Parking Lot Striping and Marking

The first thing people experience when they visit a commercial space isn’t the interior décor or the front desk; it’s the parking lot. A well-marked and laid-out parking lot makes it easier to know where to park, walk, and stop and influences the first impressions of your business.

At Dominic’s Paving, we know how important parking lot markings are, and we are dedicated to helping you make that excellent and lasting first impression. Our team will help with the design and layout, restriping, lettering, no-parking signs, and handicap stencils to promote convenience and safety.

Contact us today at (301) 916-8770 for a consultation and review.

What is Parking Lot Striping and Marking?

These are even and straight parking lot lines that are often painted with white or yellow traffic paint. The paint helps drivers and pedestrians identify the direction of traffic, where parking is allowed and where it’s not, and spots designated for the handicapped. The paint used is extra durable and adheres well to asphalt and concrete.

Parking lot Striping and Parking Equipment

Drawing straight and even lines free-hand is challenging. As such, professionals use striping equipment to do a clean job. The machines used can be simple or complicated. Some of the technologies striping machines use to do a good job include:

Laser Guides

Replacing faded or dull markings is essential to guarantee safety, but it’s challenging. Laser guides help ensure the new lines are perfectly outlined on the previous lines using a light beam.

Reflective Bead Dispenser

Reflective beads in parking lots increase parking spot visibility for pedestrians and vehicles at night. Attaching the reflective bead dispensers to line stripping machines eliminates the need for manual placement. This improves results and saves time.

Spray Shields

Paint leaving line striping equipment is vulnerable to wind. All it takes is a gust of wind between the spray tip and the parking lot’s surface to divert the stream of paint, leading to irregular lines. Spray shields protect the paint from winds, guaranteeing an uninterrupted paint stream each time.

Dominic’s Paving uses high-tech equipment to guarantee straight and even lines on your parking lot. Contact us today for a consultation on your project.

Types of Paint Used for Parking Lot Striping and Marking

Different types of paints are used to mark parking lots. These include:

  • Water-based paint: This paint is predominantly water and is the most affordable and environmentally friendly paint. It also dries faster than other options.
  • Solvent-based or oil-based paint: Oil is the main ingredient in this type of paint. It’s widely used because it’s durable and doesn’t freeze in cold weather. Overall, it’s good value for your money.
  • Thermoplastic paint: This type of paint contains plastic elements and is by far the most durable of all paint options. Expectedly, it’s also the most expensive.

How to Choose the Layout of a Parking Lot Marking

Every parking lot is unique, so the definition of ‘the most effective layout’ varies. Our team considers several elements when deciding on the best layout. These include:

  • The best flow of traffic: Would it be more efficient to have two-way traffic or one-way traffic?
  • Exit and entrance points of the parking lot: How will the vehicles in the parking space be positioned when they get to the parking area?
  • Capacity: How many spaces does the parking lot require?
  • Safety and spacing: Which design and layout will best prevent overcrowding and maximize space? The goal is to ensure the layout is safe for all vehicles that exit and enter, even when the parking lot is full.

That said, the most popular parking designs are parallel parking, perpendicular parking, and angle parking. Depending on the specifics of the lot, any of the three parking space designs can be the best.

The ideal dimensions for the parking lot striping and marking are nine feet wide and 18 feet long. This space is sufficient to fit most vehicles today!

Get Professional Help
Paving – Dominic's Paving

It’s up to you to understand the rules of the HOA and to ensure your project is legal in your residential community. You can determine this by consulting with the HOA leaders in your community. They’ll provide you with the information you need and even show you the charters and bylaws that govern the community.
Once you have all the information you need, contact Dominic’s Paving at (301) 916-8770 for a consultation and a free estimate.

ADA Handicap Compliance Parking Lot Striping and Marking

The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requires that every accessible parking spot be at least 8 feet wide with painted lines at least 4 inches thick to guarantee visual guidance. An adjacent aisle should also be 60 inches wide, which allows those in wheelchairs to maneuver around their vehicle safely.

However, these requirements do not apply to parking areas exclusively used by trucks, buses, and delivery vehicles.

Process of Applying Parking Lot Markings

Parking lot striping and marking involve two main installation processes. The first is the overlay process, which involves applying adhesive asphalt to the pavement. This process requires removing existing pavement markings.

The pavement marking is heated and removed using infrared heaters. These heaters liquefy the marking material without damaging the pavement’s hydrocarbon constituents. They reach temperatures as high as 200 degrees Fahrenheit. After this process, the pavement marking is cooled to solidify.

Keep your Parking Lot Safe and Organized with Dominic's Paving

Asphalt pavement marking is crucial not only during installation but also when customizing the appearance of parking areas to suit your preferences.

While the process of removing or applying pavement markings is complex, it is essential for adapting roadways and parking areas to new requirements and aesthetics. Contact our team today at (301) 916-8770 for a consultation and a free estimate.

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