Asked Questions ?
How Often Is Parking Lot Striping Needed in Cincinnati?
How often your parking lot needs fresh striping will depend on various factors, including the amount of exposure your lot has, its daily traffic, etc. The quality of paint used to create lines and symbols also matters.
Generally, contractors recommend restriping parking lots every 18 to 24 months when using standard water-based or solvent-based paints. Higher-quality formulas may provide greater longevity. The best approach is to seek fresh parking lot striping when existing lines lose 25 percent of their visibility. Work with contractors to understand when that happens. Regular inspections can provide insight into how quickly your striping fades, and experts can work with you to develop a striping schedule that makes sense for your property.
Why Asphalt Sealcoating?
Asphalt sealcoating is a type of preventative maintenance that can help maximize your pavement’s lifespan. During a sealcoating appointment, contractors apply several thin coats of high-quality sealer. Once cured, the sealer forms a bond with the asphalt, creating a physical barrier that shields it from rain, shine, wear, leaking fluids and other damaging factors.
Regular sealcoating is key to longevity. It mitigates the risk of damage and prevents premature oxidation and deterioration. Sealing asphalt keeps it pliable enough to prevent cracking, maintains water resistance to avoid potholes and more. Furthermore, it’s a transformative service that restores your pavement’s color and beauty. When done consistently throughout your pavement’s lifespan, you’ll spend less on repairs and may enjoy three decades of reliability.
What Is Power Washing?
Power washing is a cleaning method that can restore the beauty and durability of hard surfaces. Also known as pressure washing, power washing services are ideal for hard pavement, concrete structures, buildings, etc.
Heavy-duty power washers pressurize water, blasting it at surfaces with impressive force. The high-pressure stream of water can blast away stubborn grime, mold, mildew and other messes. Best of all, it makes quick work of messes without relying solely on solvent cleaners and chemicals. It’s a safe way to clean grime, revitalizing dingy surfaces for more beauty and resilience. Regular cleaning with power washing keeps surfaces looking great, but it can also prevent oxidation and damage to prolong their lifespan.
How Do I Prepare for Striping?
To prepare for striping projects, follow these steps:
- Make Parking Arrangements: Several days before you get parking lot striping, make arrangements to prevent disruptions and delays. Striping takes time, and the pavement must be clear of vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Alert anyone affected by the parking lot closure, set up signs to help people find available parking and provide plenty of notice.
- Get a Comprehensive Inspections: Hire an asphalt contractor to inspect your pavement. They should look for signs of damage that require repair or maintenance. Experts can help you understand the condition of your asphalt and recommend services to maximize longevity and durability.
- Complete Repairs: Seal all cracks, patch potholes and address surface defects. Have expert contractors perform all necessary repairs to ensure the pavement is smooth and ready for paint.
- Clean the Surface: After repairs, clean the pavement. Pick up trash, sweep away debris and clean up any overgrown vegetation. The paint needs a clean and dry surface for proper bonding. If your pavement is particularly filthy, consider getting a power washing service a few days before your striping service appointment.
- Turn Off Sprinklers and Block the Area: Turn off sprinklers about 12 hours before your striping service and keep them off for the day. Block off the area and place signs to redirect traffic as contractors complete your striping project.
How to Find the Right Markings for Warehouse Striping?
You can get many types of markings for your warehouse, and you must make several decisions to get a final product that maximizes safety and productivity. The most important is the type of paint used.
The most common paints are water-based and solvent-based. The former offers affordability and environmental friendliness, while the latter provides greater durability and a longer lifespan. Both options are fine, but they will fade with heavy-duty warehouse activity.
Consider premium options like epoxy striping if you want the most durable option. They can withstand the rigors of busy warehouses, with high vehicle traffic and constant friction from forklifts, pallet trucks and more.
Beyond the type of paint you’ll use for warehouse striping, you need to develop a layout that makes sense for your business. Work with striping contractors and monitor how your employees move through your property. Develop efficient and safe pathways to benefit your workers and your bottom line. Test designs with temporary striping tape, adjusting as you see fit until you settle on a design with the most positive impact.
What Are Thermoplastic Pavement Markings?
Thermoplastic pavement markings are a long-lasting alternative to standard paint. Traditionally, contractors use solvent- or water-based paint to create marks on parking lots, roads and more. However, thermoplastic paint offers greater durability, impressive longevity and more versatile application.
This paint isn’t a liquid. Instead, it’s a dry powder mix. Formulas vary, but most markings contain a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin base. Before application, contractors use a kettle to heat the powder mix to nearly 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Once molten, it’s ready for application. Great for high-traffic areas in warmer climates, thermoplastic pavement markings are impressively tough. They’re highly visible and can hold up well for three to five years.
Why Is Regular Line Marking Removal Necessary?
There are several reasons to remove line markings. Surfaces getting a striping layout or marking refresh need removal to ensure the former design doesn’t show through. Even with blackout paint and sealcoating, ghosting can confuse drivers and pedestrians.
Another reason why line removal is necessary is to prevent buildup. As lines fade, they lose visibility. However, the thickness of the marking material may remain. Failing to remove the lines before reapplication will make it difficult to create crisp new lines. Additionally, the buildup creates surface texture issues that could become safety hazards. Regular line removal is integral to asphalt maintenance, ensuring pavement is ready for fresh striping every time.
Is Asphalt Crack Filling Necessary?
Asphalt crack filling is an important part of the long-term maintenance puzzle. Even with great maintenance, cracks can develop on asphalt paving throughout its lifetime. Those cracks look minor, but they are potential intrusion points for water.
Crack filling ensures that water stays out and helps prevent voids from spreading. Without crack filling, water can infiltrate the pavement’s foundation, eroding the lower foundation layers. Eventually, cracks can become potholes and severe structural integrity problems.
Contractors recommend filling cracks at least once annually to avoid major damage and costly repairs. Regular service can also improve the appearance of your asphalt and mitigate safety concerns.