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How to Attach Flagpoles to Railings

Amanda Bell

The size and mounting method of a flagpole bracket makes it unusable for thin railing as well as vinyl and metal constructions. Clamp-style mounts offer an adjustable solution, fitting securely around porch handrails of any material without requiring that you drill holes in the railing. But when you have a wood corner post or handrail thick enough to support a bracket, screw-on mounting brackets offer a more streamlined look when compared to a clamp. Both products are available in various finishes, including basic metal, decorative bronze and brass along with other colors and finishes.

Clamp-Style Mount

A railing mount lowers the flag display so that it fits the scale of a covered porch.

Step 1

Unscrew the knob or nut from the threaded bolt with your hand or a crescent wrench. If the bolt has a nut, loosen it with a wrench and then finish unscrewing it by hand. Set it aside.

Step 2

Position the clamp so that the pole mount is facing in the direction you want the flag to hang. On a front porch, the slanted angle of the pole mount will likely point toward your front yard.

Step 3

Center the clamp on the hand rail and angle it as desired. Push the top plate down toward the bottom plate so that the front threaded bolt slides through the open hole on the bottom plate.

Step 4

Twist the knob or nut on the bottom of the bolt. Tighten it by hand just enough so that the mount stays in place without support, but not so much as to limit adjustments.

Step 5

Insert the flagpole into the holder. Adjust the clamp-style mount until the flag is angled as desired. Have a friend or family member stand several feet in front of the flag to suggest angling adjustments. When you’re satisfied with the position, tighten the knob or nut to hold the mount in position. Tighten nuts with a crescent wrench for a secure fit.

Bracket Mount

Step 1

Calculate the height of the bracket hardware’s mounting plate and use that to find the desired center point of the mounting area on the corner post, column or handrail of your railing. Mark the position with a pencil. Measure up and down from this point half the height of the bracket plate and mark the wood. This creates an outline for the bracket by noting the top and bottom edge of the hardware.

Step 2

Place the bracket against the railing, lining the top and bottom edges up with the top and bottom guide marks. Hold a level against the railing, aligning the bottom of the level with the top edge of the bracket. Adjust the bracket until level and mark the positions for the screw holes.

Step 3

Set the bracket aside and drill pilot holes with a drill bit one size smaller than the screws provided with the bracket. Hold the bracket against the railing, lining the holes on the plate up with the pilot holes. Secure the bracket to the railing with the provided screws and insert the flag into the flagpole holder.