The best parking lots have clear traffic arrows to direct customers safely in and out of the lot.
While you may not appreciate prominent parking lines, crosswalks, and flow-of-traffic arrows when they’re there, you’ll certainly notice when they’re not.
When these lines–and the other parking lot markings–become faded, driving in a parking lot becomes that much more hazardous.
Whether you’re a parking lot owner (or just thinking about purchasing a parking lot), it’s important to note that parking lot striping is required every 12 to 18 months. Routine restriping/repainting can reduce parking lot accidents, which account for 1 in 5 car accidents each year.
In this blog post, we’ll delve into the world of parking lot striping, guiding you through the process, cost, and equipment needed to create a safe and visually appealing parking area.
Parking Lot Striping: DIY vs. Hiring a Professional
Properly striped parking lots direct the flow of traffic and reduce fender benders, but parking lot lines aren’t permanent. They start to fade after a year and need to be repainted.
As a property manager, you can either hire a professional to stripe your lot or take the DIY approach.
Step 1: Decide on Parking Lot Markings
Parking lines, directional arrows, crosswalks, and handicap stalls are all essential markings, while reserved spots (like for doctors, residents, or paying members) and loading zones (often designated by a large X, angled lines, or painted “No Parking”) are optional.
Your building might also require a fire lane, marked by a red or yellow strip and the painted words “Fire Lane, No Parking.” Codes for fire lanes vary from state to state, so make sure to consult your local fire department for local regulations.
Contractors often charge per unit for specialized markings. For example, directional arrows are often $15-20 apiece, while handicap stalls are $50-$75. Make sure to factor this into your budget if you’re hiring a professional.
Did You Know? – The average size of a parking space in the United States is between 16 to 18 feet long and 8 to 9 feet wide?
Step 2: Surface Cleaning
The next step is surface preparation. If you take the DIY approach, you’ll need to rent or purchase an industrial blower to remove debris, like leaves and dirt, from the parking lot surface, ensuring a clean foundation for the paint.
It’s also important to seal any cracks in your parking lot surface to avoid further damage. Most contractors quote crack sealing at $1 to $3 per square foot, but you can purchase pothole filler and crack sealer from hardware stores for around $150.
Step 3: Parking Lot Line Striping Begins
Once the surface is prepared, it’s time to paint. New lot lines usually take skilled painters a few hours to paint, while touch-ups take a lot less time. Depending on the type of paint used, a lot may be operational in as little as four hours.
There’s a learning curve for line striping, so taking the DIY approach (whether with specialized equipment or a simple sprayer) will likely take a bit longer.
The larger the lot, the higher the chance that you won’t be able to complete the project in one day, leading to more downtime for your business.
Fortunately, you can definitely speed up the process by choosing the right equipment for the job.
Choosing the Right Materials and Equipment
High-quality traffic paint is necessary for any parking lot job, as it ensures durability and resistance to wear and tear. Additionally, you can achieve straighter lines with the applicators and laser guides common on specialized line striping equipment.
Traffic Paint for Parking Lots
Various paint types are available for parking lot lines, including:
- Water-based paint: more environmentally friendly, emit fewer VOCs, suitable for indoor facilities, dries quickly
- Solvent-based paint: durable, long-lasting, suitable for outdoor use, may emit more VOCs
- Chlorinated rubber paint: resistant to oil and gasoline, durable, suitable for high-traffic areas
- Thermoplastic paint: highly durable, long-lasting, reflective, suitable for high-traffic areas
Choosing what type of paint to use for your parking lot largely depends on your project. For example, water-based paints are ideal for indoor parking garages, while solvent-based paints offer increased durability for outdoor lots.
Contractors often buy their paint in bulk, but you can purchase traffic paint at Home Depot or Tractor Supply for around $40 per gallon.
Line Striping Machines
The most basic marking machines don’t come equipped with guides or special features, making them less expensive. However, for DIYers, the bare-bones line striping machines might be difficult to master.
Professional line striping machines speed up the process because they come equipped with:
- Laser guides: Helps to map out straight lines with accurate placement.
- Reflective beads applicators: Used to add reflective elements to the lines for enhanced visibility, particularly in low-light conditions.
- Spray shields: Protects the paint spray from the wind for straighter lines.
High-end striping machines can cost $4,000 or more, while the simplest machines are around $150. For the best value, DIYers can rent a high-end machine from places like Sunbelt Rentals for around $500 a week.
Additional Tools and Supplies
Brushes, rollers, and stencils are essential if you’re painting numbers, letters, or handicap designations since fine details can be difficult to achieve with a line striping machine.
Pavement marking tape, cones, and caution tape can help you direct the flow of traffic around your workspace if the parking lot will be in use while you are painting.
Just remember that while it might be enticing to keep the lot open for business while you paint, the process will probably go much smoother if you close down the lot for a day.
When to Hire a Professional Striping Contractor
If your parking lot has 100+ spaces or is regularly trafficked, you may be better off hiring a professional to stripe your lot.
Parking lot striping contractors have years of experience with all types of lots and materials, which can save you several hours of time and keep your parking lot operable.
Other benefits of hiring a professional contractor include:
Proven Results
A good contractor will be able to provide photos from previous clients and isn’t afraid to offer a free consultation. They should also have a good star rating from reviewers on Google and glowing testimonials on their website or Facebook page.
Knowledge of Best Practice
Contractors who have years of industry knowledge will know the appropriate procedure for painting lines on asphalt and concrete. Plus, they know the proper techniques for surface preparation and the legal requirements for ADA compliance.
Quick Turn Around
If you’ve never painted parking lines before, it might be difficult to forecast a timeframe for your project. But, skilled contractors can give you a clear estimate for start and end times based on the size and complexity of your project, which can get your parking lot operational much quicker.
How to Maintain Your Parking Lot
After completing your line striping project, regular lot maintenance will ensure the longevity, visibility, and overall effectiveness of your striping.
Winter is particularly harsh on parking lots, with snow removal often scraping the lines, or even pulling up parts of asphalt. When possible, hire professionals to plow your lot to avoid unnecessary damage.
Using an eco-friendly deicer like magnesium chloride can extend the life of your parking lot and decrease damage to vehicles using the lot.
As a final note, remember to regularly assess the lines in your parking area.
- Are they visible at all times of day?
- Do they still have reflective properties?
- Can you clearly see the handicap stalls and fire lanes?
If you answered no to any of these questions, it might be time to break out the line striping machine or pick up the phone.
Maximize Your Parking Lot Space
If you’ve reconditioned your parking lot with new striping and proper asphalt maintenance, you’re probably looking to profit from your investment.
One of the best ways you can attract new clients is to list your parking lot on a peer-to-peer storage marketplace like Neighbor. You can advertise your parking lot–whether it’s an indoor garage or an open-air lot–to local customers looking to store their vehicles for both long and short term.
