A Complete Guide for Commercial Flagpole Installation

Published on
April 26, 2022 at 8:08:44 AM PDT April 26, 2022 at 8:08:44 AM PDTth, April 26, 2022 at 8:08:44 AM PDT

Commercial flagpole installation needn’t be a daunting task if you have professionals or skilled friends on your side. Here is a list of steps you should take to have the Stars and Stripes fly high in front of your home. 

Basic Steps Before the Commercial Flagpole Installation 

First, think one more time about the location where the flag will be displayed. What is the soil like? Once the flagpole is erected, is it going to obstruct any trees or power lines perhaps? Speaking of which, think about the underground power lines too. 

Then, check the flagpole. Are there any damages or finish flaws? Do you notice any variations that shouldn’t be there? This inspection is very important because once installed, the multi-piece shafts are usually not uninstalled. 

Next, the surface and the edge of the jam sleeve section should be clean and nick-free. 

Commercial Flagpole Installation Instructions 

Part 1: Make a Proper Foundation Hole
 

First off, you will need to dig a hole. The height/depth of the foundation hole should be identical to the ground sleeve minus 1”. As for the diameter, the rule of thumb says it should be five times bigger than the flagpole diameter. 

Pour the loose gravel to fill the base of the hole. 

Take a level that fits the inside of the ground sleeve. 

Place the ground sleeve right in the center of the hole. You can use the level to check for the exact center of the hole. The height of the ground sleeve should go over the ground level at least 1 inch (maximum 2”). 

Once you have covered the sleeve opening, you can mix the concrete and pour it around the ground sleeve. While pouring, it is essential to keep the bottom of the ground sleeve still, so it doesn’t move from the gravel. As for the other parts, they can move a little while doing this. 

How much concrete will you need? That depends on the size of the hole, of course, but generally, you should mix one 80 lb. bag of cement at a time so you can notice more easily if you need more cement or not. Also, you can always return the extra material you didn’t use. 

While you are filling the hole with concrete, stop from time to time to inspect the plumb of the ground sleeve. Once you reach about 2” from the top of the ground hole, go ahead and slide the level inside the sleeve to see if it is plumb or not. By the way, the inside of the tube should remain dry throughout this entire process. 

Now, place the level against the inner wall of the sleeve. Do this by only leaning the top, and do not allow the bottom of the sleeve to move. 

Plumb one position. Then, plumb again when you move the level 45°. Continue doing so until you are 100% positive it is straight up. 

Finally, allow the concrete to harden. You can leave it to cure overnight if that is what the manufacturer recommends. On the other hand, if you have the conditions for it, you can finish the whole process in a single day. 

Part 2: How to Install a Flagpole? 

Now it’s time you erected the flagpole, i.e. placed it into the sleeve, and cover the hole completely. 

Depending on the flagpole size and your budget, you can hire a flagpole installation company, which will send over their truck and a pulley for the purpose. In that case, all you should do is supervise.
 

If you choose to do it on your own (with a few helping hands), place the flash collar onto the flagpole bottom. Push it upwards several feet so it doesn’t bother you later when you insert the pole into the ground. Then, move the butt of the pole near the opening of the sleeve. Remove the mentioned paper, hold the butt of the pole over the sleeve opening, and ask the people helping you to start raising the pole from the top end. Try to insert the flagpole butt into the sleeve as the opposite end is being lifted. 

The whole process should be done with great caution so no one could risk getting injured. 

Once you have the flagpole safely installed into the sleeve, it’s time to plumb the flagpole with a bit of sand and a level. 

One of your helpers should hold the level against the pole and plumb it on two axes to achieve the perfect balance. Check the levels on the axes constantly as you are slowly adding the sand.   

The final big checkup is when you have filled the ground sleeve at about ½” of the top. At this point, we recommend adding a layer of sealant around the pole and over the sand. This way, you will prevent any water from getting into the sleeve and damaging the installation. 

 
If you are looking for premium quality flagpoles, explore our Majestic™ Commercial Grade Aluminum Flagpole. We are here to help! For any questions about our Flagpoles or American flags, please reach out to us using our Contact us form.