A professional parking lot is valued by many. Property managers, business owners—anyone who drives a car can appreciate a well-organized parking lot. By smoothly guiding drivers through the area, it reflects a well ordered business interaction to come. First impressions matter, and a safe parking lot shows a safe and professional company. Furthermore, safety and efficiency follow us as we drive home on shared roads to park in our driveways. Anywhere cars drive, striping experts are involved to keep the painting done well.
There’s more to it than just the paint. RTA Parking Lot Striping knows that you care about each person who parks in your parking lot and values creating the best experience for everyone. A lot (ha!) goes into your parking lot to make it precise, compliant, and ready for long-term use. In the following we will take you through the steps of road, driveway, and curb markings that parking lot stripers use to polish and perfect your lot.
1. Initial Planning and Site Assessment
Striping starts simple. A parking lot striper, whether they work for a larger striping company or are a solo operation like me, begins by understanding the client’s goals. What do they want from their parking lot, and can it be accomplished with well-planned road markings? Common issues solved by striping are ADA compliance, unideal traffic flow, or outdated lot layout.
The striper will talk with the client of the parking lot to assess:
- Current traffic patterns and flow.
- The needs of pedestrians.
- Compliance requirements, both federal and local.
Then a call is made on whether the lot needs a redesign. If it’s not serving its purpose to the business, with unmaximized stalls or confusing traffic direction, it may be time to shake things up. Parking lot stripers are experts and can use their knowledge to plan and create an ideal and efficient configuration for each parking lot. Depending on the professional, they may include the curbs surrounding the lot. Curbs are often marked for fire lanes, no parking, and loading areas.
2. Surface Assessment and Preparation
No matter which project is being undertaken, a key step is assessing the condition of the surface to be painted. When the surface isn’t properly prepared, the paint doesn’t adhere as well and is more likely to fail. Depending on the condition, a variety of processes of increasing intensity are used to prepare the area. They are:
- Sweeping (powered or manual) and blowing, to clear the area of dirt and other debris.
- Pressure washing to remove more solid oil and grime.
- Scarification to remove any remaining paint completely.
- Sealing or repairing damage, to fill any cracks or holes, for a flat surface.
Preparation makes a world of difference when done right.
3. Choosing the Right Paint and Materials
Depending on the setting and purpose, different paints are required. After all, a parking lot and a highway serve different purposes altogether. Paint choice will impact the safety, visibility, and lifespan of the paint. Common materials are:
- Water-based Traffic Paint: Environmentally friendly and quick-drying, ideal for most parking lots and driveways in moderate climates.
- Oil-based Traffic Paint: Durable, fast drying and weather-resistant.
- Thermoplastic Markings: Melted plastic that adheres to the surface, used for roads or high-traffic areas requiring extra durability.
- MMA (Methyl Methacrylate): A long-lasting material used in demanding or specialty applications like bike lanes or custom crosswalks.
- Reflective Glass beads: Added to paint for nighttime visibility on roads and driveways.
RTA Parking Lot Striping uses traffic paint in most cases. I paint lots, few roadways, but knowing what makes roadways safe is useful. Most parking lots do not require reflective beads embedded in the paint, though roads do to keep drivers safe at night. It’s interesting stuff!
4. Precision Layout and Application
Accurate and even placement is what makes markings shine. A plan is created, approved, and executed. Each professional’s layout process is different. It may include:
- Chalk, tape, or string guides that act as a base.
- Double-checking for proper measurements, especially for accessible spaces and fire lanes.
- Laying out and aligning stencils for arrows and other symbols.
After the layout, paint striping machines are used to put down lines of consistent width for the stalls. For more intricate work, hand-painting or stencil techniques may be used. Painting curbs or symbols is often (but not always) done without the striping machine. Here’s what may be included in a lot to improve its safety and appearance:
- Standard parking lot stalls, along with spaces for compact and oversized vehicles.
- ADA markings, such as accessible lanes.
- Directional arrows, when traffic must be guided.
- Curb painting to designate fire lanes, loading zones, or anything else of significance.
During this step, a parking lot striper must stay compliant with ADA, fire codes, state Department of Transportation standards, and any relevant municipal codes to avoid creating safety hazards or fines.
5. Finishing Touches
It’s time to watch paint dry. Not for too long, though! Most traffic paint dries within an half an hour under ideal conditions. When it’s finished, a final walkthrough is done to double-check that each line is up to standard. Then you’re all set! All paint will fade, but a well-done job will keep the lot looking nice well into the future.
A nice parking lot takes upkeep. Striping professionals know what needs to be done and have the resources to do it. If you’re dealing with an old, faded parking lot, reach out to RTA Parking Lot Striping!