Painting. Paint electrical poles to blend in or compliment the rest of your landscaping as a decorative technique to hide them. Depending on whether the electricity pole you wish to conceal is made of wood or metal, your local home improvement or paint store should have an outside paint you may use.
Is it possible for you to paint a pole?
Acrylic paint is the greatest choice for long-term outdoor applications. Check to see if the maker says it’s acceptable for outdoor use. Apply a thick, even layer to the poles with your paintbrush or paint sprayer, then flip the poles over and apply to the areas that were in touch with the stands.
What is the best way to paint telephone poles?
For everything you need to know about painting and preserving your pole, check out our video, step-by-step guide, and FAQs. What is it about a pole that makes it so special? Is it because it supports the lines that bring electricity to our homes? Is it the fact that it allows you to express your artistic genius, or is it something else?
Steps in painting a telephone pole:
- Find out when and where you can pick up a Pole Painting Kit.
- Create your own pole! Bold images and stencils are easier to paint and make for a terrific design.
- Before painting a pole, talk to your neighbors. Our letter to your neighbor is available to download, print, and use.
- Remove any nails or obstacles to your artwork with protective gloves.
- To avoid spilling paint on anything other than your canvas, cover the ground.
- On the Friday before Pole Painting Day, prime your pole with a base layer of paint to allow it to cure.
- On Pole Painting Day, the second Saturday in September, you can paint your design at any time.
- Clean up your paint and equipment, hang a wet paint sign, and appreciate your work!
- There will be no splatter or drip painting.
- Text should not be used in your design.
- There are no logos or commercial graphics on this page.
- There are no obvious political or religious symbols or messages.
- Other than the pole, no painting is permitted on the sidewalk or any other surface.
What does a pole painting kit include?
- A pole painting information sheet
- Paint for priming and basecoat in a large container
- Colorful paint in four to five pots (you choose the colours)
- “This Pole Has an Artist,” “Drive Slow,” and “Wet Paint signs” are among the signs.
- A note to your neighbor informing them of your plans for the pole you’ll be enjoying together.
- MacTac/shelf liner (to create stencils)
How long does it take to paint a pole?
Painting a pole takes about two to three hours. Before painting, you’ll need to apply a basecoat (primer) and possibly clean up the pole. This is something we recommend doing on Friday evening. Then paint your design on Saturday. We propose that you plan ahead of time and use stencils to make your images.
My pole is already painted, am I allowed painting over it?
The Pole Painting Project’s beauty lies in the ephemeral nature of the art, as well as the community spirit and atmosphere it generates. While it is not our responsibility to decide who gets to paint which pole, we strongly advise that you use our letter to notify and consult with your neighbor prior to painting.
If your pole has tags but is still lovely, please take this opportunity to restore it! If it’s looking a little dingy, some new art could be a good idea. It’s entirely up to you, the community!
I would rather the pole near my house not be painted, how do I ensure this?
Please print or pick up a “Please Leave This Pole Blank” sign from our office. Attach it on a pole near your house that you don’t want painted.
Is it possible to fly a flag from a utility pole?
We appreciate the opportunity to celebrate the holidays in all of the areas where we live and work, so we understand your worries. While a utility pole may appear to be an ideal location for hanging a sign, a flag, or Christmas decorations, it is just not safe. We’ve witnessed an increasing number of towns attaching items on Xcel Energy-owned power poles over the years. That’s why we’re collaborating with communities to ensure that we’re adhering to the National Electric Safety Code and our own safety standards. However, as some have remarked, we do not levy fines. We’ll keep working with towns to identify decorations that are both safe for our personnel and the general public.
Our primary concern is for your safety.
Utility pole ornamental additions can be a severe safety hazard.
community members, our employees, and the general public. While attachments aren’t allowed,
We will accept certain attachments on our streetlight poles if they are allowed on our distribution poles.
We have no concerns about our safety. Answers to some frequently asked questions are provided below.
A: While a utility pole may appear to be a convenient spot to hang a flag or post a notice, it is not.
isn’t safe at all. We’ve seen an increase in the number of communities banding together throughout the years.
a variety of things to our utility poles Our employees work to safeguard the safety of community members.
We are working with our communities to ensure that the National Electric Safety Code is followed.
Q: How do items like banners and flags affixed to electricity poles affect linemen?
A: Our line crews operate in all kinds of weather, attaching banners and other objects.
Putting flags to utility poles can be dangerous since it affects their ability to safely operate.
carry out their duties If a lineman needs to go to overhead equipment for repairs or maintenance,
A: Overhead power wires come with their own set of dangers. It’s critical to stay put.
at least ten feet away The presence of attachments on our poles can put individuals in danger. For
For instance, if a person comes too close to electrical lines to attach a decorative item, they will be electrocuted.
Thousands of volts of electricity could be present. Other people will notice whether the object is made of metal.
It’s possible that you’ll get an electric shock. There’s also the possibility of an attachment, such as a necklace.
A: No, ornamental attachments on distribution poles are simply not safe, hence they are not used.
A: We will accept single-pole banners, flags, holiday decorations, and/or street signs if they are judged safe.
A: Power cables and possibly a streetlight are supported by distribution poles. When it comes to streetlight poles,
Only streetlights and the wiring that goes with them are supported. It can be difficult to tell the difference between the two.
A: Of course. Banners affixed to two or more poles, flower baskets, and speakers are just a few examples.
Wiring can’t be installed on streetlight poles, either. We’ll work with you to see what we can do.
Q: I realize that any unauthorised attachments must be removed at this time.
A: On our distribution poles, all electric attachments will need to be removed. However, in order to
To unhook electrical attachments, you’ll need a professional electrician and an Xcel Energy lineman.
A: Yes, this is a policy that applies to the entire company. We’ll work with communities in each of the eight states we’ll be visiting.
Q: What procedures do I need to take to get permission to use attachments on Xcel?
A. Please take the following steps:
- Request a quote from Outdoor Lighting “Attachment for Customer Streetlights
- Fill in the blanks “Email the Customer Streetlight Attachment Application to
- your submission Wait as we process each streetlight pole in most circumstances.
Xcel Energy personnel must inspect the pole to ensure that it is structurally sound.
acoustic support for the attachments We will send you an email if your request is approved.
“Agreement on the Use of Streetlight Poles.” We will notify you if your request is denied.
- The “License Agreement Regarding Streetlight Poles” must be read, signed, and returned.
Is it possible to decorate telephone poles?
- NO. Please do not connect anything to electrical poles for safety concerns. Utility employees are more likely to be injured by nails and staples, especially since line crews climb electricity poles.
- We’ve all seen or posted signs on utility poles advertising missing pets, impending garage sales, and other random announcements. While it may appear to be an innocent gesture, these small bits of paper can cause significant harm to utility personnel and are unlawful.
- Utility personnel are required to climb the same utility poles in order to work around power wires carrying 7,200 volts or more. Foreign objects embedded in the pole, such as staples or nails, might cause the utility worker’s gloves to snag or tear.
- Those gloves are designed to safeguard employees from getting electrocuted by insulating them from high voltage.
- Other items found affixed to power poles include hunting stands and basketball hoops.
- Utility employees, you, and anybody else who utilizes these goods are in grave danger. When conducting any outdoor activity, keep as much distance as possible between yourself and overhead electrical wires. Utility poles have also been discovered with satellite dishes connected.
- This is a hazard not only for utility employees, but also for dish installers, and should never be attached to utility poles. Posting signs and other items on utility poles also poses a threat to public safety.
- The usage of nails, staples, and other materials in wooden utility poles might hasten their deterioration. This can compromise the pole’s structural integrity and stability, increasing the risk of it collapsing when hit by a car.
- “Falling poles mean power interruptions, which are at the very least inconvenient,” says Catherine Cronin, Vera Water and Power’s communications manager.
- Utilities must spend money to repair or replace utility poles that have been damaged.
- Pedestrians and motorists are also at risk when lines are down.
- Stay clear from downed electrical lines and dial 9-1-1.
- Avoid placing or hanging anything on utility poles to keep yourself and others in your community safe. Other options for posting in your neighborhood include yard stakes or online community organizations.
What is the best way to paint a metal pole?
In order to ensure the quality and lifespan of metal coatings, proper surface preparation is required. Even the most advanced metal coating technologies will fail if they are not properly prepared. Check out the next five stages to prepare metal for paint if you want to make your first metal painting project a success.
- Make sure the area is clean. Remove grease with mineral spirits and prime new metal surfaces with a rust-inhibitive primer before painting. Remove dust with a clean, dry cloth, de-gloss the surface with moderate sanding, and wipe with mineral spirits to guarantee good adherence for painted surfaces in good condition. Wash surfaces with a mild detergent solution or a commercial product designed for cleaning painted surfaces to remove stubborn grime.
- Remove any peeling or loose paint. You can remove the previous paint by hand wire brushing, sanding, or scraping if it’s in bad shape. Because these procedures are time-consuming and frequently fail to produce the desired results, many professionals prefer to use power tool cleaning, which can remove paint fast and easily. Power tools, on the other hand, have the potential to polish metal surfaces, potentially producing paint adhesion issues.
- Rust should be removed. When prepping metal for painting, it’s critical to inspect for rust to ensure that the paint adheres correctly to the surface. Clean up loose rust with a brush, sand the area, then apply a high-quality rust-inhibitive primer to restore lightly damaged metal surfaces to their previous state (e.g. Rust-Oleum Rust Reformer). Rust-inhibitive primers, also known as rust converters, can be used to cover rusted places and turn them into non-rusting, paintable surfaces.
- Small dents and holes should be repaired. Sand the area until it’s bare metal, then clean it off with a degreaser mixed with mineral spirits to fix holes and dents. Inject an appropriate epoxy-based composite directly into the hole or dent for minor holes and dents. Apply epoxy filler to the hole’s edge, cut a piece of fiberglass mesh one inch larger than the hole, and press it into the filler for larger holes. Then, moving from the edge toward the center of the hole, cover the mesh with epoxy.
- The surface should be primed. Priming is an essential process in preparing metal for painting, especially if it will be exposed to moisture. The type of metal to be coated, as well as the desired aesthetic, performance requirements, and climatic circumstances, should all be taken into account when choosing the correct primer. For starters, water-based (latex) primers should not be used on metal surfaces since moisture can soak through and cause paint to fail in weeks or months. Rust converters and galvanized metal primers are the two forms of metal primers recommended by professionals. While a rust converter is good for preventing rust and making a corroded surface easier to paint, a galvanized primer is appropriate for metals (such as aluminum) that resist paint adhesion. Iron oxide and zinc chromate primers are also available, which can be used on a variety of metal surfaces, including interior and exterior iron and steel.
To prevent dust or debris from gathering and flash rust (rust that happens within hours) from forming, prime the surface soon after cleaning.
Performance Painting is skilled in a variety of painting methods and techniques, allowing us to perform a wide range of interior and outdoor jobs to your exact specifications. For knowledgeable and comprehensive guidance or a free estimate, call our friendly staff at (904) 641-4800 immediately.
Can you spray paint metal?
In a word, yeah. Although an old wrought iron fence or steel gutter may appear to be rusted, most rusted metal surfaces can be restored to near-new condition with the correct preparation and primer.
Cleaning up loose rust and flaking paint is the initial stage, followed by using a rust-inhibitive primer. You don’t have to strip the metal down to its bare, gleaming surface; simply remove the flakes and granular surface rust that prevent paint from sticking. However, severely rusted metal sections may require additional preparation and possibly a special primer.
To begin, use a wire brush (Photo 1). Remove flakes and granular surface rust from partially corroded metal sections with a wire brush, then prime with a rust-inhibitive primer. You may then paint over the rust.
Is it possible to grow a vine on a utility pole?
“The worst thing you can do is plant a vine on it,” said Owen Dell, a landscape architect in Santa Barbara. It irritates utility companies and attracts attention to the pole.
Fisher has employed Eucalyptus nicholii, Nichol’s willow-leafed peppermint, in the gardens of his clients.
This beautiful 30- to 40-foot eucalyptus with furrowed, reddish-brown bark fits the bill. “What you want is an erect, lacy tree approximately 30 feet tall that will soften the pole and take the eye away from it,” Fisher said.
Several tiny eucalyptuses would suffice. Another is e. sideroxylon ‘Rosea,’ which has a creosoted utility pole-colored bark with severely furrowed furrows. Though the trees range in height from 20 to 80 feet, the most that I’ve seen are narrow and not particularly tall.
The notion of the bark being a similar hue to the pole appeals to me. If I plant two trees in front of the pole, as suggested by Claremont landscape architect and author Bob Perry, the pole will appear to be the third trunk in this small grove of eucalyptuses, and as all design students know, three of anything is aesthetically superior than one or two.
Fisher has also employed the shoestring acacia (Acacia stenophylla), an elegant 30-footer with a droopy habit and large (to 16 inch!) tiny leaves. The pole would be visible behind it, and it would cast hardly no shadow. It wouldn’t so much conceal as veil.
“You don’t have to demolish the pole, just give the eye something else to rest on,” says Bill Evans, a renowned tree specialist and landscape architect for multiple Disneyland parks. “So these pole hiders don’t have to be dense, and maybe shouldn’t be.”
Italian cypress would hide the pole if you wanted it to be hidden, but it wouldn’t look as good in front of one. They’re a touch obvious, creating such a statement that the eye would immediately see the pole and realize you were attempting to cover it, but failing miserably. Wires appear to be sprouting from the top of the structure.
Evans has brought a group of evergreen trees to the United States that are native to Japan. They were discovered following a lengthy quest for evergreens sturdy enough to live in the colder climates of Disney World in Orlando, Fla.
They form the backbone of Disney’s Tokyo park, and one of them, Elaeocarpus decipens, the Japanese blueberry tree, may grow to be 30 feet tall and fast. Monrovia Nursery Co., a wholesale grower, is already raising it. Evans believes it would be effective at concealing poles.
Another pole hider mentioned by Bob Perry is timber bamboo (Bambusa oldhamii). It reaches a height of 30 feet and forms a cluster. It grows naturally as a grove of canes and is dense and beautiful.
Sweetshade, Hymenosporum flavum, an under-appreciated Australian tree with lustrous, dark green leaves and yellow flowers that smell like orange blossoms, was also recommended. It is erect and grows to a height of 30 feet, but at a slow rate. It’s not too dense and looks good in small groups.
Fisher also mentioned that if the tree is planted too far away from the pole, it will not adequately disguise it. If you put it too close to the power lines, the utility providers will cut it off.
Landscape architect Gordon Kurtis of Los Angeles recommended a group of trees that are “vertical, evergreen, quick, and cheap,” such as the madrone-like Tristania conferta or Brisbane box and the bottle tree, Brachychiton populneus, which is robust enough for the low desert.
The cajeput tree, Melaleuca quinquenervia (often sold as M. leucadendra), would be his logical choice because it is as upright as a birch and a better choice in Southern California when that look is desired. It reaches a height of 30 feet and may completely obscure a pole. Its most appealing feature is its thick, spongy bark.
The flaxleaf paperbark, M. linarifolia, is a cousin that is not as vertical but a little more attractive. When it blooms, it has spongy bark and resembles a fluffy white cloud.
Podocarpus gracilior, Prunus caroliniana, and Pittosporum undulatum are all quick, classic screening trees that will screen a pole with a little pruning to keep them from spreading too far.
Two of these are “trees with a lower-case ‘t,’ or tree-like bushes, as opposed to “trees with a capital ‘T,’ which grow to be quite large. He’d add Cerocarpus betuloides, the native mountain ironwood that hides the pole in his yard, to that list. These large plants are not a bad idea.
“You don’t always have to plant the tree precisely next to the pole,” he explained. “All you have to do is plant the tree or shrub between your seat and the pole.” Even if you only get halfway into the garden, the canopy will still hide your view.
“Make the garden incredibly lovely so the eye doesn’t go to the pole,” he added.
I believe I’ve already accomplished this, yet my gaze remains fixed on the pole. And, since I already have a Melaleuca linarifolia in the back, I believe a eucalyptus is the best option for concealing the pole, given the other options. However, deciding a tree to plant is a big decision with long-term consequences, so I’m going to go look for some of these trees that are already grown and see how they look.
Maybe I’ll plant a morning glory at the foot of the pole while the trees grow. They know where to locate me if they want to file a complaint with the utility company. I’ve had a couple of gripes of my own.
Several gardeners have asked whether there isn’t a faster method to purchase plants of Cerinthe major purpurascens, a very magnificent plant that is currently flowering in my front yard and was recently noted in a column.
It’s a Mediterranean native that grows to be approximately 18 inches tall with a swaying rope of purple-blue flowers at the end of each branch. Even the bracts and blue-gray leaves that surround the flowers are purple-tinged.
Gary Jones of Hortus Nursery in Pasadena tells me that he was also blown away by plants he saw in England last year, so he went out and bought some seed and now sells plants there.
If you want to grow it from seed (which is simple), you’ll have to wait until the fall, but Ginny Hunt can deliver 30 to 40 seeds for $4 right now, which is a much better deal than the costly English seeds, which are the only other option.
A list of slender trees that could be used to conceal a utility pole. Because most of these aren’t common, you’ll have to ask for them at a nursery. Most reach a height of 30 to 40 feet, which is about the same as a conventional pole.