![]() If you ask plow pros where they set their snow stakes, many might tell you they place 1 to 2 inches away from the road or drive. You can always trim the number of stakes down if necessary. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, though, so we recommend using a few extra stakes. Spacing the driveway markers ten to fifteen feet apart is best practice. When you’ve just started plowing for the first time or when you’ve acquired a new property to plow, it’s important to understand the proper frequency for placing stakes. Thanks to our plowing expertise, we ensure we have a steady supply of driveway markers even through the off-season. This is where The ROP Shop leads the pack. When they run out, they don’t restock until the following year. Most suppliers restock at the beginning of a season. Just don’t forget to consider stake availability. If you’re plowing for a high-profile account such as a hospital, school, or senior residence, some contractors will wait until between the first 2 to 6 inches of snow. ![]() By this time, most customers are already thinking ahead and are ready to prepare for winter. Most professionals would recommend October for North America. This does vary by the region where you reside in some places, the ground might freeze sooner than the first snowfall. There’s some disagreement over the ideal time to put your snow stakes in the ground. If they require a specific type of stake or marker, you can always take that into consideration when quoting their snow removal rates. If you want to keep your customer, you also want them to be happy with your results. It all boils down to what the property owner/management wants. Are there children, pets, or elderly or disabled individuals? Be sure to stake high-traffic locations or areas that are required to stay cleared (such as fire hydrants). Also, consider who will be present on the property. COMMERCIALĬommercial properties often need more snow stakes than residential ones. Based on this, you’ll be able to figure out where to install your snow stakes, saving time and effort. This will let the customer point out areas that need clearing first and where the snow should be piled up. Utilize Google Maps and bring a printed copy of the satellite view of the property. Have a list of questions prepared for the customer so you can best meet their needs. However, when you get a new account, it’s good business practice to survey it as soon as possible and take thorough notes. You also don’t want to wait too late and have them switch to your competitor. You don’t want to hit them up too early, because they’re likely not even thinking about snowfall yet. You can generally survey current clients around the first frost. Any material other than wood or fiberglass is likely to accidentally harm something or someone. Just keep in mind that you should never substitute rebar or PVC pipe for wood or fiberglass snow stakes. Or you can check out tip number #7 below! If you use a drill to create pilot holes, be prepared to burn through several bits. Installing these can still be a pain, especially if the ground is already frozen or if your soil is rocky. While fiberglass stakes are more expensive, they tend to last longer and perform more dependably in harsh environments. If you’re concerned about visibility, you’ll probably want to paint your wooden stakes or apply reflective tape. However, they tend to split during installation, and they aren’t as sturdy as their fiberglass cousin. Wooden markers usually cost an average of 10-20 cents each, making them the more affordable option. WHICH TYPE OF MARKER DO YOU NEED, WOOD OR FIBERGLASS? Here are our top ten tips from our professional plowing team for making the most of your marking and plowing process. However, they aren’t perfect (because nothing is). Fiberglass stakes are lighter, more visible, and far easier to install. Thankfully, the introduction of fiberglass driveway markers in recent years has revolutionized the plowing process. Not to mention that they were hard to see, especially in the early morning or late evening. Or, if they broke during plowing season when the ground was already frozen, replacing them was a massive pain. It was back-breaking work to pound them into the ground with a sledgehammer, made even worse if the stupid stakes broke during installation. You might have used wooden stakes for this, back in the day. One product that will help you do both is driveway markers, also called snow stakes. You also need to get it done without destroying the property or your equipment. When plowing, you don’t just want to be quick at clearing the lot so you can move on to the next. Having grown from a single truck and plow to an entire fleet, we know that efficiency and precision are essential to staying profitable. We’ve learned a thing or two during our 34+ years of plowing snow. Septem10 PRO TIPS: USING SNOW STAKES/DRIVEWAY MARKERS FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL SNOWPLOWING
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