Aluminum flagpoles are preferred by many since they take the least amount of money from your pocket. They are also very lightweight and require virtually no maintenance. Aluminum is perhaps the most practical of all the materials to choose from. It's quite durable and looks good with any flag flying from it.

Choosing Your Color

When we think of aluminum, most of us tend to think of a shiny silver soda can. Yes, that is aluminum. However, when it comes to flagpoles, you aren't stuck with just that one look. If you want the basic silver shine, it's called satin. It's the look you get right after the pole has gone through 120-grit polish. After that, different chemical coatings can be applied to achieve other colors.

You can get natural, if you like. This is similar to satin but a little duller. You can also get dark bronze, perfect for more formal looks, or black. The chemical coating bonds to the aluminum at a molecular level as opposed to just the surface so you don't have to worry about it peeling off in time. Make sure the coating is rustproof or you could end up getting a new pole every few years.

You also might want to look for companies that make their aluminum flagpoles with one sheet, thus eliminating seams. This gives them a beautiful finished appearance that will catch the eye anywhere. If you like, there are also plenty of companies that will custom-make a pole for you. Some poles come with anti-theft devices if you think you'll need that.