We’ve all seen them- poorly installed avenue banners. With a droopy kind of look, they are quite unsightly and worse, they could be unsafe!
With experience installing thousands of lamp post banners, the Street Pole Banner Company has come up with this quick guide on street pole banner installation.
Note: this article does not go over using the banding or banding tools. As there are many different types of banding, this article scope will be limited to the process of installation of the banner. At the Street Pole Banner Company, we sell Stainless Steel HD banding and High Torque Banding. Instructions on how to use these two types of banding can be found here.
There are two main types of banner brackets: adjustable and fixed. Though all street pole banner brackets are different, they fall into these two categories. Below you will find general steps on how to install each kind. Keep in mind your banner brackets may be different and you should always follow your bracket manufacture’s instruction for installation. The Street Pole Banner Company is proud to sell the Jr Windspill Banner Bracket, the strongest and easiest bracket to use on the market
How to Install Fixed Street Pole Banner Brackets (non adjustable)
- Understand what type of lamp post you have. Is it tapered? Is it octagonal, round, square? Some lamp post banner brackets work batter with certain types of poles. The Jr Windspill banner brackets, sold here, are compatible with all pole types and sizes. As general rules:
- The size of the backplate should be smaller than the surface you’re looking to band to. If it wider, you will run into issues tightening your banding sufficiently.
- If your pole is too tapered (or you’re planning to put the banner very high on the lamp post where the taper is very pronounced), the banner brackets may not sit properly on the lamp post, this will have an affect on the look of your banner. Try to ensure the top and bottom arm are roughly in the same position and only is not more “in” or “out” due to tapering.
- Determine your desired banner height.
- For paths or walkways where vehicle traffic is not a concern, place the bottom bracket high enough for vandals to be deterred, but low enough for maximum visibility. We recommend 8’ above grade
- For local arterial roads, you need to ensure the banner bracket will not be hit by trucks and busses. This minimum height will need to be determined by your local authorities and will be dictated by proximity of the lamp post to the road and also the types of vehicles allowed on the road. On normal arterial roads, we generally install the bottom bracket at 12’ from grade.
- For fixed street pole banner brackets, the process is quite simple. Once your banner arm height is determined, start with the top arm by placing your bracket against the lamp post and either use bungee cord or duct tape to temporarily hold the bracket against the lamp post. Be sure you’re using the correct arm (some banner brackets have specific top and bottom arms) or in the case of the Jr Windspill, ensure the banner zip tie connection hole is where the banner will be.
- Use your banding to band the top and bottom channels. Ensure the band is tight as you will be pulling on it later
- Slide your banner onto the top bracket and let it hang down. This is the best way to ensure that you are setting up your brackets to the right size. Sometimes there are size variations in the banner manufacturing and thus it is important to install each banner as per the size it actually is instead of relying on the size it is “supposed to be”.
- Side the bottom bracket into the hanging street banner, pull it tight and place it against lamp post.
- Loosely Band the bottom bracket (ensuring it is facing the right direction). You do not need duct tape for this bracket as the position will be held slightly by the hanging banner. Once the banding is loosely installed, use a rubber mallet to hammer the bracket down the pole along with your arm strength to pull the bracket as low as possible. You are trying to get the banner as tight as possible. You will notice, with the Jr Windspills, the banner arm starting to flex a bit and the camber of the rods to slowly straighten out. You are trying to achieve a tight banner with the arms becoming completely straight.
- Once you have achieved sufficient banner tightness, tighten the bottom bands. You may need to do this one at a time between pulling on the banner
- Zip tie the grommets to the banner bracket to ensure the banner doesn’t slide off the poles
- Double check all of your bands are at maximum tightness.
How to Install Adjustable Street Pole Banner Brackets
- Understand what type of lamp post you have. Is it tapered? Is it octagonal, round, square? Some lamp post banner brackets work batter with certain types of poles. The Jr Windspill banner brackets, sold here, are compatible with all pole types and sizes. As general rules
- The size of the backplate should be smaller than the surface you’re looking to band to. If it wider, you will run into issues tightening your banding sufficiently.
- If your pole is too tapered (or you’re planning to put the banner very high on the lamp post where the taper is very pronounced), the banner brackets may not sit properly on the lamp post, this will have an affect on the look of your banner. Try to ensure the top and bottom arm are roughly in the same position and only is not more “in” or “out” due to tapering.
- Determine your desired banner height.
- For paths or walkways where vehicle traffic is not a concern, place the bottom bracket high enough for vandals to be deterred, but low enough for maximum visibility. We recommend 8’ above grade
- For local arterial roads, you need to ensure the banner bracket will not be hit by trucks and busses. This minimum height will need to be determined by your local authorities and will be dictated by proximity of the lamp post to the road and also the types of vehicles allowed on the road. On normal arterial roads, we generally install the bottom bracket at 12’ from grade.
- For adjustable street pole banner brackets, the process is quite simple as you are not trying to install a bracket with a large arm in your face (as it is with fixed brackets). Once your banner arm height is determined, start with the top arm back casting by placing your casting against the lamp post and either use bungee cord or duct tape to temporarily hold the casting against the lamp post.
- Use your banding to band the top and bottom channels. Ensure the band is tight as you will be pulling on it later
- Fasten the top arm onto the casting you have just installed. Be sure you’re using the correct arm (some banner brackets have specific top and bottom arms) or in the case of the Jr Windspill, ensure the banner zip tie connection hole is where the banner will be.
- Slide your banner onto the top bracket and let it hang down. This is the best way to ensure that you are setting up your brackets to the right size. Sometimes there are size variations in the banner manufacturing and thus it is important to install each banner as per the size it actually is instead of relying on the size it is “supposed to be”.
- Determine where the bottom casting should be placed based on where the banner lands against the lamp post. Mark this location with chalk. Don’t worry, you will be able to tighten the banner afterwards as your brackets are adjustable
- Use duct tape against to place the bottom bracket onto the lamp post where your chalk mark is. Band the bottom casting
- Slide the banner onto the bottom arm and then fasten the arm onto the installed bottom casting. You may notice the banner looking a bit loose
- Loosen the nuts on the bottom casting and use a rubber mallet to hammer the bracket arm down the fixed in place casting. Use your your arm strength, if needed, to pull the arm as low as possible. You are trying to get the banner as tight as possible. You will notice, with the Jr Windspills, the banner arm starting to flex a bit and the camber of the rods to slowly straighten out. You are trying to achieve a tight banner with the arms becoming completely straight. Pro tip: tie the top nut first to hold the bracket in place and pull the arm down and tie the bottom nut second
- If needed, do the same on the top arm. Keep in mind you will be pulling up on the top arm rather than down when trying to make the banner tighter.
- Once you have achieved sufficient banner tightness, zip tie the grommets to the banner bracket to ensure the banner doesn’t slide off the poles
- Double check all of your bands are at maximum tightness.
