05 Jul
When Does Parking Lot Paint Need Replacing?
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Picture this: A customer pulls into your parking lot and immediately leaves because they can’t figure out what is a parking space and what isn’t. If this is any indication of how you run a business, they don’t want to be part of it.
If your business parking lot lines are fading, you need to retouch your parking lot paint. Not only will this increase the value of your business, but it can also attract customers.
How often should you restripe your parking lot? Keep reading to find out the answer.
Parking Lot Paint: When Should I Restripe?
Parking lot paint replacement depends on several factors.
The most important factor to consider is how much traffic your parking lot sees every day. The more cars that come through your lot, the faster the lines will fade and need restriping.
Restriping your parking lot lines every 18-24 months is a good rule of thumb to follow. Sticking to this timeframe will help keep your parking lot looking its best.
How long the restriping process takes depends on the size of your parking lot. You’ll also want to choose the right paint because it can impact how long the process takes as well.
Once the lines are restriped, they will dry within as little as 30 minutes. To be on the safe side, keep cars off of the lot for at least one hour after the restriping.
Factors That Impact Parking Lot Restriping
Restriping your parking lot requires you to section off some of your day where you can keep visitors from using the space. You’ll need little to no disruption to the process so that it’s effective.
These are factors that impact parking lot restriping:
Time
Maintenance isn’t usually the first thing on your mind after your parking lot is freshly done and striped. However, the striping can last up to two years if you take care of it properly.
It’s a good idea to check the paint after 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months.
Noticing that the stripes fade after a year or within the other time frames means you should schedule parking lot restriping.
Always choose a reasonable period for restriping before the lines fade entirely.
Environmental Factors
One of the main reasons for frequent striping is because of weather elements. Sun, snow, and rain can beat down on the parking lot and chip away the paint over time.
If you start noticing that strips are harder to see after a storm or particularly sunny day, parking lot striping is necessary.
Amount of Traffic
Parking lot painting timelines typically depend on the amount of traffic the lot gets. When vehicles move over the stripes, the paint slowly chips away. Hundreds of cars repeating this process cause the paint to wear down quicker.
This means that parking stripes will fade quicker on parking lots with a lot of traffic. Stripes last longer in parking lots that don’t see a lot of daily movement.
If you have a busy parking lot, it’s best to schedule regular restriping in short intervals. For example, consider yearly maintenance unless your traffic starts to die down.
Parking Lot Resurfacing
Parking lot striping services might suggest that you resurface your asphalt parking lot after several years of use or damage.
Resurfacing adds a new layer of asphalt and covers the paintwork. You’ll need fresh striping if you opt for parking lot resurfacing since the previous lines won’t be visible under the dark layer of asphalt.
New stripe work comes with many benefits. For one, you have the opportunity to change the layout of your parking lot to improve movement and hopefully lessen the number of times you need restriping.
It’s a good idea to schedule parking lot resurfacing after your striping has faded a good amount. This is so you don’t waste money by covering up a newer restriping process.
What Parking Lot Paint Should You Use?
Standard paints don’t adhere properly to asphalt or concrete. Paints like acrylic and latex can peel off surfaces in a shorter amount of time. There are usually bubbles and the paint might get pushed off of the pavement.
It’s essential to have traffic paint that is specifically formulated to adhere to the pavement. Asphalt and concrete paints are either water-based or solvent-based.
When you work with a professional parking lot striping service, you’ll have access to the correct paints and won’t have to complete the labor yourself. They will also have different colors of paint available depending on your needs.
Parking Lot Safety
Replacing parking lot paint is important for parking lot safety. Stripes act as guides for drivers to operate their vehicles in an adequate space. With restriping, cars don’t interfere with others in a parking lot.
Without stripes, drivers waste space and wreak havoc in the parking lot.
Stripes can also indicate parking spots reserved for the following:
- Senior company staff
- Loading areas
- Handicap
- Bikes
Arrows on the ground indicate lane directions and pedestrian walkways to reduce parking lot accidents.
It’s also important to note that handicap spots in your parking lot have to be adequately marked so that other drivers don’t take up these spots.
The law requires that your parking lot has accessible parking spaces.
A person who is penalized for parking in an unmarked handicap spot can use your failure to provide guidance as a reason. If this happens, the law will instead turn on you and require you to pay a penalty.
Hire Professional Parking Lot Paint Striping Services
Your parking lot paint has an effect on the safety of your parking lot and the value of your business. If customers see that your parking lot is raggedy and not well taken care of, they’ll get a bad impression.
To maintain your parking lot paint, it’s important to restripe the area regularly. In general, restripe your parking lot every 18-24 months.
The best way to handle this process is by hiring professional parking lot striping services. We are here to help you! Contact us today to discuss our services and receive a free quote.