Regardless of the nature of your business, if you have a parking lot, you need parking lot striping and pavement marking. Without clean, neat markings, drivers may struggle to navigate your lot, and you could be in violation of federal accessibility regulations or local fire codes. Without visible, crisp stripes, drivers may be confused about what constitutes a parking space or the correct parking angle. Removing existing stripes and markings before repainting is all in a day’s work for experienced striping contractors who want to deliver superior results.
How Do Professionals Remove Parking Lot Striping?
There are several ways to handle the removal of painted markings, but some of them may not be suitable for every parking lot. You should ask your asphalt paving company or maintenance contractor to recommend the appropriate method for your pavement’s age, condition, and type.
• When sealcoating Marietta GA pavements, some contractors paint over the existing markings first. Asphalt sealcoating will obscure the existing paint, but it may not conceal it completely. By applying black paint prior to sealcoating, there is less likelihood that ghost lines will bleed through the sealant.
• For small-scale removals, contractors can use wire brushes to scrub away the paint. This is a physically intense, relatively slow process, so it is not a method that you want to choose for removing paint from a large parking lot.
• Soda blasting is a gentler, cleaner method than sandblasting, but it can be just as effective. The soda used will dissolve in water, and, since it is food grade, it is safe for the environment.
• Water blasting uses pressurized needles of water to peel away paint. When properly controlled, water blasting is safe for asphalt pavements as well as concrete ones.
• Scarifying is the leading method for obliterating existing markings. This technique involves using a machine called a scarifier, a walk-behind machine that has rotating cutters. A scarifier can be an extremely rapid way to remove the paint. However, when used on an asphalt parking lot, a scarifier may remove a little of the pavement. This leaves behind a grooved, textured surface in the scarified area. Although scarifying typically does not have a major impact on the visual appeal of your parking lot, you should discuss the technique with your contractor in great detail if your property’s aesthetics are critical.
Why Should I Want to Remove My Parking Lot Striping?
There are valid reasons for removing your asphalt striping before you repaint.
• You want your new lot striping to be as crisp and neat as possible.
• You need to adjust your design to meet ADA guidelines, fire codes, or building ordinances.
• You want to alter the angle of your parking spaces.
• You need to remove obsolete pavement markings.
• You want to alter the way that traffic flows through your parking lot.
Regardless of your reasons for removing your existing asphalt striping, the professionals at MH Greeson can recommend the best method for your particular parking lot. We are a trustworthy, experienced asphalt maintenance company serving Marietta and customers through North Georgia. We have an amazing reputation for quality and dependability, impeccable references, and the resources to handle jobs of all sizes. Our services include lot striping, asphalt crack sealing, traffic sign and bollard installation, asphalt repair, ADA compliance, and car stops. To request a free quote, you can submit our online form, or you can call our Marietta office at 770-335-2983.
