Part of having a safe, aesthetically pleasing asphalt pavement is to ensure that the stripes and other markings are highly visible, intact and neatly applied. If fresh paint is applied over the old stripes, drivers may be confused and unsure of which lines comprise a parking stall. The confusion can be just as severe if the markings indicating turn lanes or traffic patterns are not crisply painted. To help maintain order and enhance the pavement’s appearance, it is common for asphalt maintenance contractors to remove the existing paint before new paint is applied. There are various techniques that can be used to prepare an asphalt pavement for fresh markings.
Can Asphalt Striping Be Removed? What Are Some Ways to Remove Asphalt Striping?
In some situations, the best solution may be to paint over the existing lines with black paint. However, since the black paint will require constant retouching, most asphalt contractors prefer removing the existing lines rather than blacking them out. You might want to keep this option in mind if you need a short-term solution and do not mind the impact on the pavement’s visual appeal. If you want results that are more durable and aesthetically pleasing, you should ask your contractor which of the following methods would provide the results that you desire.
• The paint can be scratched off with a machine called a scarifier. These machines have rotating cylinders to which many small cutters have been attached. The cutters are made from a hard metal and are very sharp. An operator maneuvers the scarifier along the existing lines, and the cutters scratch away the paint as well as a small bit of the pavement. The process will leave the scarified pavement with small grooves, and although these scars are faint, they nevertheless exist. Therefore, if your pavement must be visually pristine, this method may not be ideal for your needs.
• Virtually all paving contractors carry wire brushes of various sizes. Some may look like excessively long toothbrushes, others look like scrub brushes and still others bear more resemblance to a block of wood than a brush. Wire brushes are most useful for correcting small mistakes than for the large-scale removal of stripes.
• You should never underestimate the effectiveness of a high-pressure stream of water, especially if the water is enhanced with baking soda. Soda blasting is a little like sandblasting, but it is much cleaner and safer for the environment. In addition, soda blasting is safer for asphalt pavement than sandblasting.
• Paint strippers or solvents can be used to loosen painted stripes so that they can be easily wiped away. Some strippers are strong enough to virtually dissolve the paint. However, these powerful chemicals should not be used by amateurs. Only an experienced striping contractor will know which stripper is needed for the type of paint, how to handle the stripper responsibly and the situations in which a stripper should not be used.
MH Greeson Paving is a local asphalt contractor in Marietta and specializes in repairing and maintaining parking lots throughout North Georgia. Our services include parking lot striping, asphalt sealcoating, crack filling, pothole repairs, pavement markings, asphalt paving and the installation of car stops, bollards and traffic signs. We have impeccable references and an exemplary reputation. If you need asphalt work that will deliver the best value for your money, contact us for a free quote by submitting our online form or calling (770) 335-2983.
