Asphalt striping is not something that you do once and forget about, especially if you want a safe parking lot. What does safety have to do with anything? You see, the lines will fade over time due to sun and the elements. Regular maintenance requires repainting the stripes occasionally. How often? That depends on two things: climate and the traffic. Buried under a pile of snow every year? Chances are that snowplows scrape up a lot of line paint along with the ice and snow. Spring repainting is a must. Also, since regular sealcoating is an important part of maintaining the integrity of your asphalt, you will have to repaint every time the sealant blacks out your line markings. The best-case maintenance is to do this every two to three years. Did you know?Asphalt lasts between 10 to 30 years, and the difference is how well you maintain it. Click here for theguide that shows you the different steps in proper asphalt maintenance.
If you have a parking lot, does it make sense to invest in the asphalt striping equipment necessary to do the maintenance?
Although the amount charged by contractors to do the job varies, it's still likely to cost you more for a single repainting than it would cost to buy the basic equipment.
Basic Striping Equipment
Basic line striping equipment consists of an applicator on wheels. There are small units designed specifically for use by small business owners and larger units designed for professionals or for larger businesses. The least expensive stripers consist of an applicator that holds an aerosol can of spray paint.
Usually the paint must be purchased from the same company that sells the striper because of proprietary spray tips, but some may have spray tips compatible with other machines.
Regardless of which brand aerosol paint can you get, you would still be able to apply the paint by hand for curbs and stencils.
The small aerosol line painting machines are designed solely for small jobs, e.g. a parking lot with 10 spaces. Two 20-ounce cans of paint might be enough to do 10 spaces.
The paint manufacturer will have specifications concerning coverage. The sprayers may be adjusted to spray lines that are two inches to four-and-a-half inches wide.
Benefits Of Using Small Asphalt Striping Equipment
- Affordable- The cheapest way to get started without resorting to using a brush or roller and a straight-edge
- Easy-to-use- Any first-timer can easily use this line striping equipment
- The perfect introduction to line striping- Gives you the cheapest option for trying out this type of work to see how simple it is to do
The disadvantage is a big one. This parking lot striper is designed for lots of 10 stalls or less. However, striping equipment is extremely useful for tennis courts, sports fields, and warehouse markings.
You may well find that in time you will invest in a pro line striper and still use the little guy for touch-ups, playgrounds, fields, and courts.
Professional asphalt striping equipment consists of a bucket designed to hold the paint, hoses, wheels and accessories.
The better systems are airless, powered by an engine similar to that of a weed eater. Airless sprayers make neater lines and they usually stay brighter longer. They use water-based paints that clean up easier and dry faster.
Professional Line Striping Equipment
There are many advantages to owning a professional system.
If your parking lot has more than 100 spaces, the maintenance can be done faster. That means the lot will be ready to use in a shorter period of time without concern that someone will drive over the freshly painted lines, smearing them and spreading paint to unwanted areas.
Financially, the benefits are incredibly good. First and foremost, you stop paying someone else to do the work every couple of years.
Now instead of a recurring large cost, you have an investment in asphalt striping equipment.No more budgeting and putting off the cost of having a safe and great looking parking lot; just order the paint and get to work.
Also, instead of paying a contractor, you can do the job yourself, or give the work to your employees, giving them employment instead of an outsider.
A safe, well-laid out parking area also protects everyone who uses it, avoiding costly accidents.
There are more important reasons for having your own line striping equipment than just avoiding paying someone else to do the work.
You can schedule to do the work at the best time for you and your property. Whether it is at night, on the weekend, or during a holiday, you know the best time to get the work done.
After all, as a property manager, you know when closing your parking area is the least disruptive to everyone concerned.
If you own one of the better machines, you can rent it out to other small businesses in your area. You can even make line painting a side business. There are how-to guides online forstarting your own parking lot line painting business.
Don't Want to Buy Line Striping Equipment?
If you don’t have a striper, you will need to hire a contractor. There is simply no way to do more than touch-ups without one.
Keeping your asphalt striping fresh and bright will enhance your customer’s shopping experience and is simply the best reflection on your business.
