Stakes, Lath, Shims, and Wedges

They all look like cheap scraps of wood in a bundle. They aren’t interchangeable. Grab the wrong one and your layout drifts, your forms blow out, or your finish work sits crooked. The right pick depends entirely on what stage you’re at and how much abuse the marker has to survive.

For broader project planning, explore WBC’s building materials resources.

Here’s the plain breakdown. Lath marks. Stakes anchor. Shims and wedges level. Each does one job well, and the best jobsites run all of them together.

Wood lath strips and construction stakes might look alike because both are made of wood and both get pushed into the soil. But they’re designed for different jobs, and choosing the right one helps teams work faster and avoid errors.

What Each One Actually Does

Wood lath is the long, thin, highly visible piece. Wooden laths are thin, long strips of wood — lightweight, easy to carry around the site, and because they stand taller than most grass and dirt piles, workers can see them from far away. Surveyors often tie bright ribbons or paint marks on them so they stand out even more, making it easy for everyone to spot important points. The lath’s real strength is carrying information. The stake is the anchor in the ground, and the lath is the flat surface that carries important markings — which makes it easy for workers to see information from a distance.

Use lath early. Lath works best at the beginning of a project, while teams are still measuring and planning. Things change often, so they need markers that are easy to move — and because these strips are tall and light, they can be placed quickly across large areas. They’re best when you need to show a location clearly rather than hold something heavy in place, and they’re quick to install and easy to move if plans change.

Construction stakes are the tough ones. Stakes are thicker and stronger than laths — shorter but much tougher. Their job is to stay firmly in the ground, even when heavy machines move around them. Workers hammer them deep so they don’t shift. They act like anchors, showing exact points that must not change — foundation corners, trench lines, grading levels, and other spots where accuracy matters most.

Once dirt starts moving, stakes earn their keep. Heavy equipment like excavators and trucks easily knock over thin markers. Stakes are built to handle that rough environment — they stay in place and give workers dependable reference points for marking foundation corners, holding string lines for straight digging, showing exact depth levels, and guiding concrete forms.

Shims and wedges handle precision. These are thin, tapered pieces — wood, plastic, or metal — for leveling and gap filling in finish carpentry or structural alignment. Hardwood shims are popular for setting and leveling, available in a standard 1x4x12-inch size with custom sizes cut on request. Wooden wedge stakes typically secure outdoor ground covers and mulching fabric, running from 1x2x12-inch through 18-inch with custom sizes available.

Don’t pick one camp. The best projects use both lath and stakes. First, surveyors place laths to map out the big picture and help everyone understand the space. Once the layout is confirmed, crews add stakes at the most important points to hold strings and guides that machines follow during construction.

Sizes, Types, and Wood Species

There’s a standardized range out there, and the right size comes down to how deep the stake needs to seat and what the job demands. Western Building Center carries 1x2x16 and 1x2x24 stakes by the each, plus 2x4x12 wedges sold by the bundle.

The broader category breaks down into a handful of standard formats:

Type	Typical Use	Common Lengths
1x2 grade stakes	General marking, layout	6”, 8”, 12”, 16”, 18”, 24”, 30”, 36”, 48”
2x2 wood hubs	Heavier reference points	8”, 12”, 18”, 24”, 30”, 36”, 48”
1x3 concrete stakes	Forming, cement work	12”, 18”, 24”, 30”, 36”
2x2 silt fence stakes	Erosion control, earthwork	24”, 36”, 48”
1x1 garden stakes	Light landscape work	18”, 24”, 36”, 48”
Wood wedges (2x4-12”)	Leveling, gap filling	12”, sold ~40–50/bundle
Hardwood mobile home shims	Setting and leveling	1x4x12” standard
Wedge stakes	Ground cover, landscape fabric	1x2x12” up to 18”

Survey products are commonly made from premium-grade Spruce, Pine, or Fir (SPF) wood, while hardwood stakes contain a mixture of oak, aspen, birch, and maple. Most of this stuff ships in bundles — stakes and wedges commonly come 25 or 50 per bundle.

On species: SPF is the lightweight, economical choice for general grade stakes and lath. Hardwood blends — oak, aspen, birch, maple — get used for denser, heavy-duty applications. Oak offers durability for repeat use, while poplar or spruce are the lightweight, economical alternatives. When wood won’t cut it, for heavy-duty projects, consider metal stakes, while lighter projects may only require wooden ones.

For Montana sites, two things matter. First, stakes often stay set for long stretches through changing weather, so long-term placement in tough weather calls for straight, dense hardwood that resists shifting. Second — store the wood dry. Store wood in a dry place to prevent warping or damage. Given the moisture and seasonal swings around here, that’s not optional if you want straight stakes come spring. Silt fence and grading stakes also pull double duty on erosion control and earthwork, which shows up on plenty of rural and excavation jobs.

Installation and Layout Basics

Poor placement is what turns cheap markers into expensive rework. The sequence is straightforward.

Drive stakes first, deep, at the corners. Look for stakes treated for weather resistance to ensure durability throughout the project. Set them deep into the soil so they don’t shift at the corners of the project area, secure and visible. Then tie them together: use a string line to connect stakes for accurate measurements, and keep the tops of the stakes at a consistent height to avoid confusion during layout.

Lath goes on next. Use lath to create straight lines across the site, attaching it to stakes at regular intervals to maintain a consistent reference. Add paint or flagging tape to make every marker easier to spot.

Then check your work — and keep checking it. Misalignment leads to significant layout errors, costly rework, and delays, and heavy rains or winds can displace stakes or lath, causing inaccuracies. The fix is simple: regularly verify the positioning of stakes, especially after adverse weather conditions, to maintain accuracy. After a Montana windstorm or a hard spring rain, walk the layout before anyone digs.

This isn’t busywork. Accurate site layout cuts project delays dramatically. And don’t assume it only matters on big commercial jobs — even small DIY projects benefit from clear marking and layout, making stakes and lath essential tools for every construction scenario.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between survey lath and a construction stake? Survey lath is a thin, flat strip of wood used for markings, while stakes are thicker and pointed for placing firmly into the ground. Lath carries flags, paint, and notes you can read from a distance. Stakes hold their position under heavy traffic.

What materials are stakes made from? Construction stakes can be made from wood, plastic, or metal, with each material serving different purposes — wood being common for lighter tasks. Wood survey products typically use SPF, with hardwood blends of oak, aspen, birch, and maple for heavier-duty work.

Can construction stakes be reused? Yes. Many contractors reuse them if they’re still in good condition. That’s where hardwood pays off — denser species hold up to repeated driving.

What size stake do I need? It depends on how deep the stake must seat. Grade stakes run from 6 inches up to 48 inches; hubs and concrete stakes cover similar lengths. Shorter for surface marking, longer for stakes that have to stay put through grading and weather.

Why does it matter which one I grab? Because the wrong choice fails at the wrong time. Poor-quality pieces split, bend, or break when hammered into the ground, which causes delays and frustration. Strong, straight wood lasts longer and performs better. Match the tool to the stage — lath for the big picture, stakes for the critical points, shims and wedges for the final level.