Having worked in the flagpoles and flags industry for a few seasons now, I've come to realize that there are many flagpole searching customers out there that are overwhelmed by the numerous flagpole choices made available by flagpole suppliers. This article was written to provide flagpole searching customers some general information on the various available types of flagpoles, thus helping them on their way to choose the "perfect" flagpole.
Commonly, customers have can choose from three different types of flagpoles: aluminum flagpoles, fiberglass flagpoles and landmark flagpoles.
Aluminum is a relatively light but strong material. Aluminum flagpoles are manufactured using the industry's most advanced manufacturing process. An interesting advantage to aluminum flagpoles is that they're completely maintenance free.
In comparison to aluminum, fiberglass is an even lighter material. Flagpoles manufactured out of fiberglass don't corrode or rust. Another advantage is that fiberglass is a "non-conducting" material.
Landmark flagpoles are made out of steel. Those that tend to choose landmark flagpoles usually do so because they want to make a bold patriotic statement that puts their flagpole on the map. :) The sleek and tapered look adds refinement to these giant flagpoles, which range from 100 feet to 400 feet or more. Ground set for extra protection, these poles usually are supplied with a gold anodized ball ornament, a flash collar, and a big U.S. flag.
Various finishes are usually available for flagpoles. For aluminum flagpoles both the satin finish and anodized finish seems to be the most popular. The satin finish is a highly polished finish with a fine grain aluminum oxide cloth resulting in high quality, deep satin finish. The anodized finish provides the aluminum pole with a protective coating. This particular coating protects aluminum flagpoles against abrasions and is usually available in different colors. The power paint finish is rated at more than a fifteen year life expectancy and is usually recommended when custom colors are needed on aluminum flagpoles.
Choosing a flag for a flagpole is considered by many the "easy part." There truly is an art and science to choosing the right flagpoles for your homes and businesses.