Is It Time To Repaint Your Parking Lot?

Aug 26th, 2021

Getting caught up in the everyday aspects of your business can make it easy to forget to maintain the state of your parking lot, but one of the main responsibilities of owning a property is ensuring your employees and your customers are safe when they drive through your property. Maintaining proper striping and direction in your parking lot can make it safe and compliant with legal safety standards.

Wondering if it's time to repaint your parking lot? The paving contractors at Pavemax are here to help you make that decision with signs that it might be time to get your lot repainted. If you need line striping, contact Pavemax to get a free estimate or to learn more about all of our asphalt paving services.

Last Striping Was Awhile Ago

While this may seem like a rather obvious sign, repainting a parking lot might not be at the forefront of your mind. Over time, striping tends to chip and fade, making it difficult for visitors to park their vehicles correctly and safely. A general rule of thumb when it comes to restriping your lot is that if it hasn't been restriped in the past five years, it's time to call in the professionals. In addition, we recommend getting the striping freshened up annually, especially in areas with harsh weather conditions or a lot of traffic.

Careless Parking

Driving through a parking lot, visitors and employees should be able to see the parking stripes, which are supposed to give cues on how to park neatly in a designated parking space. As these guides begin to fade, parking in your lot may become more and more sloppy and careless. You may notice that more people are parking at poor angles, taking up two spots, or over the centerline if there is no wheel stop. If the striping isn't bright or noticeable enough, they might not be able to catch the driver's eye.

More Accidents In Your Lot

One of the perks of having visible parking lot lines is everyone is held accountable and expected to follow the same standard of driving. However, if these lines are faded, your parking lot can turn into a free-for-all with your visitors having poor situational awareness. This can cause more accidents in your lot, so it is probably a good idea to get your parking lot repainted if you notice accidents are becoming more common in your parking lot.

Damaged Wheel Stops

Wheel stops, or the tripping hazard at the end of a parking space, can get chipped or scuffed after being repeatedly hit with car bumpers or by going underneath the bumper of a car. In addition, as parking lot lines fade and people can no longer see the lines clearly, they might not stop in time before hitting the wheel stop. However, wheel stops are typically put in place to help increase the safety of your lot, and if you notice that they are becoming more damaged, then your lot's lines need repainting, and the wheel stops need to be repaired.

Fading Handicapped Spot Markers

To ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, every parking lot has to have a certain number of handicapped spots. Usually, the public is good about not parking in handicap spots for long periods, using them only for emergencies or quick visits — otherwise, law enforcement could give them a ticket. However, if handicapped spots are misused more frequently, the handicap symbol may be harder to see.

Drivers Cutting Across Parking Lanes

As lines become more unclear, drivers may be unable to make out the parking lanes or direction arrows in your parking lot. This can lead to your visitors driving disrespectfully and not following proper driving etiquette. Directions and parking lanes help drivers avoid accidents and drive safely. If you notice more dangerous driving in the early morning, late at night, or in more rural areas, it is a good sign to get your lot repainted.

Invisible Lines In Harsh Weather

Parking lot stripes are bright and bold colors so that they can be visible during harsh weather conditions. If the striping of your lot is fading, weather conditions such as frost or rain will make the lines harder to see, which could lead to more accidents in your lot, careless parking, and damaged wheel stops. To maintain a proper traffic flow, the striping of your lot's driving lanes, parking spots, and crosswalk areas should always be clear.

Keep your pavement and parking lot looking great, and contact Pavemax today to request a free estimate or to learn more about our wide range of paving services.