How to Lay Out Line Striping in a Parking Lot
Designing the layout of a parking lot can be complicated. You have to create entrances and exits and decide whether the parking spots will be straight or angled for easier entry. Once your lot is completely constructed, you have to apply the lines on the pavement to create the individual spots. This process involves lots of basic math, as you need to measure everything several times before you make a permanent line on the pavement.
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Instructions
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Measure several makes and models of cars, trucks and SUVs to decide how big each space should be. Each space needs to be the same size, unless you are designating some spaces that are shorter in length as being for compact cars only.
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Choose the parking space style that you will use throughout your parking lot. The lines that define a space can be painted on straight or at an angle. You may use single lines or double lines, which provide a bit more space between cars but may reduce the number of spots you are able to create. The ends of double lines can be joined by a decorative half-circle or left as is.
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Select the paint that you will use to apply your lines. Most parking lot lines are white, though you will need blue paint and stencils to designate spots that are for drivers with disabilities. Check your state's laws to determine how many such spots you need to provide. Choose from water- and oil-based paints, thermoplastics and other paint types. If you are hiring a painting company to paint your lines, discuss your options with a salesperson to choose the best paint for your parking lot based on expected traffic to the lot and local weather conditions.
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Apply the paint. A professional painting company has all of the necessary equipment to create straight lines and to measure each space correctly. Amateur parking lot paint jobs are easily identifiable by wobbly paint lines and spots on the pavement from spills. If you must do the work yourself, purchase a paint striper from a hardware or paint store. Line stripers vary widely in size and cost, from about $100 for a small one that you can push along the ground as you walk, to more than $6,000 for one that requires you to drive it.
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Follow your line striper's instructions for installing paint and operating it. Be sure to maneuver the striper in a straight line when you use it to ensure that your parking lot's lines are straight and evenly applied.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit full parking lot image by Aaron Kohr from Fotolia.com
