The Biggest Mistakes With DIY Parking Lot Line Stripes
A lot can go wrong when painting parking lot line stripes, and this is true, especially for beginners. As this video shows, even the tire pressure of the striping machine matters when trying to get a clean line. Having too high a tire pressure can make the machine ride roughly over uneven surfaces, producing wonky lines.
Reducing the tire pressure to half will offer the smooth ride required for clean lines. In addition to tire pressure, one needs to consider calibrating the machine accordingly, choosing the proper spray nozzle and the correct paint.
It's important to be cautious and thorough when painting parking lot line stripes. One mistake can cost the painter hours since they have to painstakingly scrape off erroneously applied paint. It's also necessary to ensure that the parking lot stripes adhere to state regulations. For example, not having the required handicapped spots is a hard mistake to fix since the handicapped width is different from regular parking spots. Lastly, choosing the wrong paint can lead to a striping job wearing out faster than expected. The most common paint in parking lots is a water-based acrylic, and it requires a second coat 30 days after the first.
