The outside of your home or business is a place of expression –– a chance where you can show the world around you (or at least those who walk or drive by) what you really care about. You might place a flag outside to share your national pride, rep your preferred sports team, or celebrate diversity. Often times, home and business owners will mount flags on their porch beams, but you might also consider installing a flagpole so that you can raise your flag high and proud for the world to see.
If you are considering raising a flagpole in front of your home or business, there are some things to know first about illuminating it, especially if it is an American flag.
In this article, we will look at some different options and considerations when it comes to illuminating your flagpole.
Why light up a flagpole?
You might wonder the point of putting lights onto your flagpole, especially if you are only wanting to display your flag during the day time. However, if you’d like to put up an American flag, there are actually some flag lighting rules and regulations you must follow.The US Flag Code states that the American flag must be properly illuminated during hours of darkness. So, if you are planning to keep your flag up at night, you must have a lighting plan in place.
Also, even if you are not hanging an American flag, you may want to consider obtaining lights for your flagpole to create an ambiance outside of your home at night and showcase your flag any time of day.
How to Light a Flagpole
- From the middle or bottom of the flagpole with flag lights that are installed directly on the pole
- From the base of the flagpole up to the flag with floodlights
- From the top with a pole topper that has built-in lights
- From another area close to the flagpole at an upward angle with spotlights
Chances are if you have installed a flagpole in front of your home or business, it has been placed in the grass. In this instance, you want to think about illuminating your flagpole from the base upward, so that you create a visual appeal that starts at the bottom and goes all the way to the top.
While you are not required to illuminate the entire flagpole to meet the requirements of the flag code, it is often the best option visually and functionally. But remember, it’s definitely not the only option!
Type of lighting
There are many different choices available when it comes to choosing the type of lighting for your flag.First of all, you should decide if you would like colored lights or white lights. For something like an American flag, you may want to pick a plain type of light so as not to distort the colors on the flag. But if you are more flexible with the flag presentation, or would like to add some fun flair to your flagpole, you may want to look into getting some colorful lights to accent it.
Apart from choosing a color or white light, you can also opt for traditional or solar lighting as well. For a flagpole, solar lights can be much more convenient, as you do not have to arrange to run cords out in your yard, and they last a long time without needing to be replaced.
Brightness
From there, consider how much brightness you will require for your flag.Generally speaking, you will probably want a light of at least 35 watts in order to adequately showcase your flag, but that may vary depending on the natural light and street illumination in your neighborhood.
You will likely need two or three lights to adequately light up the flag and pole from the necessary angles and directions.
Placement of lighting
For many people, the easiest option is to install lights directly onto the flagpole, as this does the best job of illuminating the flag itself.If not mounted directly on the flagpole, place lights, such as floodlights, about 10 to 12 inches or so away from the base. You may have to adjust the beam directions in order to make sure you are illuminating al the right parts.
Other Options
Don’t be afraid to deviate from the norm when illuminating your flagpole, either.- Consider other creative options such as forming a raised up rock bed around the flag and placing lights on those rocks, for example.
- Another option includes installing spotlights a further distance away from the base and pointing the light up at the flag for a more dramatic angle.
- Another possibility is to buy a light-up disc that can be installed directly on the top of the flagpole. Tighten it on, and light up the flag from the top, down.
If you aren’t sure what the best look for your flagpole is, consider talking to your neighbors or other community members to find out what has worked well for them in order to get some other ideas. Look around at other displays
Light up your flag pole in style
There are many different reasons why people install flagpoles in front of their homes and businesses. No matter what your motivation is, it’s a good idea to examine all of the options before picking your illumination strategy.For American flags specifically, you also want to make sure you are following the flagpole lighting rules by making sure it is illuminated at all hours.
Whether you opt for colored or plain lights, pre-installed or DIY, electric or solar, or any other setup you invent, you’ll be sure to add curb appeal and make your yard beautiful with an illuminated flagpole.
We here at Outdoor Solar Store want to help make your vision a reality –– shop our selection of solar flag lights, and start creating an artistic and proud masterpiece right in your own front yard.
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Ray E Tims