Maintaining order in large parking lots is crucial to preventing accidents and injuries. Parking lot markings tell drivers where to go and how to maneuver in potentially tight spaces. However, the act of painting out these lines and symbols isn\u2019t always as straightforward as you\u2019d think. In understanding these different factors to consider when painting a parking lot, you can ensure that you and your team complete the job successfully. Here, we\u2019ll detail what you need to know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
When painting a heavily populated area like a parking lot, the time of day you choose to do it can greatly impact your success. This is especially true in cases where you need to repaint over faded lines and markings. Projects like these need to wait until the servicing buildings close. This way, you have the entire empty parking lot to work with, and you don\u2019t need to worry about pedestrians and drivers getting in your way. You could also choose to start the job before opening hours. However, there\u2019s a greater risk that the paint won\u2019t dry in time for heavy traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As you prepare for your parking lot striping job, you should also spend some time cleaning the pavement of any surface debris. Things like dust, trash, and rocks can get in the way of your painting efforts and reduce the quality of your results. Additionally, even a thin coating of material can prevent the paint from properly adhering to the pavement. Because of this, make sure that you sweep the parking lot well before proceeding with striping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another crucial factor to consider when painting a parking lot is the type of paint you use. Not just any standard paint will work well on concrete. Home paints, for instance, aren\u2019t formulated to adhere to pavement surfaces. For this reason, you\u2019ll need something specialized for asphalt or concrete. Even then, you still need to choose between solvent-based and water-based paint mixtures. Solvent paints are traditional for parking lot striping. However, water-based products are more environmentally friendly, and, as such, many states mandate their use over solvent varieties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n