No matter what kind of business you operate, customers will judge the quality of your goods or services before they ever walk through your entrance. They will evaluate your property’s curb appeal and exterior maintenance to form perceptions about how much you care about the convenience and safety of your clientele. Many of their perceptions will be based on the condition of your parking lot, and your parking lot striping is a major factor when they evaluate your lot’s condition.

How Does Parking Lot Striping Impact the Perceptions People Form About a Business?

When people enter a parking lot, they expect to receive guidance on how to navigate the property, where and how to park, and which areas are no-parking zones. When combined with an efficient parking lot design, your pavement striping and markings can provide this information quickly. Conversely, an inefficient parking lot layout and faded markings generate confusion and create distractions that increase the likelihood of accidents.

How Often Do I Need Parking Lot Striping?

On average, pavement striping and markings last around two years in the Houston area. However, your lot striping needs should not be based solely on the time that has elapsed since your last paint job. Parking lot striping contractors recommend that you call for assistance if you notice that your lot striping and markings have lost more than 25% of their original visibility. You should also call to have new pavement striping applied if the paint is peeling, bubbling, cracking, or flaking, or if your markings have been damaged in numerous locations. You will also need fresh lot striping after your asphalt paving maintenance contractor sealcoat your pavement. Changing your parking lot layout will require repainting the pavement markings and stripes, especially if the revised design impacts your ADA compliance.

What Type of Paint Is Best for Asphalt Pavement Striping?

On asphalt, most parking lot striping contractors recommend a water-based paint instead of an oil-based paint. However, if you find that your painted lines and markings have an unusually short life, or if you would rather schedule your striping at greater intervals, you might want to consider thermoplastic markings. Although thermoplastic markings cost more to install, they can last up to four or five times as long as paint, so the initial costs are usually more than offset by the longer life.

What Are the Most Critical Parking Lot Markings?

All stripes and markings are important, but some are more essential than others. Therefore, you may need to consider having the following features touched up whenever they are faded or damaged.

• ADA compliance is essential for fostering good relations with your customers as well as avoiding fines or penalties. Pay special attention to the condition of the pavement markings that are mandatory for identifying accessible parking spaces.
• Crisp, highly visible crosswalks help you protect the people walking to and from their cars. Keep a close eye on the striping that identifies your crosswalks, and touch them up as needed.
• Traffic arrows provide valuable information on how vehicles should proceed throughout your parking lot. Help prevent head-on collisions and reduce distractions by making sure that your traffic arrows provide the necessary guidance.
• Painted verbal warnings need to be instantly understood, so they warrant special attention also. Depending on your parking lot, you may want to warn drivers that they are approaching a crosswalk, speed bump, or intersection to further enhance safety.

At Marathon Solutions Group, we set the pace for our competition by providing superior workmanship and unparalleled customer service. Marathon Solutions offers a full range of pavement-related services, including lot striping, asphalt paving, marking removal, asphalt repairs, concrete work, parking lot signage, thermoplastic markings, asphalt resurfacing, sealcoating, and asphalt milling. Request your free quote today by filling out our online form, or, if you prefer, you can call us toll-free at 800-879-1147.