Properly striped and marked parking lots are more attractive and safer for both drivers and pedestrians. Over time, however, the paint will wear and become less visible. One sign that you need to have fresh paint applied is that the old markings have lost more than 25 percent of their original visibility. You may also need to have new parking lot striping applied if you want to change the angle of the parking stalls, need to alter your layout to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act or want to change the way that traffic flows through your lot. To achieve the best results, you need to eliminate the old markings and stripes.
Can Asphalt Striping Be Removed? How Will the Contractor Remove the Existing Paint?
Although some people believe that the best way to eradicate existing markings is to simply cover them with black paint, this method is neither permanent nor attractive. The black area will have to be repainted frequently, and the color of the paint will almost never match the color of the pavement. This can make the location of the previous stripes obvious, and by drawing attention to them, you risk distracting or confusing drivers. You will have far better results if you have your contractor remove the old markings.
Asphalt contractors will want to assess the condition of your pavement, the size of the job, your schedule for completing the work and your preferences. Based on these factors, he may choose one or more of the methods listed below.
• Strippers: Chemical strippers can be an effective way to remove or loosen the paint. However, chemical strippers have fallen into disfavor in many cities, and they should only be used by qualified, highly experienced paving contractors who are extremely conscious of the potential safety and environmental risks involved.
• Brushes: Virtually every contractor who offers pavement marking and asphalt striping services will have a collection of wire brushes in his toolbox. Contractors have been using wire brushes to correct their mistakes or remove old markings since the introduction of pavement markings. Scrubbing away paint with a wire brush can be highly effective, but it is also time-consuming and labor-intensive. Therefore, brushes are usually reserved for small areas.
• Scarifiers: Scarifiers are machines that have rotating drums to which many small cutters are affixed. The operator guides the scarifier along the existing stripes. The cutters scrape off the paint, but they will also take a millimeter or two of the asphalt, leaving behind a scarred or textured surface. Therefore, if the appearance of the pavement is critical, a scarifier may not be the ideal solution.
• Blasters: Blasters are similar to pressure washers, but they operate under significantly more pressure. A water blaster uses only water to peel away the old paint. A soda blaster uses water and baking soda for the removal of the existing paint. Both methods are highly effective and environmentally safe, and neither method will scar the pavement. It should be noted that sandblasting is typically not recommended for asphalt pavement, but it can be an effective solution for removing markings from concrete.
All Pro Asphalt is an asphalt maintenance company servicing customers in the greater Kansas City area. We would be happy to help you choose the best way to remove your existing stripes and markings. Our services include parking lot striping, asphalt sealcoating, asphalt crack repair, asphalt paving, asphalt repair, infrared asphalt restoration and concrete work. We have a reputation for outstanding workmanship and competitive prices. We offer free quotes, so submit the online form or call 816-249-6800 to learn more about the many ways that we can help you protect your pavement.
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