How Often Should You Stripe Your Parking Lot?

How often should I stripe my parking lot? 

The answer is surprisingly simple! However, since parking lot striping often gets lumped together with sealcoating and paving, many people are left scratching their heads.

We’re here to help clear the air on the difference between paving, sealcoating, and striping. After reading this article, our hope is that you’ll know exactly who to call when the time comes to freshen up your lot. 

What Exactly is Parking Lot Striping?

Parking lot striping is when a group of professionals come in and paint a fresh coat of lines on a lot’s surface. This service is necessary when it comes to building maintenance since it ensures the functionality and appearance of a business’ lot for customers, employees, and visitors. 

The best practice for parking lot maintenance is to restripe every year. This not only keeps the lot safe and up to par with ADA compliance, but it enhances the lot’s curb appeal and maintains a professional appearance. 

Parking lot striping can be a fast and affordable solution to sustaining a lot’s appearance without having to redo it completely. If a business isn’t in a position to restripe their lot every year, we at least recommend doing it in between resealing the lot’s surface. 

Asphalt Paving and Sealcoating

Asphalt paving is a foundation surface found on driveways, roads, and parking lots. It acts as a glue that binds elements like sand and stone together. 

Pavement sealing or sealcoat is a thin layer of material applied to the top of asphalt surfaces. The purpose of this sealant is to protect the pavement from elements like water, snow, and sun. 

Both applications are a necessary part of asphalt maintenance and can help enhance its overall appearance and lifespan. With a solid asphalt foundation and the proper sealcoat applied, you’ve got a healthy surface that can last decades!

How Do You Know Who to Call? 

Now that you know the difference between paving, sealcoating, and striping, how do you know when one service is needed over the other? 

For starters, asphalt paving and sealcoating are two completely different applications. If a lot’s asphalt pavement is in poor condition with cracks and potholes, you’ll want to contact your asphalt paving company and hold off on resealing. 

Once your foundation is in good shape, contact your sealer for a fresh coat of sealant. From this point forward, your sealer will recommend how often you should reseal your lot.

Last but not least, is parking lot striping. Although paving, sealcoating, and striping all work together to create the perfect parking lot – striping is unique in that it doesn’t need a new layer of pavement or sealant to get the job done. 

Striping paint can be put on at practically anytime as long as the weather allows it. If your lot is in fairly good condition, your most affordable option is to call your local paint striping company to brighten up the pavement with a fresh coat of paint. 

Even then, striping should be done on a yearly basis to keep your lot safe for public use. 

Which Service Are You in Need of?

In a nutshell, asphalt paving should be addressed on a case by case basis, whereas sealcoating is a service that should be done every few years to maintain the life of your asphalt surface. Parking lot striping is a continual cosmetic service that keeps your lot fresh and functional. 

Looking for a dedicated parking lot striping team to work with you year after year? Feel free to contact us! We offer a variety of services, from new layouts, re-striping, interior striping, and more. With over twenty years of experience, we handle jobs of all complexities and ensure that your project is dealt with in a timely and professional manner. 

For franchise opportunities with 1-800-STRIPER, contact 1-800-323-4700 or visit 1800striperfranchise.com to learn more.