The Most Common Questions About Parking Lot Striping
It is hard to believe that parking lots did not exist until a little over a century ago. After Henry Ford introduced the assembly line to the world of automakers in 1908, the price of cars plummeted. The lower price meant that the average American family could now afford a private automobile. In most cities, the downtown district contained a concentration of the town’s most important businesses. Given the size and limited maneuverability of the vehicles of the time, it was essential to find an alternative to parking parallel to the curbs. Although several cities claim to have been the site of the first parking lot in America, the earliest claim dates to 1914. Today, paved lots have become commonplace, and virtually all of them feature professional parking lot striping.
Why Is Parking Lot Striping Important?
Lot striping serves a variety of functions. Parking lot line striping defines individual parking spaces so that drivers can judge their proximity to neighboring spaces. This reduces door dents, but it also helps optimize the number of vehicles that the lot can accommodate. Parking lot line striping helps keep all drivers on the same page, and this can enhance safety within the lot. Professional asphalt striping also helps ensure compliance with legal regulations, and it enhances your property’s curb appeal.
Is Line Striping the Same Thing as Road Striping?
Both terms refer to placing a straight line on a pavement, typically with paint. A striping company will normally refer to centerlines, lane markers, and edge lines on thoroughfares as examples of road striping. In addition to the difference in the location, the type of paint can also vary.
Is There a Difference Between Lot Striping and Pavement Marking?
In a manner of speaking, all lines are technically pavement markings, but not all pavement markings are lines. Your striping contractor will usually refer to the lines around the individual stalls as line striping. To your contractor, pavement markings are crosswalks, traffic arrows, stop bars, the stencils identifying accessible parking spaces, and the like. Pavement markings can also contain words; the words may exist on their own, or they may appear with symbols.
How Much Will Asphalt Striping Disrupt My Operation?
If you choose a reputable, experienced striping contractor, you can minimize any potential inconvenience. Most contractors are happy to accommodate your scheduling needs by working on days when your business is not open. If the weather is cooperative, your contractor may even be able to stripe your parking lot at night. If that is not possible, they can stripe and mark one portion of your lot at a time. Furthermore, on a warm, sunny day, your paint will probably be dry enough for you to allow vehicles to enter within an hour or so.
How Often Should I Repaint My Parking Lot Striping and Markings?
That depends on the amount of traffic your parking lot supports, how frequently vehicles come and go, and the condition of your pavement. Typically, asphalt striping paint has a life of around two years. However, you may need to call your striping company sooner if any of the following apply.
1. Your paint begins to peel, blister, or flake.
2. You sealcoat your parking lot.
3. You notice lines or makings with severe stains.
4. You find puddles of oil or other vehicle fluids on your markings or lines.
5. Your paint has become so faded that its visibility has dropped below 75% of its original condition.
Whatever issue you might have with your asphalt parking lot, Asphalt Care Services can help. We offer a range of services, including lot striping, pavement markings, asphalt paving, parking lot maintenance, asphalt resurfacing, thermoplastic line striping, concrete wheel stops, asphalt repairs, traffic sign installation, speed bump installation, and asphalt sealcoating. We are a respected company with an exemplary reputation and outstanding references. For a free job quote, email [email protected], submit our request form online, or call 772-888-2840.
