Survey Lath and Grade Stakes

Here’s the thing that trips people up at the counter: the word “lath” covers two completely different products. One is a thin wood strip you push into the ground to mark a property corner. The other is a structural metal mesh that holds stucco and stone veneer to a wall. Same word. Different jobs. Different aisle.

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

This guide sorts out the wood markers — stakes, survey lath, and shims — from the structural lath used in cladding. Start by asking which job you’re doing. That answer points you to the right product every time.

Wood Lath Versus Construction Stakes

Both go in the ground. Both are wood. That’s where the resemblance ends.

Wooden laths are thin, long strips of wood. They’re lightweight and easy to carry around the site, and because they stand taller than most grass and dirt piles, workers can see them from far away. They work best when you need to show a location clearly rather than hold something heavy in place — quick to install, easy to move if plans change. Property lines, underground pipe runs, the path of a road or sidewalk. That’s lath territory.

Construction stakes are the opposite build. They’re thicker and stronger than laths — shorter but much tougher, designed to stay firmly in the ground even when heavy machines move around them. They act like anchors, holding strings or boards that guide digging and building, marking the exact points that must not change. Foundation corners, trench lines, grading levels.

The split comes down to one trade-off. Laths focus on visibility; stakes focus on strength.

Feature	Wood Lath	Construction Stakes
Shape & size	Long, thin, often tall	Short, thick, stout
Primary purpose	Mark boundaries and points visibly	Establish strong ground markers
Best stage	Early survey, layout marking	Active building and grading
Visibility	Excellent at distance	Better for close, precise references
Durability in ground	Less sturdy	Highly durable

Don’t think of it as choosing one. The best projects use both: surveyors place laths first to map out the big picture, then once the layout is confirmed, crews add stakes at the most important points to hold strings and guides that machines follow.

This matters more in Montana than in milder country. Heavy equipment like excavators and trucks can easily knock over thin markers — stakes are built to handle that rough environment, stay in place, and give dependable reference points. On a frozen, rutted, machine-heavy jobsite, a thin lath won’t survive what a 2x2 hub shrugs off.

Sizes, Species, and Shims

Stakes and lath come in a wide range, and matching length to the task keeps you from over-buying or under-marking.

Wood hubs and grade stakes. The 2x2 wood hubs run in 12”, 16”, 24”, and 48” lengths, typically bundled 25 to a bundle. The 1x2 wood stakes come in those same lengths, usually 50 to a bundle. Beyond those, manufacturers also turn out 1x3” concrete stakes, 2x2” silt fence stakes, and 1x1” garden stakes.

Species. Survey products are commonly made from premium Spruce, Pine, or Fir (SPF), while hardwood stakes use a mixture of Oak, Aspen, Birch, and Maple. SPF handles standard marking. The dense hardwoods go where you need heavy-duty hold — silt fence, garden stakes, anything fighting wet ground. And for ground contact in Montana’s wet-dry swings, cedar earns its place: made from premium cedar, these items are valued for exceptional resistance to decay and weathering, ideal for outdoor and indoor use.

Survey lath. Grade A lath is typically kiln-dried Southern Yellow Pine in 3/8” and 1/2” nominal thickness. Length is dictated by how much you need to write and how far you need to see it:

Lath length	Best use
12”	Marking house corners in new construction or additions where no writing is needed, with room to flag
16”	House corners, property corners, fence-row placement; room for minimal writing
18”	Houses, buildings, curb and asset marking; enough room for basic job info plus flagging tape
24”	Large construction sites and mass-graded projects; plenty of room for flagging and extensive grade information
30”	Clearing limits, curb and structure marking; popular with surveyors doing heavy construction marking
36”	Most popular for site prep and grading; visible at long distance when flagged or painted
48”	High-visibility work — long distances or wooded areas where long flagging tails are used

Western Building Center carries a 4-foot wood lath, sold each, and a 4-foot wood lath with a point. The 4-foot length is the workhorse for high-visibility grading and clearing work.

That 4-foot lath does double duty. A 4-foot wood lath bundle — net size 1/4” x 1-1/2” x 48”, kiln-dried — is an economical solution for door shims, furring strips, crate framing, installing window insulating film, and surveyor or marking stakes. Species may vary, and it can be painted or stained.

Shims. The finish carpenter’s side of this category. Options run from wood wedges in 2x4-12” bundles to the Winbag fiber-reinforced inflatable shim/wedge. You’ll also find 8” composite shims and KD cedar shims, the cedar again bringing decay and weather resistance for moisture-prone spots. Shims handle leveling, plumb, and alignment on doors, windows, and framing during install — the difference between a door that swings true and one that drifts shut on its own.

Why Dry, Straight Stock Matters Here

This is where Montana punishes shortcuts. Not all wood is the same — poor-quality pieces split, bend, or break when hammered into the ground, causing delays. Strong, straight wood lasts longer, performs better, and saves money because you replace fewer pieces.

Storage is half the battle. Plan your supply ahead so running out doesn’t stall the job, and store wood in a dry place to prevent warping or damage. Kiln-dried stock starts straight; keeping it out of the weather keeps it that way through a wet spring. A warped lath throws off the very measurement you set it to protect.

One more field habit worth keeping: surveyors tie bright ribbons or paint marks on lath so they stand out, and if workers need to see markers from far away, that visibility is the whole point. Flagging tape and paint earn their keep in tall vegetation and busy sites.

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 is for seeing a point from a distance; a stake is for anchoring a point that machinery can’t dislodge.

Can construction stakes be reused? Yes. Many contractors reuse them if they’re still in good condition. Straight, defect-free stock holds up to pulling and re-driving; cheap stock that’s already split won’t.

What length of survey lath should I buy? Match it to writing room and sight distance. Shorter 12” to 16” lath suits house-corner and property-corner marking where little or no writing is needed. Longer 36” to 48” lath is the choice for site prep, grading, and clearing limits where you need visibility at a distance.

Which species holds up best in wet ground? For standard marking, SPF works fine. For heavy-duty or ground-contact use, dense hardwoods like Oak, Birch, and Maple hold better, and cedar resists decay and weathering for outdoor applications.

Are shims only for doors and windows? They’re built for leveling, plumb, and alignment during install, so doors and windows are the common jobs — but the same wedges level framing and cabinetry too. A 4-foot lath bundle also serves as door shims, furring strips, and crate framing, which is why the line between marking lath and shim stock blurs at the bundle.

Why does kiln-dried matter? Moisture moves wood. Kiln-dried stock — the standard for Grade A Southern Yellow Pine lath — starts stable and stays accurate, which is exactly what you want from a marker whose only job is to hold a true line.