[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

[sarahw]

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)