Every successful construction project begins with accurate layout, and layout depends on clear, visible, and reliable survey markings. From small residential lots to multi-phase commercial developments, the right field marking tools are the foundation of build accuracy.
At Stevenson Supply & Tractor Co., we’ve supported Northern California contractors and grading crews for decades. One of the most overlooked (but mission-critical) parts of your jobsite toolkit is your marking paint, lath, stakes, hubs, and flagging. These basic contractor surveying supplies are the language of layout, and if that language isn’t clear, your project is already behind.
This blog breaks down:
Let’s dig into the tools that keep your plans on the ground and your project on track.
Marking paint is often the first thing a surveyor or field crew applies to raw ground and it sets the tone for everything that follows. Whether it’s property boundaries, trench locations, cut/fill lines, or utility routes, marking paint turns your plans into visible, physical instructions.
Following APWA (American Public Works Association) color codes helps avoid costly mistakes or dangerous surprises:
Note: For layout, white and pink are your primary go-tos. They stand out on soil and are universally recognized by inspectors, utility locators, and subcontractors.
Lath, hubs, and stakes provide the physical reference points used for measurements, alignments, and elevations. While they seem like simple pieces of wood, each type serves a specific role:
Tool | Use Case |
Hub | Centerline or point reference at ground level |
Lath | Visual marker to display notes/elevations next to a hub |
Stake | Property corners, rough layout, or control points |
Guard Stake | Used in high-traffic areas to protect reference points |
Pro Tip:
Always set lath on the same side of the hub for consistency, typically north or west unless otherwise noted. This ensures layout crews understand which direction to measure offsets from.
Flagging tape (sometimes called ribbon or survey tape) adds visibility and information to your ground references. It’s lightweight, non-adhesive, and often tied around lath, stakes, or trees.
Like paint, flagging colors often follow APWA conventions, though they can also reflect internal project standards or subcontractor preferences.
Contractors often underestimate how much productivity is lost due to unclear or missing layout. Crews guess, double-check, or wait for clarification, and that costs time and money.
A contractor ordered fence installation based on stakes that were moved by a landscape crew. The original paint was rained out, and the only remaining marks were unflagged lath with no legible notes. The fence crew ended up re-shooting the line, costing two hours of labor, across 3 crew members.
Proper layout includes redundancy, paint + hub + lath + flag = clarity. Don’t rely on one tool to tell the story.
We stock:
Need help deciding how much to order or how to prep a site with multiple subs? Our team has field experience and local project insight, we’ll help you build a custom kit based on your crew size, soil conditions, and project complexity.
Whether you’re staking the first point on a subdivision or marking trench paths for utilities, your layout markings are the language of the jobsite. Paint, lath, stakes, and flagging may be simple tools, but they carry critical information that ensures accurate execution across every trade.
Cut corners here, and you invite miscommunication, rework, or even safety risks. Invest in quality, consistency, and proven methods, and your entire project will benefit.
Visit Stevenson Supply & Tractor Co. for the full layout toolbox because the first mark you make should be the last one you need.
Give us a call at (707) 575-3335 or contact us online to speak with one of our experts about your project.
