How to Install Telescopic Bollards

Although the basic principle is straightforward, installing a telescopic bollard is more involved than fitting a surface-mounted or fold-down post. Different bollards have different installation requirements, so the manufacturer's instructions for the specific model should always take priority over general installation advice.

How Does a Telescopic Bollard Work?

A telescopic bollard is designed to retract vertically into the ground when it isn't required.

Rather than removing the bollard and storing it somewhere else, you unlock it and lower the post into an underground casing. When you want to secure the driveway again, the bollard is pulled upwards and locked into its raised position.

This makes telescopic bollards particularly practical for residential driveways.

When lowered, there is very little left protruding above the driveway, so cars can pass over or around the installation without a large post getting in the way.

The trade-off is that considerably more of the product exists below ground than you might expect from looking at the raised bollard.

That underground section is why proper installation matters.

What Do You Need to Consider Before Installing a Telescopic Bollard?

Before any excavation begins, you need to establish whether the proposed position is suitable.

The first consideration is security.

The bollard needs to be positioned where it can actually prevent the vehicle from being driven off the property. On a narrow driveway, one appropriately positioned bollard may be sufficient. A wider entrance may require two or more.

There are then practical considerations.

You need to know what the driveway is made from, whether there are underground services in the proposed excavation area, how deep the bollard casing needs to go and whether adequate drainage can be provided.

The exact installation requirements depend on the bollard being fitted.

This is why we wouldn't recommend digging a standard-sized hole based on measurements found in a generic online guide. Check the technical information and installation instructions supplied with the actual bollard first.

Check for Underground Services Before Digging

One of the most important stages happens before the driveway is cut.

A telescopic bollard can require a substantial excavation below ground level. Depending on the property, there could be electricity, gas, water, drainage or communications services beneath or close to the proposed installation position.

You shouldn't assume an area is clear simply because there isn't anything visible at surface level.

The proposed position should therefore be checked for underground services before excavation starts.

If the chosen location conflicts with a service, moving the bollard may be necessary.

This is one of the reasons positioning should consider both security above ground and what is happening underneath the driveway.

Mark the Bollard Position

Once a suitable installation position has been established, the excavation area can be marked.

Positioning should take into account the width of the driveway and the amount of usable space on either side of the bollard.

For multiple bollards, spacing needs to prevent a vehicle from simply passing between or around them while still allowing practical access when they're lowered.

It's worth checking these measurements carefully before cutting the driveway.

Moving a mark takes seconds. Moving an underground bollard after the driveway has been excavated and reinstated is a very different job.

Cut and Excavate the Driveway

The driveway surface then needs to be opened and the ground excavated to accommodate the underground section of the bollard.

How this is done depends heavily on the surface.

A concrete driveway may require appropriate concrete-cutting and breaking equipment. Tarmac needs to be cut neatly enough that the surrounding surface can later be reinstated. Block paving will usually involve carefully lifting the relevant blocks before excavating beneath them.

The excavation needs to provide enough room not only for the bollard casing itself but also for whatever foundation, surround and drainage arrangement is required by the manufacturer.

Depth is particularly important.

A telescopic bollard that appears to be around 600 mm high when raised can require a substantially deeper excavation because the post has to retract into a casing below ground.

Always work from the dimensions of the specific model being installed rather than estimating the depth from its visible height.

Why Is Drainage Important for Telescopic Bollards?

Drainage is one of the most important differences between installing a telescopic bollard and installing a simple surface-mounted post.

The bollard casing sits below ground and is exposed to rainwater running across the driveway.

Water therefore needs somewhere suitable to go.

If drainage hasn't been considered properly, water can accumulate around or within the underground installation. Depending on the product and conditions, this can interfere with operation and potentially shorten the life of components.

The correct drainage arrangement depends on the bollard manufacturer's instructions and the ground conditions at the property.

Some installations may use a suitable drainage layer beneath the casing where ground conditions allow water to disperse. Other sites can require a different solution.

A simple drainage or soakaway test may also be appropriate before the installation is completed.

The important point is not to treat drainage as an afterthought.

You don't want to discover that water cannot disperse properly after the bollard has been concreted into the driveway.

Position the Underground Casing

Once the excavation and drainage preparation are complete, the bollard casing can be positioned.

Accuracy matters here.

The casing needs to be installed at the correct depth and orientation so that the finished top plate sits correctly in relation to the driveway surface.

It also needs to remain vertical.

If the casing moves or becomes misaligned while the surrounding material is being installed, the bollard may not operate as intended.

Before securing everything permanently, the position, height and level should therefore be checked carefully.

For installations involving several bollards, this is also the time to make sure they line up properly with one another.

A row of posts installed at noticeably different heights or angles doesn't just look poor; incorrect alignment can indicate a problem with the installation itself.

Secure the Bollard in Position

The underground casing then needs to be secured according to the manufacturer's installation specification.

This commonly involves an appropriate concrete surround or foundation, but the exact dimensions, materials and method should be taken from the instructions for the bollard being fitted.

This is an area where we would avoid improvising.

A bag of general-purpose post-setting material might sound convenient, but a driveway security bollard isn't a fence post. If the manufacturer specifies a particular concrete surround, depth or installation method, that's what should be followed.

The bollard also needs to remain correctly positioned while the surrounding material is placed and cures.

Before progressing, check that the casing hasn't shifted from its intended position.

Test the Telescopic Mechanism

The bollard should be tested as part of the installation.

It should raise and lower correctly, lock securely in its intended position and operate without unnecessary resistance.

The locking mechanism should also be checked.

If anything doesn't feel right, it's better to investigate before completing all of the surrounding surface reinstatement.

The finished installation should allow the homeowner to raise and lower the bollard without the post scraping, binding or sitting at an obvious angle.

Reinstate the Driveway

Once the bollard has been securely installed and the installation has reached the appropriate stage, the surrounding driveway can be reinstated.

The method depends on the original surface.

Block Paving

With block paving, the aim is normally to reinstate the paving neatly around the bollard's top plate.

Blocks may need to be cut to accommodate the installation, with the bedding and jointing materials restored appropriately.

Good cutting makes a significant difference to the finished appearance.

Tarmac

A tarmac installation requires the excavated area to be reinstated around the bollard.

The repair should be properly prepared and compacted rather than simply filling the opening with loose repair material.

There may still be a visible difference between old and newly reinstated tarmac, particularly immediately after installation, but the finish should be neat and secure.

Concrete

Concrete driveways need appropriate reinstatement around the installation.

Matching existing concrete perfectly can be difficult, particularly where the original driveway has weathered over many years, but careful cutting and finishing can make the installation considerably neater.

The structural installation of the bollard should always take priority over trying to minimise the size of the visible repair.

Resin Bound Driveways

Resin-bound surfaces require particular care because the decorative finish needs to be reinstated after the structural work beneath it has been completed.

Matching the existing aggregate and resin appearance can sometimes be challenging, especially on older driveways where the original surface has changed colour over time.

This should be considered before work starts so the homeowner understands what the finished repair is likely to look like.

How Long Does It Take to Install Telescopic Bollards?

The time required to install telescopic bollards depends on the number of posts, driveway construction, excavation conditions and the amount of reinstatement required.

A straightforward installation into an accessible driveway can be considerably quicker than a job involving difficult concrete, poor ground conditions or more complicated drainage.

Installing several bollards can also affect the timescale, although some stages can be completed together.

It's therefore better to assess the actual driveway than promise that every installation will take exactly the same amount of time.

The curing requirements of any materials used during installation also need to be respected before the bollard or surrounding area is subjected to loads that the installation isn't ready to take.

Can You Install Telescopic Bollards Yourself?

It is technically possible for somebody with the appropriate tools and experience to install certain telescopic bollards themselves, but it isn't a particularly simple DIY job.

The work can involve cutting concrete or tarmac, lifting paving, substantial excavation, checking for underground services, preparing drainage, working with concrete and accurately setting a deep underground casing.

There is also little room for error.

If a surface-mounted accessory is positioned slightly incorrectly, moving it may involve drilling another set of holes. If a telescopic bollard casing is concreted into the wrong position or at the wrong angle, correcting it can require significant excavation.

For that reason, homeowners who aren't confident carrying out this type of groundworks are generally better using an experienced installer.

How Deep Does a Telescopic Bollard Need to Be Installed?

The installation depth depends on the specific bollard.

This is an important point because there isn't a universal excavation depth for telescopic bollards.

Different models have different raised heights, casing lengths and installation requirements. A larger security bollard can require a substantially deeper excavation than a smaller domestic model.

The required excavation may also need to extend beyond the casing itself to accommodate the specified drainage and foundation arrangement.

Always use the technical drawing or installation instructions for the exact bollard being fitted.

Can Telescopic Bollards Be Installed on a Sloping Driveway?

Potentially, but a sloping driveway needs additional consideration.

The bollard itself still needs to operate correctly, while the top of the installation has to integrate appropriately with the surrounding driveway.

Surface water movement is particularly relevant because a slope can direct water towards the bollard.

The gradient, drainage and final surface finish should therefore be assessed before deciding exactly where the bollard will go.

A sloping driveway isn't automatically unsuitable, but it shouldn't be approached in exactly the same way as a flat installation.

Where Is the Best Place to Install a Driveway Bollard?

The best position is generally one that prevents the protected vehicle from being driven off the property while causing as little inconvenience as possible during normal use.

That sounds obvious, but every driveway is different.

For example, placing a bollard too far to one side may leave enough room for a vehicle to pass it. Installing one too close to where a car normally parks could make it awkward to raise and lower.

The number of bollards also matters.

A narrow entrance may be effectively protected by one centrally positioned post, whereas a wide driveway may need two or more.

We look at positioning as part of the overall security setup rather than simply asking the homeowner where they'd like a hole cut.

What Makes a Good Telescopic Bollard Installation?

A good installation should be secure, properly drained, correctly aligned and neatly integrated into the existing driveway.

When the bollard is raised, it should lock correctly and create an effective physical barrier.

When lowered, it should retract smoothly and leave the driveway practical to use.

Just as importantly, the underground installation needs to have been completed correctly. Much of the work that determines the quality of a telescopic bollard installation is ultimately hidden beneath the driveway.

That's why the visible finish isn't the only thing worth paying attention to.

At Secure Driveways, we install telescopic driveway bollards across Greater Manchester. Before installation, we consider the driveway layout, proposed bollard position, surface and practical installation requirements so that the finished system works for the property as well as providing an additional physical layer of vehicle security.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do telescopic bollards need drainage?

Yes, drainage needs to be considered when installing a telescopic bollard because the casing sits below ground where water can collect. The appropriate drainage arrangement depends on the particular bollard, manufacturer's installation requirements and ground conditions.

Can you install telescopic bollards in block paving?

Yes, telescopic bollards can be installed in many block-paved driveways. The blocks are normally lifted around the installation area before excavation and then appropriately cut and reinstated around the finished bollard.

Can telescopic bollards be installed in tarmac?

Yes. The tarmac needs to be cut and excavated to accommodate the underground installation before the surrounding area is properly reinstated.

Can telescopic bollards be installed in concrete?

Yes, subject to the particular driveway and installation requirements. The concrete needs to be cut and excavated, which can make the installation more involved than working with some block-paved surfaces.

Should a telescopic bollard be concreted in?

Many telescopic bollards require an appropriate concrete foundation or surround, but you should follow the installation specification supplied for the particular model rather than assuming the same method applies to every bollard.

How many telescopic bollards do I need?

The number depends on the width and layout of your driveway. The aim is to position the bollards so that a vehicle cannot simply drive between or around them. Some narrow driveways may only need one, while wider entrances can require two or more.