What Are Utility Poles?

Power poles and utility lines have been a vital component of America’s electrical and communication infrastructure for over a hundred years. This includes wooden power-treated poles, wooden street poles for lighting, steel utility poles, and fiberglass utility poles. They are interchangeably referred to as telephone poles. A utility pole can contain many lines, including power lines and communication lines. In both cases, primary wires and secondary wires require support.

The primary purpose of a power utility pole is to elevate and support service equipment, such as electrical wires, transformers, and fittings. Elevating these components when positioned above ground prevents service interruptions with electricity transmission lines and maximizes public safety. A double utility pole refers to a replacement utility pole connected alongside an existing utility pole. A power company may install the new pole directly next to the same pole that was damaged from a vehicle incident or lighting strike. This eases the transfer process of electric cable systems, telephone wire systems, and other components.

LED Lighting Supply's resilient utility poles are constructed using wood, fiberglass, or steel materials. Our pressure-treated wood utility poles (ponderosa pine and southern yellow pine) are engineered to prevent damage from insects, rot, and harsh weather conditions. On average, wood utility poles offer a service life of 50+ years. Other pole materials, such as fiberglass utility poles, offer a prolonged life span of 80+ years.

Distribution Pole Benefits

• Wood poles are the least expensive compared to steel poles, fiberglass poles, and concrete poles
• Direct burial wood poles are a quick-install solution
• Treated wood poles require no maintenance and are known for their rot, insect, and decay resistance
• Steel poles are a lightweight alternative to wood poles, easing installation efforts for contractors
• Steel poles are known for their resistance to fire, infestation, and decay
• Fiberglass poles, or composite utility poles, are constructed with a hollow design, positioning them as a lightweight yet highly resilient alternative to steel and wooden poles
• Fiberglass poles are a top choice in coastal areas and environments where saltwater exposure is commonplace
• All utility pole solutions require additional mounted materials, including brackets, hooks, and rods

Are There Any General Utility Pole Lengths?

Utility pole lengths depend on several factors, such as voltage, terrain, and local standards. In general, taller poles are utilized to satisfy building and road clearance.

• Distribution Poles: Range from 30 feet tall to 60 feet tall
• Transmission Poles: Range from 60 feet to 100+ feet tall, depending on distribution line requirements

What Materials Are Utility Poles Made of?

LED Lighting Supplies' full line of utility poles includes various pole material options, including wood, fiberglass, and steel.

• Fiberglass poles, also known as FRP utility poles, have transitioned to a preferred alternative over wood poles. They are a lightweight yet highly resilient solution for utility projects. Fiberglass poles are known for their rot, rust, corrosion, and fire resistance.
• Steel poles are a secondary alternative to wood poles over fiberglass poles. They are an attractive solution for utility projects because of their strength and mounting ease.
• Wood poles are most commonly used in the utility industry. They are a strong solution for supporting power lines and other equipment but are susceptible to rot and decay.

What Species of Wood Are Utility Poles and Telephone Poles Made Of?

There are three main types of wood that wooden transmission poles and utility poles are manufactured of - southern yellow pine, ponderosa pine, western red cedar, and douglas fir. Douglas fir is a legacy wood utility pole type that is no longer available for sale.

Southern Yellow Pine Utility Poles

A species of pine trees found south of the Mason-Dixon line and east of the Great Plains in the USA. Common species include loblolly, shortleaf, longleaf, and slash. Southern yellow pine utility poles are an ideal alternative to douglas fir utility poles.

Southern Yellow Pine Characteristics

• Strength, stiffness, and density
• Effective in holding nails and other types of fasteners
• The cellular structure makes them suitable for the pressure treatment process
• Common as utility poles due to their durability and strength
• Nearly 85% of all pressure-treated wood in the U.S. is southern yellow pine

Ponderosa Pine Utility Poles

Soft texture and light color distinguish it from southern yellow pine species. Ponderosa pine is the second most common pine species.

Ponderosa Pine Characteristics

• Ponderosa Pine is predominantly found in Western regions of North America
• One of the most common and versatile wood species in Western North America
• Strong with straight grain, poles tend to be relatively straight and durable

Western Red Cedar Wood Poles

• A western red cedar utility pole has a better-than-average resistance to decay and insect activity. This means that less money is spent on adding preservative chemicals to the wood and maintenance of the poles over time.
• More expensive than other types of wooden poles but saves money in the long run.

Do You Have Utility Poles for Sale?

When some people think about purchasing wooden utility poles, they imagine that they must go to a lumber yard to do it because they are big and bulky.

This couldn’t be further from the truth. If you are looking for wooden utility poles for sale, you've come to the right place. You can order utility poles, power poles, and telephone poles from LED Lighting Supply and then shipped directly to your project site. Contact us today for a detailed quote from one of the most reliable utility pole companies in the USA. All our wood poles are CCA treated for years of use.

How are Telephone Wood Poles Made?

The process of making wooden utility poles begins by choosing the right trees for the job. This occurs while they’re still standing. They are judged by traits that affect their load-bearing abilities. These traits include straightness, length, and taper. Less than 10 percent of trees in a typical stand of timber will have the acceptable traits to become a utility pole.

These trees are then harvested and transported to a lumber yard and/or utility pole companies.

After transport, the bark from the trees is removed. After that, the poles are shaped to make them as straight as possible. Each pole is examined, categorized, and given a class as specified in the ANSI standards. The attributes reviewed include the presence of decay, knots, grain orientation, and splits.

Next, the poles are carved, conditioned, or bored to prepare the wood to get a preservative. This preservative treatment forms a chemical barrier that shields wooden poles from threats, such as decay, fungi, insects, and mold. This allows them to stay in service for many years.

The preservatives are not just applied to the surface of the pole. They are infused deep into the wood to provide long-lasting protection. By doing this, the useful lifespan of a wood pole can be lengthened up to 70+ years.

Holes are bored on the pole for hardware that will be added later. This will maintain the protective preservative coating by letting the treatment penetrate every opening. The poles are then ready for treatment.

Once the preservative process is completed, core samples are taken from the poles and analyzed to ensure that quality and durability standards are met. The poles are then ready to be shipped to customers by utility pole companies.

Are Wood Utility Poles and Wood Telephone Poles the Same Thing?

Yes, for the most part, there is no difference. It's just two ways of labeling the same product.

What are the Advantages of Using Wood Utility Poles over Steel, Concrete, or Composite Utility Poles?

There are several advantages of using wood utility poles over other types:

• The initial cost of wood poles is significantly less than that of steel due to commodity costs.
• The installation of wood poles is much faster than steel or concrete.
• Utility pole manufacturers in the USA use only American wood, meaning the products will always support American jobs.
• The costs of installing wood poles are generally less thanks to the simplicity of direct burial.