pole installation directions

[VPNNM]

Hello all. I have a new sectional residential flag pole. (Mine is 30 foot, 2"diam, 10 gauge metal). It came with a 14" plastic sleeve for installation, but no instructions. Here's what I plan to do. Dig the hole, pound in a few pieces of rebar, fill the bottom with couple inches of gravel, place sleeve in center, level it vertically, pour cement around the sleeve, just to the top of the sleeve.

Three questions for you engineers out there:
1. Is my installation method correct?
2. Is the sleeve provided the correct length?
3. Do I dig a hole the depth of the gravel layer + sleeve length (16")?

thanks for your help.
Kathy, VPNNM

[NAVA1974]

Kathy,
In my opinion a 16 inch sleeve is much too short for a 30 foot flag pole. Personally I would call it a 27 foot flagpole and embed the bottom three feet into the ground. If you have good, solid soil, then you can use a post hole digger to get your 36 inch depth, place the pole in it, then you place a 16 inch deep concrete foundation around the sleeve (like a 'collar' at ground line.) Better yet, visit a full-time flag shop and ask them how best to install a flag pole in your area - they should be familiar with local building codes, wind loads, etc.

In any case, make sure your sleeve and pole are perfectly plumb before you start mixing your concrete.

Nick

[Robin Hickman]

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Hi, Kathy !


Glad to see you're doing OK !

BTW: I posted a reply to your "rain" question over in the "Two flags same Pole" thread. My reply is at the start of page two :

http://www.usa-flag-site.org/forum/two-flags-same-pole-3011.html


I agree with Nick. It is MUCH better to "OVER-build" the flagpole's "foundation" than to "under-build" it !


I "Googled" Flagpole installation (2 separate words without using quotation marks).

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=flagpole+installation


Google returned over 320,000 pages !!!

Like THESE !!!

http://www.united-states-flag.com/flagpole-installation-instructions.html

http://www.americanflagstore.com/install.htm

http://www.embassyflag.com/installpatio.htm

http://www.ehow.com/how_993_install-flagpole.html

http://www.badgerlandflags.com/library/flagpole-installation.aspx

http://www.quinnflags.com/flagpoleInstallation.asp


Some are more complete than others and I'm sure that there are a LOT of repeats. BUT . . . . . At least it will give you a "start" on the process !!!


IF..... you choose to take Nick's advice about contacting a local company, you might try Jim's Flag Sales in Albany. He/They are somewhat close by to you and he/they sell flagpoles, so they probably know a thing or two about properly installing a flagpole. (I've never done business with him/them so I can NOT vouch for him/them.) Also, you could always check the phone book to see if there are any other "flag folks" in your area.


Let us all know how it goes !


Robin Hickman
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