In addition, it's rare, but I’ve heard of people actually stealing them, (most likely the same guys only charging $20 for a drive) but this can never be 100% prevented, however placing them a little later in the season can help. Kids love to whack each other with snow stakes so depending on where your account is located in proximity to any schools or walking routes you may want to wait. Some people will say place them before any snow has fallen to save time when it starts getting crazy, however this does have some drawbacks to consider. There is some debate on when is the best time to place snow stakes. When is the best time to place your driveway markers?
Driveway reflector install#
You can use Google maps to match everything up with your notes so it takes less time when you’re ready to install your snow stakes. For new accounts, it’s good to survey them right away and always take good notes.
When is the best time to survey your accounts?įor any existing accounts, you can usually survey these while doing fall cleanup, but if they are a "snow only" customer you can go double check everything around the first frost. A good rule is place one marker every 10-15 feet. The amount of snow stakes needed on any particular property will vary, however when you’re first starting out or have acquired a new account it’s always better to use more and scale back if needed. How many driveway markers should you use? This strategy can reduce the cost, but still keep you covered from obstacles. For example, you can use one reflective, then one non-reflective, then another reflective, and so on. Non-reflective driveway markers still have value and can be used to supplement your reflective markers. In the daytime or night the reflective snow stakes will provide a better reference point and are just overall easier to see. Reflective driveway markers are far superior to non-reflective markers, but they are also more expensive. With customers who may have kids, pets, they can’t drive and/or have frequent guests that can't drive, it’s smart to have the better stakes in place, or pullup the next storm to find all of your stakes broken or missing. Residential accounts are where you’ll want to use only fiberglass stakes. If they require a certain type of stake, then keeping them happy is always a good thing.
Really, it comes down to what the property manager wants. Only use the fiberglass in high traffic areas or for important obstacles like fire hydrants, etc. When it comes to these abstract types of drives you really have to use your judgement on how many snow stakes are needed, but it’s a good idea to place more since breaking your plow or a customer’s decorative gnome will most certainly cost more than another box of driveway markers.Ĭommercial accounts usually require the use of more snow stakes than residential accounts however, in most spots you can use the cheaper wood stakes to keep costs down. Curved driveways are much trickier even for experienced plowers so it’s a good idea to stake everything you would with a straight driveway, but also at key points around the curve. Straight driveways are relatively simple and don’t usually require using many stakes besides marking the entrance, any obstacles, and the spot where you plan to make snow piles.
They are also easier to push into the ground and you can pound them with a mallet. Lastly, the fiberglass driveway markers can usually be reused year to year, well at least the ones still around in spring. The fiberglass snow stakes also come in several colors so you do not have to paint the tips like with wood stakes. Fiberglass driveway markers are more expensive, but they can also take more abuse and bounce back most times when snow is rolled on them. When the wood stakes break they also can cause a poking hazard and nobody wants a lawsuit. If you are the only person, plowing you should be fine. One good place to use wood is if you are only doing your private lot or drive. You will probably break a few installing them so just keep that in mind. Wood driveway markers usually cost less about 10-20 cents less per stick, but they also break easier and more frequently. Here are some techniques to help you regarding everything about snow stakes. Now, as your plowing skills mature and you become better acquainted with the little nuances of every account that you service, you’ll need less and less driveway markers every season, but trust me you’ll rarely find a contractor not using any at all. It’s probably the smartest and most cost effective way to protect your equipment from unseen obstacles. One of the first things you learn very quickly in the snow removal business is ALWAYS USE DRIVEWAY MARKERS. 10 Tips To Using Snow Stakes and Driveway Markers
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