Frequently Asked Questions

General

 
 
 

Pole Base

Are you Winchester Building Supply or Winchester Precast?

  • Great question! When the company started in 1950, our name was Winchester Building Supply. This name carried us through several decades until the 2010s where our company shifted towards precast manufacturing and away from home building supplies. To reflect this change, we changed our name to Winchester Precast, which is the name you will find on our Google listing and marketing materials today. Since we are a family-owned business, there is a bit of nostalgia towards our original name, which is why you will still see the Winchester Building Supply lettering on the brick wall of our front office. You can read more about our company’s history under the About tab at the top of the webpage.

Who do I call when I need a quote?

  • If you do not already have the contact details of the estimator or salesperson responsible for your region or product, call our office number at (540) 667-2301 and we will give you the email and/or phone number you need. You can always use our Request Quote button at the top corner of the website to get in touch with one of our estimators as well.

Do you guys still sell home building supplies?

  • Since 1950, Winchester Building Supply has been in business primarily manufacturing septic tanks. Over the years, the products we sold reflected the needs of our customers, which included lumber, septic accessories and other DIY supplies for homeowners. In recent years, however, to stay profitable in the construction industry, we have turned our business towards manufacturing precast concrete structures for commercial and VDOT projects and no longer provide materials for home projects that can be more cheaply and conveniently purchased at superstore supply chains.

  • Though we do not sell the breadth of homebuilding supplies we used to, we do sell septic tank accessories, distribution boxes and other items frequently requested to maintain a healthy septic system. You can find more information on our Septic System Accessories page.

What do I need to get a quote for precast pole bases?

  • We need a stamped engineer drawing, often the pole base detail on prints will suffice for a quote and manufacture. Soil mechanics and light fixture schematics are helpful for accurate quoting. 

  • If no stamp, we will provide a stamped engineer drawing at $750.00 per design. We will need light pole and fixture cut sheets as well as exposed height of the base above grade. This info is sent to our engineer who provides stamped detailed drawing for quoting and manufacturing. This process takes about 10 days.

The quote looks great, what happens next?

  • You will need to provide us: (1) the template for bolt pattern, (2) the size and number of conduits, (3) placement of conduits in relation to J bolts, and (4) the depth below grade for conduit exiting from the base (1” PVC is standard).

  • We will then provide a CAD drawing showing these details. After the drawing is signed off, the order will be put into the schedule.

 When should I expect shipment?

  • We can provide an estimated time for delivery based on your pole base order and your release schedule. Let us know if your job site can handle a flatbed or if space is limited so that we may plan deliveries accordingly.

  • We will provide a lifting plate upon delivery that should be used to lift and set your pole bases.

  • We will need site contact and phone number for our driver.

How do I install pole bases?

  • Simply, it is a 3-step process: auger, place and then backfill. Check out this Pole Base Video for more information on the installation process.

  • Utilize the lifting plate provided to ensure a safe and proper installation. Return the lifting plate when finished for a full credit/refund.

  • Install your light poles and turn on the power!

 

Septic

Check out our Septic System FAQs page dedicated to all the typical questions we hear from homeowners striving to maintain a healthy septic system, along with some helpful reading material for DIY inspection and EPA standards. Always feel free to Contact Us with questions!