DIY building advice needed

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heavyusr

83 posts

Master Geek

#112690 17-Dec-2012 16:24

Mate of mine wants to place a flag pole outside his shop similiar to the image below (same height and base). He doesn't want to use a vehicle to hold the base down but wants to use concrete blocks

Are single concrete blocks sold at placemakers and how many would be needed to hold the base down in heavy wind?

If anyone has other ideas to hold down the base (including using wood, cement) please do share.

sleepy

326 posts

Ultimate Geek

#733709 17-Dec-2012 16:29

Would possibly be better with a hole drilled into concrete that pole just slides into

Stands may blow over

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ubergeeknz

3344 posts

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Vocus

#733710 17-Dec-2012 16:29

Concrete blocks may not be heavy enough in a strong wind.

I'd go for putting dynabolts into the concrete, assuming that's an option. Easy and very secure.

edit: Oh, or just a hole with a pipe in ;) good thinking!

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

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#733711 17-Dec-2012 16:31

sleepy: Would possibly be better with a hole drilled into concrete that pole just slides into

Stands may blow over

+1 having worked for a few companies with promotional flags of varying types. A concrete block big enough to not worry about moderate wind with big gusts is too heavy to be useful unless you will never move it (in which case just drill a hole in the concrete anyway).

MushroomsNZ

14 posts

Geek

#733716 17-Dec-2012 16:37

How about a concrete sun umbrella stand?

Edit: By that I mean use the stand to hold the flag pole.

mattwnz

19389 posts

Uber Geek

#733718 17-Dec-2012 16:40

How about a 10 litre paint bucket filled with concrete, or something else with a handle. Concrete blocks are quire expensive for this purpose

wellygary

7384 posts

Uber Geek

#733719 17-Dec-2012 16:41

If he owns/leases the space then just dynabolt the steel base to the ground and drop the flag in to the base each morning,

Just make sure its on his land and not on the public foot path, otherwise he will get a very nasty visit from the council..

chevrolux

4962 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#733753 17-Dec-2012 17:32

wellygary: If he owns/leases the space then just dynabolt the steel base to the ground and drop the flag in to the base each morning,

Just make sure its on his land and not on the public foot path, otherwise he will get a very nasty visit from the council..

Yea i would say that is by far the easiest option. And gives the smallest foot print. No risk of driving in to a massive concrete block.

mattwnz

19389 posts

Uber Geek

#733754 17-Dec-2012 17:34

[

But more dangeous tripping over a bolt in the ground if the pole is removed eachtime. OSH problems I think.

Dingbatt

6421 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#733755 17-Dec-2012 17:34

The car in the picture will be putting about 200kg onto that baseplate. A concrete block maybe 8kg? A 10litre paint pail full of water 10 and a bit kg? If you can't secure it to the ground then maybe a 25kg bag (or two) of sand. A sandbag has the benefit of not falling off the baseplate if it does start to tip.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

chevrolux

4962 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#733847 17-Dec-2012 19:50

mattwnz: [

But more dangeous tripping over a bolt in the ground if the pole is removed eachtime. OSH problems I think.

Wrap it with tissue paper then.

.....Surely it can't be an issue. I am actually started to wonder how I survived this long in life. growing up on a farm, playing with the electic fence, building tree huts etc. Really glad OSH has my back now...

Bung

5444 posts

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#733879 17-Dec-2012 20:21

Dingbatt: The car in the picture will be putting about 200kg onto that baseplate. A concrete block maybe 8kg? A 10litre paint pail full of water 10 and a bit kg? If you can't secure it to the ground then maybe a 25kg bag (or two) of sand. A sandbag has the benefit of not falling off the baseplate if it does start to tip.

The car in the picture weighs around 2000kg so maybe approx 500kg on each wheel (as if each wheel acted alone ).

You would want to be sure about any underground services before boring a hole into the ground.

Niel

3267 posts

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#733915 17-Dec-2012 21:15

MushroomsNZ: How about a concrete sun umbrella stand?

Umbrella gets folded down in strong wind, or the pole might first go through a hole in a table which has leverage to keep it up.

You can never have enough Volvos!