The Ways to Keep a Flag From Getting Caught on a Roof

Placement

• One of the easiest ways to keep a flag from getting caught on a roof is to carefully consider the flag's placement. Installing a flag pole just a few feet from your home will present a problem if the roof design and flag pole height allow the flag to come close to the roof. Even if you measure adequate clearance, the flag itself may hang down closer to the roof when there is no wind, or the pole may bend during high wind, allowing the flag to catch on the roof.

Roof-Mounted Poles

• If you don't have space to place a flag pole far enough away from your home to fully clear the roof, a roof-mounted pole is another possible solution. This type of flag pole mounts on your roof itself, elevating the flag to a position where it can fly freely. Measure your flag diagonally and select a pole that is taller than this measurement to ensure that the flag can't touch the roof even when it's hanging down at rest.

Wire

• In some cases you may not be able to isolate your flag where it has adequate clearance around it in all directions to prevent it from catching on a roof. This is where wiring the flag in a specific position can help. Placing a strong, thin wire along the top of the flag and anchoring it to the flag pole can keep the flag pointed in one direction regardless of wind conditions. A second wire along the bottom will keep the flag permanently open and visible, though this may look unnatural in some weather.

Flag Size

• Changing the size of your flag is another way of keeping it from catching on a roof. This is a solution if your placement options for the flag pole are limited and your roof presents a challenge with its many angles, or is very close to a neighbor's roof. A smaller flag won't be as visible from the ground, but it will require less space to stay off the roof. Measuring your flag pole site before investing in a flag can save money and help you avoid the effort it will take to keep a flag that's too large from catching on the roof.