Factors to Consider when Painting Your Asphalt Parking Lot

As a commercial property owner, parking lot maintenance should be one of your top priorities. Parking lot line painting is a crucial part of property maintenance and it has a lot of benefits. It ensures the overall safety, efficiency, cleanliness, and functionality of your parking lot while also adding to the aesthetic appeal of your property. Plus, properly marked and clean parking lot lines and parking zones make a subconsciously positive impression on customers and employees. People generally don’t notice or even comment when your parking lot is in good condition, clean, and well organized. But they definitely notice when the parking lines are faded and it’s full of potholes.

Buying the right paint for asphalt parking lots makes a big difference in terms of how people view your property. Keep reading to learn about how hiring the right parking lot painting services in your area can improve your business and your curb appeal.

What Types of Paint Should You Consider Using for Your Parking Lot?

There are several different varieties of paint for asphalt parking lots, so it’s easy to see why some inexperienced property owners might get a little confused when it comes to choosing the right one. Traffic paint is what’s used on most roads and highways, but it’s not always the best option for busy parking lots and streets.

If you have an asphalt pavement in your parking lot, then your best bet is to go with a paint that’s formulated specifically for asphalt. Asphalt paint will last a lot longer and is capable of withstanding a variety of environmental factors including being driven on for long periods of time and weather events such as snow, ice, and rain.

Furthermore, there are two types of asphalt paint currently available on the market: solvent and water-based paint. Solvent-based paint is extremely volatile and contains a great deal of toxic chemicals that can endanger the environment including local wildlife, especially if it somehow seeps into nearby waterways and water sources. Despite their incredibly negative environmental impact, solvent-based paints are commonly used because they’re highly durable.

Water-based paints are more eco-friendly as they don’t contain any toxic chemicals that can endanger local wildlife, but they’re also not as durable as their solvent-based counterparts. As a result, water-based asphalt paints are more susceptible to fading faster and need to be re-applied more frequently to maintain a clean and fresh appearance. If you care about the environment and don’t mind investing a little more time and money into parking lot line painting maintenance, water-based paints are a great way to slightly reduce your overall carbon footprint.

When Is It Time to Repaint Your Parking Lot?

You should be conducting regular inspections to guarantee that your parking lot is in tip-top shape at all times. Frequent inspections—either on a weekly or monthly basis—will help you spot potential issues and damages fairly quickly. Faded lines are a fairly common parking lot maintenance issue that asphalt paving contractors have to deal with on a regular basis.

Ideally, you should be repainting or restriping your asphalt parking lot as soon as you notice that the signs or pavement decals are starting to fade or show signs of wear and tear. Seasonally, the best time of year to repaint or restripe your parking lot is any time in the spring, summer, and fall. For obvious reasons, repainting your parking lot in the winter is highly ill-advised as there’s usually snow or ice on the ground and the pavement is too cold to fully absorb the paint.

Winter weather and frigid temperatures can do a lot of damage to your parking lot. The constant contracting and expanding of the asphalt, not to mention water freezing and then thawing out on top of and beneath the surface can cause interior and exterior cracking. It can also cause the compounds in the asphalt paint to wear down quickly, which is why a lot of property owners typically wait until after winter is completely over (the last frost in April) to repaint or restripe their commercial asphalt parking lots.

Another good indication that your asphalt parking lot might need some repair or maintenance is if you start to notice hairline cracks throughout the pavement. Environmental factors aren’t the only cause of asphalt line fading. Oftentimes, natural wear and tear from regular use such as vehicles driving on the paint as well as constant exposure to the sun can also cause the paint to fade. After repairing the cracks and other damage, you should repaint your parking lot to restore its clean and smooth appearance. Allow approximately 24 to 48 hours for the paint to fully dry before resuming your operations.

How Much Do Parking Lot Painting Services Cost in Ontario?

The cost of professional parking lot painting services in Ontario varies based on a few different factors including the amount of paint needed for the surface area, the size of the property, and the type of paint you choose. Solvent-based paints are typically more expensive because they last longer and are more durable than water-based paints. Although you’ll save some money on water-based paints, they could end up costing more in the long run as they’ll need to be reapplied more frequently.

What Does the Parking Lot Line Painting Process Involve?

Even though every commercial parking lot has a few unique design qualities, the basic process of restriping is the same everywhere.

First and foremost, it’s important to work on a clean surface to avoid trapping organic matter and debris under the paint, which will cause it to fade faster. Make sure to remove as much debris from the surface area as possible. Using a leaf blower and power washer is the most effective cleaning method.

Next, make any necessary repairs such as filling in cracks and sealcoat the surface if you haven’t done so in a while.

Do one final inspection of your property and equipment to ensure that everything is in proper working condition and ready to go. Now that you’re all set, simply fill the striper with the appropriate amount of paint and you can get started. Start on one end of the parking lot, moving slowly and efficiently to the other side as needed.

Hire a Parking Lot Line Painting Contractor in the GTA

Your search for “parking lot painting near me” ends here. Sure-Seal Pavement Maintenance Inc. has been one of the leading asphalt pavement contractors in the GTA for nearly 25 years. We do everything from professional line painting to crack repair, resurfacing, and so much more. Contact us today to book an appointment.