Bob Vila Radio: Flag Poles
Not sure about proper flagpole placement and etiquette? Refresh your memory with these tips.
Today is Flag Day, the day we honor the Stars and Stripes. Whatever your politics, this is a good day to fly the flag and remember the “United” part of United States.
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Listen to BOB VILA ON FLAG POLES or read the text below:
You can display a flag flat on a wall, being sure to hang it so the blue field of stars is at top left. But most people want to fly Old Glory from a flagpole. The wall-mounted style is easy to install and usually just involves screwing a metal bracket into the side of your house. Be sure to install it in a place that’s easy to reach, since you’ll need to bring the flag inside overnight unless it’s illuminated, and you’ll want to take it in during inclement weather.
Installing a flagpole in the ground is a bit more ambitious, but it’s a do-it-yourself project if you’re working with a lightweight aluminum flagpole. A typical residential flagpole is 25 feet high and flies a four-by-six-foot flag. Flagpole kits come with instructions on how to embed the base tube into a concrete foundation. The single most important thing is to be sure the base tube is perfectly level and plumb. You don’t want your flagpole to lean! Since you need the concrete to set overnight, this is a weekend project. But if you get started now, you’ll have your flag flying in time for the Fourth of July!
Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 75 stations around the country (and growing). You can get your daily dose here, by listening to—or reading—Bob’s 60-second home improvement radio tip of the day.
