Highway And Roadway Marking Company
Choosing the correct material to apply the markings for the pavement of a parking garage, if you have an unlimited budget, is a piece of cake. Thermoplastics and manufactured marking tapes are prohibitively expensive, though the former can last up to 10 years, as well as the latter may be applied strategically in small quantities, and also provide enhanced reflectivity and consistency in quality pavement marking. On the flip side, since most of us don't have thousands of dollars to throw away, a reasonable compromise could be the usage of pavement paint. Though not quite as durable as other marking materials, paint is far cheaper, and shouldn't require re-touching for at least over a year if it's of good quality. Pavement paint also lasts longer in parking lots, because of reduced wear and tear coming from vehicles, which usually move a whole lot more slowly in them, and also are not therefore quite as abrasive. However solvent-based paints were once utilized for these markings, they proved to be unsafe for the environment and raised issues about health concerns, so today, water-based paints are more widely used. On the flip side, water-based paints are typically not as sturdy as their solvent-based ancestors, so repaints tend to occur with increased frequency.
Pavement paint comes in a range of different formulations, depending on the surface of the area where the markings are going to be applied. Conventional concrete surfaces, such as parking lots, warehouses and sports courts, all of that have been around for some time, don't need more than the common pavement paint application to make the markings stick. Once coated on, the paint should anticipate to handle the heavy tires of parking vehicles as well as the frenzied bouncing of rubber shoes within 60 minutes. Other paint formulas has to be purchased, on the flip side, when working with hot asphalt, or with freshly laid concrete and hardtop, as the regular paint might not adhere properly, and also the markings could come out distorted or splotchy. Companies like Seymour have released lines of traffic marker paints which are geared towards certain kinds of surfaces, and can also be applied without losing color intensity or sheen.
Marking up a parking lot also requires one to select paints within different colors. The normal colors are yellow and white, and you tend to be given free rein to find out your color scheme, though there can be statutes or regulations in your area which need certain signs to be certain colors for the sake of uniformity. Check your local ordinances and state laws to find out what applies to you.
Lastly, you want to pick a pavement paint that withstands all kinds of weather conditions, particularly if you live in a territory that experiences the worst kinds of seasonal climate changes, and functions as it should regardless of the circumstances. You will be prudent to select a paint with all-weather performance to withstand the ravages of the summer sun and winter blizzards, and additionally the daily treading of vehicles on the paint job. It might additionally be smart to pick one with decent wet/dry reflectivity, to make sure that the signs can be seen, and followed, even when visibility is low.