How Do Parking Lot Lines Fade?

Parking lot lines are an essential addition to have in any and every parking lot. Not only do these bright lines keep those entering and exiting your lot safe, but it enhances your curb appeal, too!

However, if you’ve ever been in a parking lot after a long winter, you’ll notice that the lines have faded and no longer serve their purpose of keeping people safe.

Today, we want to talk about why exactly parking lot lines fade, how long they typically last, and what you can do to keep them looking fresh and functional year after year. 

Why Do Parking Lot Lines Fade?

Parking lot lines can fade for many reasons, from regular wear and tear to environmental factors and much more. 

On average, traffic paint can last 2-3 years on the surface of a parking lot. Still, this is cutting it close. At 1-800-STRIPER, we believe best practice parking lot maintenance is to restripe every year! 

Below, we’ll take a look at some of the common causes as to why parking lot lines fade over time. 

High-Traffic Areas

Bringing in more business comes with its perks, but when it comes to the lines in a parking lot, you may start to notice they fade faster because of it. 

Wear and tear is one of the biggest reasons why parking lot lines fade. This is because the paint can’t take the friction of tires driving across it on a daily basis – especially snow tires in the winter. 

If your lot gets a lot of attention from the public, you better bet it will need a little extra love and care come spring maintenance!

Environmental Factors 

Whether you live in a sunny area or a cold and snowy one, the elements can and will take a toll on your parking lot lines. 

High-quality traffic paint lasts longer than your average can of paint. However, it’s still temporary, which means elements such as sun, snow, rain, and dirt can all take their toll.

Unfortunately, no matter where you live in the world, you can’t avoid having to restripe your lot every year for this reason. 

Snow Removal and Ice Melt 

Next up on the list is snow plowing and snow-melting salts. Although these two things are necessary during the winter months, they come with their consequences.

You may already know the damaging effect of salt and how it can erode the underbody of a vehicle. Well, the same goes for the paint on asphalt! Snow-melting salts are full of chemicals that can loosen the paint. 

Combine this with a blade grinding across the asphalt to remove snow, and you’ve got some serious wear and tear come springtime! 

Poor Quality Asphalt 

Every masterpiece needs to be painted on a smooth surface. This includes your parking lot. Think about it, if you paint on top of a dirty, cracked parking lot, the traffic paint won’t hold together or last as long as it should. This is why at 1-800-STRIPER we take the extra step to clean surfaces, whether it’s indoors or outdoors, before we lay down paint. 

Is Your Parking Lot in Need of Some Love?

Now that you know all about what causes parking lot lines to fade, ask yourself whether your lot needs some new, solid stripes? By restriping once a year around springtime, and, of course, keeping your asphalt in good condition, you can keep your lot in tip-top shape. 

Are we looking for professional parking lot stripers to get the job done? We’re here to help! With 20+ years of experience, we’ll get the job done right with our state-of-the-art machines and high-quality traffic paint. Give us a call at (585) 663-6609 or visit our website at 1800striper.com. 

Want to own your parking lot striping company? We have franchise opportunities throughout the U.S. Visit 1800striperfranchise.com or call 1-800-323-4700 for more information.