3 base solutions for direct-embed poles

Solution #1: Tuff-Stub Composite Base

The Shakespeare Tuff-Stub composite base makes quick work of mounting direct burial composite poles. The product allows a construction crew to quickly “rough in” wiring, leaving pole installation for later, so phased construction is simple. A Tuff Stub product image is shown top left.

Download the Tuff-Stub Composite Pole Ordering Matrix.

Tuff-Stub extends 2-feet above grade and includes our anti-rotation structure below ground level, as well as provision for conductor entrance(s). The top section slips over the stub to about 1 foot below grade. To install the top sections of the poles, workers simply clear away loose dirt for about a foot at ground level, slide the top of the pole over the Tuff-Stub, and connect the wiring.

Tuff-Stub poles are the ideal choice for new subdivision development, whether constructed in phases or not. They make it possible to install and wire street lighting, and then complete the installation when you’re ready. As development and finish grading are done, a crew comes back and attaches the top sections of the poles and connects the wiring, eliminating damage to poles during finish grading.

The Tuff-Stub option is available for all of our natural- or smooth-finish S, O, H, and X series, direct burial composite poles to 30’ mounting height, with or without mast arms, brackets, or other attachments. They are available in optional orange for easy identification when your project is ready for poles to be fitted.

Solution #2: Composite Burial Foot

Shakespeare's advanced-design composite burial foot mounting base makes fast work of mounting anchor base poles. The burial foot allows for quick installation, usually without the need for pouring concrete. The result is a substantial savings in material expense, equipment and labor cost, and time required for construction.

The composite burial foot structure simply goes directly into the ground in most soils as though it were a direct burial base pole. Its tough, E-Coated aluminum mounting flange accommodates bolt hole circles from 8 to 13", and can be supplied for 5/8, 3/4 or 1" bolts.

Download the Shakespeare Burial Foot Mounting Base Brochure.
Download the Ordering Matrix.

The burial foot will work with all Shakespeare decorative poles, as well as our round and square composite poles to 30’ mounting height, with or without mast arms, brackets and other attachments, and to the same specifications as direct burial poles. Contact Shakespeare for information on use with other manufacturers’ poles.

Burial Foot - How To Order

Order the Shakespeare composite burial foot mounting base in 4 ft or 5 ft burial depth (usually 10 percent of overall pole length plus 2 ft), and specify bolt hole circle, bolt size and cable entrance. If you need more details, please fill out an information request form.

Composite Burial Foot Benefits

• Eliminates time, labor, and material expense of forming, pouring, and curing reinforced concrete
• Easily installed into almost any type of soil
• Lightweight, inexpensive and easy to transport
• Minimizes disturbance of surrounding terrain for most installations
• Facilitates installation of underground cable and rough-in wiring prior to finish grading
• Anti-rotation design
• Competes favorably with screw-in type anchoring
• Accommodates all Shakespeare anchor-base poles to 30’ mounting height, and all Shakespeare decorative styles, including poles with decorative shrouds
• Exceeds all ANSI and AASHTO requirements

Solution #3: Polecrete Mounting Foam

Tamping, tipping, and concrete mixing are history. Shakespeare's Polecrete^TM Stabilizer enables you to set poles quickly, permanently, and inexpensively in virtually any soil, and in almost any weather, without pouring concrete.

Advanced-formula Polecrete puts the squeeze on the surrounding soil to set poles fast, easy, and inexpensively without time consuming soil tamping and without pouring concrete or waiting for it to cure.

Polecrete is environmentally safe. The EPA does not classify Polecrete Stabilizer as a hazardous material or hazardous waste, and the product contains no ozone depleting chemicals and no CFC’s.

Download the Shakespeare Polecrete ordering matrix.

Polecrete Stabilizer Product Benefits

• Safe and economical to use
• Convenient kits, easy to use and dispose
• Compressive strength 3 to 4 times that of undisturbed soil
• Equal to crushed stone against uplift
• Superior to stone in resistance to overturning
• Helps reduce ground level decay in wood poles
• Can reduce labor costs by 50 percent
• No tamping required

Polecrete Applications

Polecrete mounting foam works in virtually any type of soil, even rock and sand. It works in any climate, even extremely cold ones. The product has many uses:

• Setting new poles
• Uprighting damaged poles
• Cable protection
• Pedestal fill
• Gate and fence posts
• Highway sign poles
• H-Frame supports

Contact Shakespeare for more information on Polecrete Stabilizer.