Direct Bury vs Surface Mount Power Pedestals
When a project includes an outdoor power pedestal, mounting method matters. This quick comparison video walks through Pedoc’s two installation styles — Direct Bury and Surface Mount — to help you choose the right option for your site conditions, grade, and long-term performance goals.
Duration: 1:00 | Uploaded: August 7, 2025
What You’ll Learn in This Video
- The key differences between Direct Bury and Surface Mount power pedestal installations.
- How mounting method affects stability, protection, and long-term reliability.
- Which style is better suited to soil conditions, freeze–thaw environments, and hardscape layouts.
- How mounting choice impacts aesthetics, conduit routing, and future maintenance.
Direct Bury Power Pedestals at a Glance
Direct Bury pedestals are installed below grade, with the pedestal body anchored directly into the ground. This approach is often preferred where soil movement, seasonal shifts, or uneven terrain are part of the design challenge.
- Installed Below Grade: Pedestal is set directly in the ground for maximum stability.
- Ideal Environments: Parks, landscaped areas, open greenspace, and remote locations.
- Handles Movement: Well-suited for sites with soil movement or freeze–thaw conditions.
- Clean Look: No exposed base or hardware on hardscape — the pedestal appears to “grow” from the ground.
Surface Mount Power Pedestals at a Glance
Surface Mount pedestals are anchored to concrete or other hardscape surfaces. They are a strong fit for projects where the grade is already established and conduit is brought up through slabs, pads, or trenches.
- Anchored to Hardscape: Bolts to concrete pads, sidewalks, or other rigid surfaces.
- Ideal Environments: EV charging areas, plazas, retail centers, food truck courts, and retrofit projects.
- Fast Installation: Simple layout, predictable anchoring, and straightforward conduit entry.
- Great for Retrofits: Works well where existing concrete or hardscape cannot be disturbed.
When to Choose Each Mounting Method
- Choose Direct Bury when you’re working in open soil, landscaped areas, or sites with ongoing grade changes or seasonal movement.
- Choose Surface Mount when you have finished hardscape, existing concrete, or structured EV / parking layouts that call for precise pedestal placement.
Why Contractors and Designers Trust Pedoc
- Heavy-gauge, fully welded stainless-steel construction designed for harsh outdoor conditions.
- Power pedestals engineered for clean conduit routing and practical installation in the field.
- U.S.-based manufacturing, sales, and technical support to help with layout, mounting, and product selection.
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