How to put up a feather flag
Choosing a base for grass, hard ground or a car park, assembling the pole and sleeve, tensioning the flag, and when to bring flags in.
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How to put up a feather flag comes down to the base: fix the right base to the ground first, build the pole into it, then slide the printed sleeve over the pole and pull it tight at the bottom. The flag itself takes a few minutes. Choosing and placing the base is where most of the thought goes, because a flag that falls over in a gust is a hazard as well as a waste.
The same method works for teardrop flags and crest flags. Only the shape of the pole top and sleeve changes.
Pick the base before anything else #
Before you think about how to put up a feather flag, look at the ground it will stand on. Our flags can be ordered with a base, and you can buy extra or replacement bases on their own from flag bases and ground spikes (from £42.70). The bases listed there are:
| Base | Ground | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Ground Spike | Grass, soil | Pushed or tapped into soft ground. |
| Budget Ground Spike | Grass, soil | A lower cost spike for occasional or short-term use. |
| Large Cross Base | Hard ground, indoors | Flat legs that spread the load on tarmac, paving or hall floors. |
| Small Square Base | Hard ground, indoors | A compact flat base for smaller flags and sheltered spots. |
| Small Water Base | Hard ground | Filled with water on site to add weight, emptied to carry. |
| Large Water Base | Hard ground | More weight for taller flags and more open spots. |
| Drive on Car Base | Car parks, forecourts | A plate that sits under a vehicle wheel, so the car holds it down. |
As a rule of thumb, the taller the flag and the more open the site, the heavier the base you want. Feather flags come in four heights: 8 ft 6 in (2600 mm), 10 ft 6 in (3200 mm), 13 ft 1 in (4000 mm) and 16 ft 1 in (4900 mm). A 16 ft flag on a light base on a windy forecourt is asking for trouble.
What you need #
- The printed flag sleeve, the pole sections and the base.
- A rubber mallet for ground spikes in firm soil (never a metal hammer on the spike head).
- Water, for water bases, and something to carry it in.
- A clean, dry area to lay the flag out, and a second person for the taller sizes.
How to put up a feather flag step by step #
- Place and fix the base. For a ground spike, push it in upright until only the fitting stands clear of the grass. For a cross or square base, open it fully on flat ground. Fill a water base where it will stand, because a full one is heavy to move.
- Assemble the pole. Lay the sections out in order and join them fully. The thinnest, most flexible section goes at the top, where the curve of the feather is formed.
- Slide on the sleeve. Feed the top of the pole into the sewn pocket along the edge of the flag and work the sleeve down the pole, gathering it as you go. Do not force it, or you risk tearing the stitching at the tip.
- Seat the tip. Push the pole tip right into the end of the pocket so the flag takes its curved shape. The top should look smooth, not creased.
- Tension the bottom. Pull the bottom of the sleeve down and attach it to the fixing at the base of the pole, usually a cord, hook or clip. The flag should be taut along the pole without bending it into an extreme curve.
- Stand it on the base. Lift the pole upright and fit the bottom into the base. Check it sits fully home and the flag can turn freely if your base allows it.
- Check it from the road. Step back to where drivers and passers-by will see it. Make sure it is upright, readable, and not leaning over a path or blocking a sight line at a junction or exit.
How to put up a feather flag on hard ground
You cannot use a spike on tarmac or paving, so choose a cross, square or water base, or a drive-on car base if the flag stands next to a parked vehicle. Keep flags out of spaces where cars manoeuvre, and never put a drive-on base where someone might drive off with the flag still on it.
Wind: when to bring flags in #
Flags are made to move, but every base has a limit. Bring them in overnight, and take them down when strong winds are forecast; the Met Office publishes weather warnings by region. A flag that has fallen once will fall again in the same spot, so move it somewhere more sheltered or use a heavier base. Knowing how to put up a feather flag well includes knowing when to leave it down.
Also check the base after rain. Ground spikes can loosen in soft, wet soil, and a water base that has sprung a slow leak loses the weight that holds it down.
Where you can put them #
A flag on your own forecourt or at your event is usually straightforward, but flags visible from the road count as outdoor advertisements under the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007. Many can go up without an application; check with your local council if you are unsure, and do not place flags on the pavement or verge without permission.
Taking down and storing your flags #
Once you know how to put up a feather flag, packing away is the reverse: unclip the bottom, lift the pole out of the base, slide the sleeve off from the bottom, and separate the pole sections. If the flag is wet, hang it to dry fully before folding or rolling it, or it can mark and smell. Empty water bases before moving them. Keep poles, sleeve and base together in one bag or box so nothing goes missing between events. Our guide on how to store banners covers flags too.
If you are still choosing, our comparison of a banner, roller banner or flag explains which suits your space, and the full flags range shows every size and shape.
Still not sure which base? #
Tell us where the flags will stand and how long for, and we will suggest a base. Call 0161 315 1151 or use the contact form. Feather flags dispatch in 6 working days on standard (4 on express, 8 on saver) after your order and artwork are confirmed.
