Wood Stakes vs. Polymer Snow Stakes

Winter weather can be treacherous. Piles of snow, hidden ice, and windy conditions are just a few of the cold-weather hazards that make navigating the roads a risky proposition. That’s why marking stakes were originally invented: to ensure road visibility and safety for motorists and snow plow operators. But not all marking stakes are made equal. When it comes to durability, visibility, cost-effectiveness, and ease of installation, polymer snow stakes are an obvious improvement over conventional wood stakes.

Let’s compare and contrast the two options.

Visibility of Wood Stakes vs. Polymer Stakes

When it's dumping snow, it can be tough to see anything on the road. It becomes hard to tell where the road ends and the sidewalk begins. Without markers guiding the way, a motorist or plow operator can easily veer from the motorway or driveway into hazards like curbs, fire hydrants, ditches, or a person’s property.

The perfect marking stake will make it easier to see obstacles and hazards on the road, even when the weather is terrible, helping keep everyone safe and protecting people's homes.

Traditionally, wooden stakes were simply cut and planted in the ground without much modification. They may have been painted, but even those versions provided little extra visibility, particularly in low-light conditions.

Conversely, polymer snow stakes are designed with visibility in mind. Three features, in particular, help them stand out in a storm:

1. High-visibility colors – High-quality snow stakes will come in a variety of bright, high-visibility colors—including orange, green, red, blue, and pink—that can be easily spotted even in adverse weather conditions.
2. Reflective indicators – Polymer stakes are also reflective, meaning they’ll redirect and amplify light from a car’s headlights or streetlights, which greatly enhances nighttime and low-light visibility.
3. Sizes – Polymer stakes can come in different sizes, like 26”, 36”, and 48” high. This ensures that even if there’s heavy snowfall or pile-ups, the marker will remain visible.

Quality of Wood Stakes vs. Polymer Stakes

Wood stakes typically won’t withstand winter conditions for multiple seasons. The combination of water and cold temperatures causes them to splinter, crack, and break over time.

Polymer snow stakes, on the other hand, can be made of hollow high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which is shock-absorbent, durable, and water-resistant. They can endure heavy snow, cold temperatures, or even a hit from a car without snapping.

Put simply, a polymer stake is precisely designed for harsh winter weather conditions. As a result, you can expect these types of stakes to last for much longer than their wooden counterparts.

Cost of Wood Stakes vs. Polymer Stakes

Polymer stakes may have a higher initial price tag, but over the long run, you’ll get more bang for your buck.

As mentioned, wooden snow stakes are prone to damage. When they break, they’ll need to be replaced. This means costs can add up over time.

But, once you purchase polymer stakes, you won’t need to replace them for a long while, making them a better long-term investment.

Installing of Wood Stakes vs. Polymer Stakes

One of the most frustrating aspects of wooden stakes is installation.

The typical method for marker installation was laborious and time-intensive, seeing as wooden stakes needed to be drilled or pounded into the ground. And if the ground was cold, good luck digging deep enough.

However, with polymer snow stakes—specifically, Plow Right Marking Stakes—installation is fast and painless. Our innovative installation tool follows an easy three-step process that eliminates the need to drill or pound the stake into the ground, making it possible to install hundreds of stakes in an hour.

Just slide the marking stake into the installation tool, push the tool into the ground, and remove the tool to leave the stake firmly in place.

Plow Right Marking Stakes—The Newer, Better Marking Stake

Wooden marking stakes have long played an important role in improving motor safety during the winter. And, in a pinch, they can still be useful. But, since their introduction, newer, superior technologies have replaced these outmoded tools.

At Plow Right Marking Stakes, our polymer markers are the ultimate way you can protect your home, business, sidewalks, or roadways this winter. And our high-vis, high-quality, low-cost marking stakes couldn’t be easier to install.

Ready to change the way you put down markers? Shop Plow Right Marking Stakes.