Parking Lot Striping

Parking Lot Striping and Pavement Marking

Whether you’re looking to stripe a new parking lot or re-stripe an existing parking lot there are many important factors to consider:

When it comes to the layout, how wide should the individual spaces be? Where and when should hashing marks be applied? How many handicap spaces are required per ADA specifications? When and where is fire lane stenciling required? How many feet of curb should be marker for fire lane? When and where are forward arrows and turn arrows required or suggested? When and where is directional stenciling required?

When it comes to the application, what colors are best for parking lot design? What colors are required for fire and safety code or handicap spaces? Which application is better latex (water based) paint or oil based paint?

These and many other questions are very important when it comes to pavement marking.

There are two types of pavement marking or traffic paint. Water based latex or oil based paint.

On a new asphalt parking lot, oil based paint is the optimum paint to use to bind better to the new apshalt. On a new concrete parking lot, ????? paint shoud be used. Paver parking lots ?????????

Re-striping, water based can be used.

If you’re in need of re-striping, it’s absolutely necessary that the parking lot is clean from sand dirt and debris. otherwise, just like painting anything else, it wont stick.

Frequent ongoing re-striping of every 2 to 3 years!

Choosing The Right Layout For Your Commercial Property

When choosing between an asphalt parking lot and the other three types of parking lots, take into the consideration these things:

Maximizing Space – Smooth Traffic Flow – Pedestrian Safety – A.D.A. Compliance – Fire and Safety Code

If the short term, up front cost is a deciding factor, gravel parking lots or asphalt parking lots are excellent, low cost options, depending on the size of your parking lot and the thickness requirements. The long term trade off however, is gravel parking lots and asphalt parking lots require more ongoing maintenance. If cost is not as important of a factor, and aesthetics are more important, then concrete parking lots or permeable paver parking lots are the alternatives for a hard surface parking lot. While initially the up front costs are higher, long term they require less maintenance therefore less maintenance costs.

Also take into consideration the effects of an asphalt parking lot if it’s not maintained properly or how it can look as it ages.

Asphalt parking lots can be a beautiful and economical solution for commercial properties. They provide a very sharp, clean, sleek black look which is more inviting to prospective tenants and their customers. The black color of an asphalt parking lot is also very appealing for snow melt in the wintertime. The black asphalt heats up from the warmth of the sun and melts off the snow and ice much faster. Asphalt parking lots come in only one color, but there are however, new sealers on the market that offer a variety of colors to choose from. See some different Colorful Design Ideas For Asphalt Parking Lots.

When it comes to durability, keep in mind the amount of traffic and the type of traffic your parking lot will endure. Fire stations, car washes, or any other type of business that will have to endure exceptioanally heavy vehicles, an above average amount of heavier vehicle traffic, or an above average amount of water runoff, a concrete parking lot may be a much better, longer term solution. Learn more about concrete parking lots here.

If you’re considering having a new asphalt parking lot installed, an existing one overlayed or completely removed and replaced, see our Asphalt Parking Lot Installation FAQ’s section for more information to ensure yourself a good, quality long lasting job.

You can also learn more about the ongoing maintenance of an asphalt parking lot by visiting our Asphalt Parking Lot Maintenance FAQ’s section!

Before you hire a contractor to install or perform maintenance on your asphalt parking lot, be sure and review our video and eBook series, "The Most Common Ways Asphalt Contractors Rip Us Off And How To Avoid Them" TM You’ll learn everything you need to know in order to hire a reputable contractor and get the job done right the first time!

Or make it easy on yourself! Save time, money and future headaches by hiring one of our pre-screened and background checked asphalt companies to install, remove and replace or perform maintenance services on your asphalt parking lot! Learn more or request an estimate from one of our Trusted Asphalt Installation or Asphalt Repair Contractors in your local area!