This picture may be of a local Oklahoma City resident, but we find this to be the case everywhere. Cities, towns, businesses, and homes often have a flagpole with some obstacles for the flag to fly. These obstacles, like tree branches, will eat your flag up. But what are your options? And why would someone put a flagpole up where there are obviously tree branch issues?

Let's answer the second (easier) question. When you put a flagpole up, word to the wise, think long-term. Landscapes changes, landowners change, small plants turn into 12 ft tall hedge lines. It is easy for a tree to overtake a flagpole. It may seem like common since, but no one knows what will happen 30, 40 or even 50 years from now. With aluminum flagpoles, it can be difficult to determine how long the flagpole has been standing in the first place.

So, let's say you move into a place with a flagpole in the trees. You probably don't want to fly a flag on it because it wont last a week. So what do you do? Depending on the flagpole, you can always move it. Most residential flagpoles come with a PVC ground sleeve. These plastic sleeves are cheap. If you have a slip-fit sleeve, there will be no sand between the pole and sleeve and you should be able to pull the pole straight out with a helper or two. If there is sand, you'll have to remove it with a dry-vac. If you have a steel sleeve, you'll also have to remove the sand and/or wedges. Moving the pole is inexpensive, if you can donate a weekend and roll up your sleeves.

Find a foundation sleeve

This entry was posted by Wes Alexander in Flag of the Day on April 30, 2012 at 8:54 AM. It has received 222 views and 0 Comments. Print this entry.