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Long line striping & parking lot striping

Two kinds of striping, one crew

Long line striping is the continuous traffic line work on roads and large paved surfaces: center lines, edge lines and the long runs of paint that keep traffic moving where it belongs. Parking lot striping is everything inside the lot line: stall layout, access aisles, directional arrows, crosswalks and fire lanes.

Both need the same thing to be worth the money: clean preparation, straight lines and a layout that works in practice. Faded or out-of-code markings are a safety problem and, for commercial properties, an insurance and inspection problem at the same time.

What's in the scope

  • Traffic lines: centerlines, edge lines and shoulder lines on roads, entrance drives and shared use lanes.
  • Stall layouts: new layouts and restriping on existing lots, including accessible stalls with access aisles.
  • Fire lanes: lane lines, no-parking zones and fire hydrant clearance markings.
  • Directional arrows: lane use, turn arrows and one-way indicators.
  • Crosswalks and stop bars: marked where the layout and the signage say they belong.
  • Speed hump and channelization markings on driveways and shared drives.

How we do it

  1. We walk the surface first. We check the existing layout for what's out of code, where the wear is, and whether the lot would work better restriped or re-laid out.
  2. We clean before we stripe. Blown down and scrubbed where there's oil. Paint on a dirty surface fades in half the time.
  3. We lay the lines with guides, not by eye. Templates and laser layout on new work, so the stalls are the same size at the back as at the front.
  4. We mark, we verify, we price in writing. You get the layout and the number before a single line goes down.

Why markings matter more out here

Southwest Washington is wet for half the year, and wet pavement washes out the contrast in a faded line. A marking that's barely visible on a dry August afternoon is gone at 4 pm on a Tuesday in November. That's when crashes, insurance claims and inspection citations start.

It's also why we stripe with the layout, not just the wear, in mind. If your lot's stalls are out of code, restriping the same lines keeps the problem. We'll tell you what a compliant, workable layout looks like and price both options.

Common questions about striping.

What's the difference between long line striping and parking lot striping?
Long line striping is continuous traffic line work on roads and large surfaces: centerlines, edge lines and shoulder lines. Parking lot striping is the marking work inside the lot: stalls, access aisles, arrows, crosswalks and fire lanes. We do both, and we usually do them on the same visit so the lines agree with each other.
How often should a parking lot be restriped?
Every one to two years for most commercial lots, depending on traffic volume and where the lot sits. High-traffic aisles and entry lanes fade first. We'll point out which lines are worth restriping now and which can wait a season, so you're not paying to repaint what's still legible.
How long does a parking lot striping job take?
A typical lot is marked in a single day, and traffic can return the same day once the paint is touch-dry, usually within a couple of hours. Bigger properties are phased so you never lose the whole lot at once, and we work nights or weekends when that keeps the building open.
Can you restripe a lot while it's still in use?
Yes. We stripe section by section, keeping at least half the parking available at all times. For retail and restaurant lots we often do the high-traffic areas after closing. The plan is part of the quote, so you know exactly what's open when.
Do you do ADA-compliant parking layouts?
Yes. We mark accessible stalls with access aisles to the current ADA standards, and we place the matching signage with the same crew. If your existing layout doesn't meet code, we'll show you the compliant layout before you commit to it.
What if my lot's current layout is out of code?
We rework the layout to a cleaner, compliant plan and stripe to that plan. You'll see the new layout and the price for it in writing first. If the out-of-code elements are minor, we'll say so and price fixing only what needs fixing.
Free quote

Let's walk the lot.

Send us the address and what needs marking. We'll walk the surface, check the layout against code and give you a written price.