Parking Lot Striping in Austin, TX

Parking lot striping is the act of applying paint and markings to your parking lot so people know where to go. Providing a safe parking lot is an essential part of commercial building maintenance. Your parking lot is not safe if it does not have clearly marked lines designating parking spaces, fire lanes, handicapped spaces, and arrows showing the direction of traffic flow.

Typically, parking lot striping is the work of professionals such as line striping and paving contractors. They have the right equipment and know the best paints to use. Still, if you manage a commercial or public building, you must have a basic understanding of parking lot striping.  

Why is parking lot striping important?

Parking lot striping ensures parking lot spaces are visible and marked-out. As a result, your visitors, customers, or employees can park safely and in an orderly manner.

Parking lot striping also enhances the curb appeal of your premises. The parking lot is probably the first thing customers and visitors see. First impressions are essential, especially for new customers. The point is, visible, clean, and fresh lines show that you are professional, and you value appearance and maintenance.  

Benefits of Parking Lot Striping

The functionality of a parking lot is the main reason for parking lot striping. The markings keep traffic flowing smoothly through the parking lot. Other benefits include: 

• Safety  According to the National Safety Council, about 20% of traffic accidents happen in parking lots. Distractions are the leading cause of these accidents. But having poorly marked parking spaces does not help. Accidents can occur when two drivers back out of parking stalls at the same time, when a driver speeds, or when two drivers compete for a spot. Legible striping and marking showing speed limits, entry, exit, and directional arrows can help significantly reduce some of these accidents.

 

• Prevent Door Dings Unclear parking lot lines are the leading cause of door dings in parking lots. Drivers park too close to each other, leaving a space too narrow for the door to open. But clear parking lot lines show drivers exactly how much room they have for parking.

 

• Avoid Liability  As the owner of a commercial property, you could be sued for damages and injuries resulting from poor parking lot conditions. Besides, there are state requirements for parking lot striping. Ignoring these legal requirements could result in fines.  

How Wide Are Parking Lot Stripes and Parking Space Dimensions?

At first glance, the layout of a parking lot seems simple enough – just straight lines marking parking spaces. However, for the efficient flow of traffic and safety, principles of engineering design need to be applied. You need to consider anticipated vehicle types and sufficient aisles for drivers to back out of parking spaces.

The dimensions of a parking stall vary by jurisdiction. However, typically, a parking stall measures 9 feet wide by 18 feet long. In jurisdictions allowing compact parking spaces, a parking stall can measure 8 feet wide by 16 feet long.  
The aisle width is just as important as the parking stall dimensions. The aisle is the space a driver uses to enter or back out of a parking stall. 
The aisle width depends on two factors: 

• One-Way or Two-Way  If traffic through the aisle goes both ways, then it should be wide, with some jurisdiction requiring as much as 24-feet allowance. One-way aisles, on the other hand, can be as narrow as 12 feet.  

 

• Angle  What angle does the parking stall make with the curb? Parking stalls are typically positioned at 90, 60, 45, or 30-degree angles. The wider the angle, the wider the distance required for the aisle. In most jurisdictions, the aisle length required for 90-degree parking stalls is the same for both one-way and two-way aisles.  

There are also guidelines for the dimensions of stripes. Usually, parking lot stripes are four inches wide. The thickness of the lines should be about 15 millimeters, which is easily achievable using two coats of traffic paint. 

What Is The Best Parking Lot Striping Paint?

For starters, parking lot striping paint is different from the ordinary paint used in buildings. In the parking lot, contractors use traffic paint, the reflective paint used to stripe roads and highways.

Types of traffic paint include water-based acrylics, solvent-based chlorinated rubber, and solvent-based alkyd resin paints. Water-based acrylic traffic paint is the most popular choice because it is durable, eco-friendly, and provides excellent visibility.