Parking Lot Striping and Painting

Empty parking lot with fresh topcoat and new white parking lot lines.

Having a fantastic parking lot paving job done provides a great start to taking care of the parking needs of your business or organization. But more is needed.

You’ll also need to invest in parking lot striping if you want to make the most of your parking space.

In this post, we’ll look into commonly asked questions like:

• What is parking lot striping?

• What colors are used for parking lot striping

• Why is parking lot striping important?

• What is a parking lot striping machine and how does it work?

• Can I do parking lot sealing and striping together?

• What is involved with parking lot paint?

• How much does parking lot striping cost?

Looking for parking lot striping companies near you in the Columbia, SC area?

At Boots On Enterprises, we can handle your parking lot paving, striping, seal coating, hardscaping, and pavement repair needs.

Contact us today for a FREE estimate.

Phone: 803-521-4978

Email: bootsonenterprises@gmail.com

Overhead view of 5 angled parking lot spaces with 4 cars parked in them.

What is parking lot striping/parking lot stripping?

Parking lot striping is the process of painting stripes/lines on a parking lot's surface to demarcate parking spaces primarily.

But this term also encompasses all the painted markings on a parking lot required to designate traffic flow patterns, crosswalks, no parking zones, and safety regulations. Two examples would be the painted white line accompanying a stop sign and the fire lanes.

What colors are used for parking lot striping?

The colors to use for parking lot paint may be subject to local regulations. But, for the most part, these are the common color conventions that are widely used:

White

White is used for parking spaces, symbols, instructions, crosswalks, and stop lines.

Yellow 

Yellow is used for centerlines, pedestrian crossings, warning signs, speed bumps, loading zones, and no-parking zones. Sometimes, it is also used for parking lines.

Blue 

Blue is generally used as a background — along with a white symbol of a person in a wheelchair — for handicap-accessible parking. 

Red

Red is usually used for fire lanes and/or emergency zones.

Local authorities can tell you which colors to use in your area. Or local parking lot striping companies should be able to help you find out.

Why is parking lot striping important?

Parking lot striping provides organization and safety for parking lot areas. The paint, which is done in colors that have high contrast with the pavement, alerts drivers to laws and regulations and helps people to know how and where to drive and park. 

This prevents chaos and optimizes the space. And the parking lot striping paint and information help to prevent accidents.

Parking lot paint striping being done with fresh white paint on an asphalt parking lot.

What is a parking lot striping machine and how does it work?

Striping a parking lot requires special machinery called a parking lot striper or pavement marking machine. These line striping machines lay down pavement paint or thermoplastic materials onto asphalt or concrete with high levels of precision.

A parking lot striping machine is much more efficient and accurate than painting by hand. It can help parking lot painting companies to achieve a professional, consistent quality for the job.

The machine holds several gallons of paint and has spray nozzles or applicator brushes to apply paint to specified widths and thicknesses.

Many machines have templates or guides to help create straight lines, symbols, and curves.

A worker using a seal-coating brush on an asphalt surface.

Can I do parking lot sealing and striping together?

Yes! You can absolutely do seal coating and striping for your parking lot as part of one job. These two asphalt maintenance services are often done together.

The paving contractor will fill and patch any problem areas if the surface damage is minor on your parking lot. Then they can seal coat the asphalt or concrete. And once that is dry, they can do the paint striping.

Most companies that do striping paint will also be able to help you with seal coating. It’s easy to search online for “parking lot sealing and striping near me” to find a company that is a good fit.

Handicapped parking lot spaces with fresh blue and white paint on asphalt.

What is parking lot paint/pavement paint/traffic paint?

This type of paint is specifically made to use on asphalt or concrete. It withstands UV light damage, heavy traffic, and all kinds of tough weather conditions. The paint may be sprayed on or rolled on.

You have oil-based and water-based paint options. The oil-based paint is more expensive but also tends to be longer lasting.

Pavement paint is highly visible, durable, and quick-drying. It adheres well to asphalt or concrete and is slip-resistant, reflective, and meets very specific color specifications.

In recent years, there are also formulations that are more environmentally friendly and have low VOCs (volatile organic compounds).

Talk to a parking lot striping company near you about the best paint for your project and needs.

Aerial view of a newly finished asphalt parking lot with new white parking lot line striping, white numbers, and yellow wheel stops.

How much does parking lot striping cost?

Parking lot stripes are a necessity if you have a commercial parking lot. Striping paint tends to run about $0.25 to $1.00 per linear foot.

According to Home Advisor, nationwide, the average professional parking lot striping cost is about $1,000 but can run from $300 to $3,000 depending on various variables.

Factors in the pricing of striping paint for parking lot striping companies include

• Size of the lot

• Type of paint

• Width of the paint line

• If it is a brand new paint job or a refreshing job

• The complexity of markings required

• Extra services and repairs

• Whether you need seal coating done, as well

• If you need wheel stops

To stripe a parking lot, remember that the larger the lot is, the more expensive the job will be. 

And handicapped spots that are painted all over will cost a good bit more than a regular spot that just needs basic lines.

Parking lot striping contractors near you can give you an estimate based on your particular needs to give you the best pricing quote possible. Many of them will do an estimate for free.

Ready to talk to an experienced parking lot striping company near you in the Columbia, SC area?

At Boots On Enterprises, we can handle all of your residential and commercial paving needs. From concrete or asphalt installation to seal coating and striping parking lots, we can do it all.

Contact us today for a FREE quote.

Phone: 803-521-4978

Email: bootsonenterprises@gmail.com 

Same-week and next-day services are available.