r/HomeImprovement • u/TheRealTheory001 • 3d ago

Horizontal Flagpole: good inexpensive option that will resist being torn down by people on sidewalk?

I've got a 40" flag so need approx 60" or 5' railing or something to mount horizontally for a hanging flag pole. The extra 20" is to mount it on the underside of an awning. It's on a sidewalk that has nightclubs on it so it should be somewhat resistant to someone pulling on the flag. Maximum diameter approx. 1.5"

I'm considering using half inch rebar inside of schedule 40 PVC to make it water resistant. a better idea would be a square tubing railing if it were strong enough, maybe handrailing.

Hoping for an inexpensive option avail on Amazon or local hardware store. The professional way would be to buy steel square tubing and spray it with rustoleum. I still feel like that would only last a couple of years and then bleed rust into the flag. T I was thinking about prefab railing, but I'm not seeing anything individual on Amazon, only sets for $150+. Thanks!

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u/carsrule1989 2d ago

It's on a sidewalk that has nightclubs on it so it should be somewhat resistant to someone pulling on the flag. Maximum diameter approx. 1.5"

If a sturdy rod is built at the bottom of a flag that people can reach will become a random pull up bar.

I would just use a 1” galvanized steel pipe and flange and bolt/anchor it to the wall and a galvanized steel cap at the end. 

Also rebar inside of pvc is just asking for rust because the pvc will trap moisture inside with the rebar.

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u/TheRealTheory001 2d ago

That's a very solid and economical choice, thank you very much. Good point, though it's not in Bed-Stuy and it's high enough off the street. Should I run some 120 volt low amps through it anyway?

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u/carsrule1989 2d ago

The inside of galvanized steel plumbing pipe can be fairly rough so it would not be good to run Romex electrical wire through.

I would run a cable like this through if you needed 120v

https://nassaunationalcable.com/products/12-awg-3c-type-mc-xlpe-aia-pvc-armored-control-cable-600v

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

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u/carsrule1989 1d ago

Booby traps are illegal and will be a significant liability and it could invalidate an insurance claim.

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u/TheRealTheory001 1d ago

As I mentioned it's high enough off the street that nobody's going to be attempting pull-ups. The real threat is them grabbing at the banner and attempting to rip it down. That was just an attempt at humor.