Several different choices of materials are available for light poles and lamp posts. Here's a rundown of the basic merits of each material type... Concrete ?EUR??,,????'???? Long life with relatively NO maintenance ?EUR??,,????'???? Easy to match with building facades and parking lots ?EUR??,,????'???? Immune to corrosive weather elements (sun, rain, etc.) ?EUR??,,????'???? Various textures and colors available Fiberglass (reinforced composites) ?EUR??,,????'???? Non-conductive, non-corrosive ?EUR??,,????'???? Filament-wound strands of fiberglass composite can be even stronger than steel, aluminum or concrete, since they offer a greater strength-to-weight ratio ?EUR??,,????'???? Long-term durabilty ?EUR??,,????'???? Extremely lightweight (a 15-foot composite lamp post weighs less than 100 pounds) ?EUR??,,????'???? Immune to corrosion (rust) ?EUR??,,????'???? Non-conductive Iron ?EUR??,,????'???? High tensile strength and impact resistance ?EUR??,,????'???? Immune to salt air corrosion (great for seaside areas) ?EUR??,,????'???? Vibration-damping characteristics help maintain long lamp and ballast life (especially good for bridges or busy urban areas) ?EUR??,,????'???? Cast iron features a very long design life (100-year-old iron pole styles still look great) `Steel ?EUR??,,????'???? Galvanized for protection ?EUR??,,????'???? Can be painted any color ?EUR??,,????'???? Lighter weight than concrete ?EUR??,,????'???? Easy to modify in the field (new holes can be drilled) ?EUR??,,????'???? Versatile design capability (different wall thicknesses can be used to allow different load capacities inside) Wood ?EUR??,,????'???? Natural looking poles that blend into greenbelts and "green" areas ?EUR??,,????'???? Evokes a nice "earthy" appearance ?EUR??,,????'???? Standard wooden light poles can last more than 20 years Aluminum ?EUR??,,????'???? Lighter weight than other metals ?EUR??,,????'???? Normally less expensive than steel or iron ?EUR??,,????'???? Immune to rust (in salt-free locations) The editors would like to thank the following experts for their invaluable advice: - Steve Bull of Ameron International - Dave Farabaugh of W.J. Whatley Inc. - Kyle Nowatzke of J.H. Baxter - Don Wiggins of Spring City Electrical Mfg.