As a property owner, business owner, or parking garage manager, having proper lines can keep everyone safe while also keeping your business compliant with legal standards. Parking lot lines, asphalt directions, and crosswalks are essential for our modern society to function properly. If your parking lot is looking a little worn down, it is time to invest in re-striping your parking lot. Finding a company to re-stripe your parking lot and ground directions can help provide multiple benefits to your business. Noticing the signs of a worn-out parking lot will help you stay above the competition and keep those who use your parking lots safer. 

1- Reduced Visibility At Night

One of the first signs of a worn parking lot is when your lines are hard to see at night or during inclement weather. If it rains or snows, worn-out line paint can become hidden by the moisture, making it difficult for people to safely navigate your parking lot. If you are a business that has really early or late hours, having reflective painted parking lines and crosswalks is essential. This reflective paint will help during dark winter nights or when lighting around the parking lot is burned out.

2- Frequent Customer Complaints

Whether you own a shopping center, a restaurant, an office building, or a production building, your employees and customers will need some place to park. If they are unable to see parking lines or blocked off loading areas, their vehicles are more susceptible to damage. Vehicles that are not parked correctly can also make it more difficult for other cars to enter the lot safely or allow you to receive deliveries. When customers or delivery drivers begin to complain about your parking lot, it is time to schedule re-striping. 

3- Inefficient Use Of Parking Spaces

Have you noticed cars parking outside of designated spaces? Or maybe visitors are parking farther away from the building to avoid damage to their cars. This insufficient use of space can not only deter customers from visiting your business, but also cause premature wear on the outskirts of your parking lot. Re-striping will help make the parking space clearer and help you fit more vehicles into a small parking area. Working with professional asphalt workers will help you map out the most appropriate parking stalls, how many you can safely fit, and what lines need to be repainted. 

4- You’ve Recently Had Sealcoating Or Resurfacing

Redoing your parking lot starts with resurfacing and sealcoating to ensure the asphalt remains durable through high traffic or hot tires. The only downside of this process is that it will cover up your previously painted parking lines. Re-stiping a newly paved and coated parking lot will be the final touch to help the exterior of your business have a new life. If your parking lot has some severe damage and is looking worn, it can be beneficial to schedule resurfacing and line striping altogether.

5- Your Parking Lot Has Experienced More Traffic

For parking lots that have gotten more use and businesses that are growing in popularity, re-stripe services are necessary. The more cars, trucks, and people that utilize your parking lot, the more the painted lines will begin to fade. For parking lots that are getting more popular, re-striping more frequently may be necessary to keep everyone safe and your business compliant with ADA standards. Even if the lines have not started to fade, re-striping your parking lot each year can help you stay on top of the maintenance needed during busy operations. 

Why Regular Line Striping Is Crucial For Your Business

As previously mentioned, repainting parking lines can keep everyone safe and help your parking lot meet ADA requirements, but there are other benefits of investing in professional line striping. Line striping helps business owners meet the needs of their customers and provide visibility that is crucial to the longevity of any business. Some of the benefits of line striping when your parking lot is worn down include:

• Reduced accidents
• Clear paths during emergencies or natural disasters
• Efficient traffic flow
• Enhanced curb appeal
• Positive impression of your business
• Fewer maintenance concerns

Line Striping From Precision Asphalt Maintenance

Precision Asphalt Maintenance has a team of motivated individuals who are trained on how to improve your parking lot, walkways, and roads. We can help your business have better visibility and make a better first impression in just a few days. Our mission is to have satisfied and safe customers who are able to keep their customers safe. If you need re-striping or other asphalt services, reach out to us at 801-882-2429.

Wildfires and brush fires can occur often across the West Coast of the United States. Fires have a large impact on the landscape, lodging, roadways, and more. While fires create effects that last for years, they can also impact the driving conditions on asphalt roads. The damage that is inflicted by a fire can damage asphalt with its high heat, and the resources used to fight it.

Damaged asphalt can make driving more dangerous, harm the environment, or cause damage to vehicles. Improving roadways after a wildfire will provide the city with fewer legal problems and safer driving conditions for residents and visitors. Let’s look at how fire can damage or change the asphalt in your state. 

The Impact Of High Heat On Asphalt

Since asphalt is made of petroleum-based materials with bitumen and aggregate components, it can begin to deform during the extreme heat of a wildfire. While hot summer days will not change the composition of an asphalt road, wildfires can reach temperatures of up to 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit, which can cause the binding agents to deform or melt. These high temperatures can cause pieces of the asphalt to dislodge or shift, creating cracks or potholes. 

Cracking And Long-Term Damage

During a wildfire, emergency vehicles will be dispatched to the area to help rescue victims and control the fire. The high temperatures with heavy vehicle traffic can lead to extra stress on asphalt, causing it to crack. When asphalt experiences more weight than it can handle, it cracks in multiple directions, known as alligator cracks. Crosshatch cracks can be repaired, but if a wildfire continues to rage, the asphalt may need to be replaced entirely. 

Water Erosion

Firefighters will need to use water to contain the flames from spreading to other areas. This large amount of water can erode the surrounding vegetation and the asphalt. Without proper surrounding vegetation that was either burned or eroded, over the coming months, rain and snow could cause asphalt to crumble at the edges. In climates that experience snow, moisture in the cracks is subject to expansion and contraction, which could further the damage. Cold temperatures can expand the existing cracks, making the road more susceptible to crumbling. 

Increased Heat Absorption

Asphalt that has been burned will absorb more of the external heat and retain it. While asphalt can absorb heat from the sun normally, once it is burned during a wildfire, it will hold on to more sun rays and raise the temperature of the surrounding area. Heat islands are often a concern for urban areas and make homes and businesses much warmer. Fire-scorched regions due to wildfires will create more heat islands that contribute to climate change and damage fragile ecosystems.

Harmful Pollutants

Once asphalt is heated, it can emit hazardous vapors that pollute the air. Heated asphalt will contribute to air pollution concerns in addition to ash and smoke that is prevalent during a wildfire. The number of pollutants during a wildfire will be significantly increased when it crosses over an asphalt road or parking lot. A wildfire that sweeps through the area will have lasting effects on the environment, roadways, and homes for many years. 

How To Prevent Asphalt Damage From Wildfires

While some cities may not be able to prevent wildfires or the damage that comes after, there are some methods that can reduce the impact they have on asphalt and other natural elements. One preventative measure is to implement fire-resistant road design with heat resistant binding agents. For places that experience frequent wildfires, implementing the heat-resistant asphalt will keep your roads operable for longer. 

Protective sealants can also create an additional layer of defense against weather, fire, and pests. These sealants can help reflect sunlight and heat, making the area cooler and less susceptible to cracking. 

Other ways to protect your asphalt include:

• Regular inspections
• Frequent maintenance and repairs
• Vegetation management
• Sealants and protective layers

Asphalt Repair From Precision Asphalt Maintenance

Our team specializes in all things asphalt, including repairs and protective sealants. We know that wildfires can result in long-lasting damage that will be impossible to repair in one day. Precision Asphalt offers repaving and repair that can be essential after the effects of a wildfire. Our maintenance team serves Utah and Wyoming to help drivers stay safe, reduce extreme heat, and keep your customers safe in an asphalt parking lot. Reach out to us to schedule your asphalt or concrete service today!

If you own a commercial property, refreshing your parking lot striping may not be at the top of your to-do list. With so many tasks on your plate, it can be easy to let years go by without repainting, allowing the lines to fade over time until drivers aren’t sure where to park anymore. 

However, parking lot striping is an important aspect of maintaining your property — not only does repainting improve aesthetics, but it also ensures everyone’s safety and helps you comply with ADA regulations. When you let the lines slowly disappear as the asphalt experiences wear and tear, your customers can be frustrated or confused. 

At Precision Asphalt Maintenance, we want you to know why it’s important to seek professional line striping services and understand how often you should repaint your parking lot. If you’re a property owner, keep reading to get into the details of this issue and learn how this simple improvement can make a big difference. 

Why Parking Lot Striping Matters

You don’t realize how important parking lot striping is until it’s gone. Without clearly visible markings telling you where to park, which direction to go, and where to cross, your parking loss can become a chaotic, frustrating mess. 

Here’s just a few of the reasons why parking lot striping matters: 

• Improves safety: Clearly defined lines help reduce accidents and confusion.
• Enhances curb appeal: Fresh paint looks professional and inviting. It shows customers that you care about their experience. 
• Regulates traffic flow: Directional arrows and space markers guide drivers effectively, helping you avoid traffic jams and frustration. 
• Ensures ADA compliance: Handicap spaces and access markings must be visible and up to code in order to comply with ADA regulations and protect your business from fines. 

General Timeline for Repainting

Now that you know why repainting your parking lot shouldn’t fall to the bottom of your to-do list, let’s discuss the general timeline for repainting. In general, you should expect to need to refresh your commercial parking lot every year or two. However, high-traffic areas may need repainting every six to 12 months, and low-traffic areas can sometimes go for longer than two years if the lines are still visible. 

Regular inspections are necessary to assess the paint’s visibility and wear. Walk through the parking lot every month or two and check whether the lines are fading. If you notice they’re looking a little worse for wear, it’s time for repainting. 

Factors That Affect How Often You Should Repaint

No two parking lots are the same, and there are several factors that will affect how often you should repaint them, including:

• Traffic: The more traffic your parking lot sees, the more wear and tear it will experience and faster the paint will fade. 
• Weather conditions: Sun exposure, rainfall, and snow can all contribute to paint deterioration. 
• Quality of previous striping job: High-quality paint products and proper application methods mean your painted lines will last longer.
• Asphalt condition: Cracks and potholes in the asphalt can affect the paint’s longevity and visibility. 
• Local regulations: Some municipalities require periodic repainting in order to comply with regulations. Check with your local government to determine if this applies to you. 

Signs It’s Time to Repaint

If you’re wondering whether it’s time to repaint your parking lot, be on the lookout for these signs:

• Faded or barely visible lines
• Confusing or unclear traffic flow
• Increased customer complaints or near-misses
• Worn or missing ADA markings

Additionally, re-striping is required after certain asphalt maintenance procedures, including sealcoating and resurfacing. You may also need to touch up some areas affected by repairs.

What to Expect During the Repainting Process

Repainting is typically a pretty quick process. Of course, larger parking lots will take longer. However, the paint usually only takes about an hour to dry, so you don’t have to wait very long before driving on it again. 

Before applying the paint, you’ll have to clean the area, block it off, and add signage. To minimize business disruptions, schedule repainting during off hours or work on one section at a time. 

Reliable Line Striping by Precision Asphalt Maintenance

If you’ve been putting off repainting your parking lot, it’s time to do something about it. At Precision Asphalt Maintenance, we’re dedicated to providing you with the reliable line striping service you need to ensure your parking lot is safe, accessible, and appealing. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help or to inquire about a free estimate.