a living and the above statement of having your flag one quarter the height of the pole is correct. A 20 foot pole would look best with a 5 x8 flag on it or a 4 x 6 if you didn't want to spend the bucks for the bigger one.
Most people tend to leave their flags up all the time with a light on it at night but this just wears the flag out faster. It's best to take the flag in at night and by all means take it down if there's a storm coming.
A wet flag weighs a lot more than a dry one and the extra wight makes for increased strain on the flag and the pole especially in winds higher than 30 MPH. After 45 to 50 MPH if your flag is still flying you will probably be looking for a new pole after the storm. Pete

[NAVA1974]

Hey, Pete. You stated "Most people tend to leave their flags up all the time with a light on it at night but this just wears the flag out faster." That reminds me of the time that Dr. Whitney Smith called a flagpole "a flag-eating machine" and wondered why flagmakers did not give poles away because it would increase thier sales of flags. Of course, when you consider the cost of a good flag pole you would have to sell quite a few replacement flags to cover that cost.

[Cimerron]

That's funny. Never heard that before but it's the truth.
As for the cost of a flagpole you'd be surprised at how inexpensive they are anymore. I sell a good quality pole made in Massachusettes of heavy aircraft grade aluminum that almost anyone can afford. The 16 footer I sell for $175 with a sewn flag and a 20 footer I sell for $195 without a flag. That's the way the manufacturer sends them out. I don't sell a lot of the 20 footers but the 16 sells very well here.
Of course you can get into expensive poles and the higher they go the more they cost. A 50 footer costs me $1800 and thats before shipping and installation. Another company makes a pole 220 feet tall that weighs 35,000 pounds and it's made to order. No price given but you can imagine the cost plus shipping and then the installation which would require a pretty large crane. This would really be something to see and I don't imagine they sell many of them although I'll bet Donald Trump would want one. Ha! Pete