Install A Flag Pole Bracket On Vinyl Siding

How To Attach A Flag Pole To Vinyl Siding

Attaching a flag pole bracket to vinyl siding is an easy home improvement project that will allow you to show your patriotism on your home. However, if you don’t do it correctly it’s likely you’ll damage your siding. This project can be done in just a few minutes for under $20.

Vinyl Siding Mounting Block

The easiest way to install a flag pole bracket (or hanging flower pot bracket or similar) is to screw the bracket to a vinyl siding surface mount block. The surface mount block has a profile routed out of the back so that it will fit the siding profile (see the photo).

The trick to successfully installing the bracket and surface mount block is to pre-drill holes in the siding. You want to drill a hole slightly larger than the screws you’re going to use so that the siding can move as it expands and contracts due to temperature. If you skip this step the siding will buckle when it heats up under the summer sun.

This technique also works very well for attaching shutters to vinyl siding. Vinyl siding moves a LOT when it heats and cools throughout the year. If you put a screw right through the vinyl siding it will prevent the siding from moving and therefore cause it to buckle.

Installation Instructions

  • Pre-Drill Flag Pole Bracket To Mounting Braket – This allows you the ability to pre-mark the siding.
  • Then I drilled a 1/4″ diameter hole in the siding where each of the three screws would go.
  • Then it’s as simple as installing three long screws to attach the bracket and surface mount block at the same time.

Make sure you use screws that won’t be so long that they hit some wires. So there you have it, a nice looking flag pole bracket installed on vinyl siding.

Todd Fratzel

I'm full time builder for a large construction company in New Hampshire. I run their design-build division that specializes in custom homes, commercial design-build projects and sub-divisions. I'm also a licensed civil and structural engineer with extensive experience in civil and structural design and home construction. My hope is that I can share my experience in the home construction, home improvement and home renovation profession with other builders and home owners. I'm also the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Tool Box Buzz. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, suggestions or you'd like to inquire about advertising on this site.

View Comments

  • This tip on how to put up a flag on a vinyl siding is very appealing. However, there is no link to find a surface mount block - all the links lead to vinyl installation businesses. Where can I buy one of these block's and do it my self??

  • The vinyl siding block is great for siding, but what if you want to attach the mount to a vinyl porch post, without drilling into the post? We all know that the mounts age/break, so they need to be replaced...but, the new bracket may not have the same hole pattern as the old one. I wouldn't want to drill even more holes into the vinyl.

    • Michael - Good point. Haven't dealt with that situation yet. Maybe a reader will have a suggestion. If it were mine I might be tempted to create a custom PVC mounting block that could be secured to the face of the vinyl post. Then a mounting bracket could be attached to that. This way if you need a new bracket later on you could replace the PVC mounting diagram.

  • Do these mounting blocks come in wood or just vinyl?? Our house was built in 2002 and all of the extrior lights are set on wood blocks. If they still exist, where can I get them??

    • Those are just vinyl. A wood one can be created pretty easily if you've got some basic woodworking tools.

  • Thank you very much. It worked great. Received it in two days from amazon. Around $ 11.00 delivered.

  • Todd, I have a hard time believing a flag/flag pole can be adequately supported by only a vinyl siding. Are the screws through the vinyl actually hitting and securing into something underneath the vinyl?

    • Evan - Of course....long screws through the flag pole bracket. The block assures the shape of the vinyl is maintained so it's not crushed.

  • Todd,
    We tried hanging a flag to vinyl siding without the block and once we put the flag pole in, it seemed to heavy and the vinyl began to buckle. Will the block prevent this or do we have another problem? We used 2 inch screws but it doesn't seem as though they are hitting anything other than the siding insulation.

    • You'll likely need longer screws, and in some situations you'll need a toggle bolt if the screws are only hitting the sheathing.

  • Do I have to find the stud behind the siding to support the flag or will the block with long screws be enough?

  • How can I do this without screwing holes into the siding? I live in an home owners association where I may need to take it out.

  • I'm trying to hang an awning (of sorts) between two walls with vinyl siding that face each other, about four feet apart. Was thinking I could use two tension rods, additionally securing the fabric by vinyl siding hooks, but not sure if the siding would buckle, or if the tension/hooks combination would even hold. Looking for solutions without drilling holes or building a pvc frame. Anyone?

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Todd Fratzel

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