How to Paint No Parking Stripes

Proper preparation and execution of no-parking stripes ensures lasting effects.

Well-defined driving lanes, parking spaces and no-parking areas create an overall favorable impression, allow you to control traffic direction and offer pedestrians safe entrances, exits and crossings. You can buy stencils or define the area yourself. No-parking areas generally have diagonal stripes between the two outside lines and may feature the words "No Parking."

Things You'll Need

• Graph paper
• Broom
• Hose
• Chalk
• Stencils
• Chalk snap line
• Duct tape
• Coal tar paint
• 4 inch paint roller

Instructions

1. Draw the layout of your parking area on graph paper with a pencil, allowing one foot for each square of parking space. Measuring and preparation is crucial in painting stripes correctly and evenly.

2. Clean the area you want to paint. Sweep away dirt and debris with a broom and spray the area with a hose. Let it dry completely before you begin painting.

3. Mark the no-parking spots with white chalk, using the graph paper as your guide. Make the no-parking stripes 4 inches wide. Draw the chalk lines whether you are painting the stripes yourself or using a stencil. Stripes are white or yellow and set at a 45-degree diagonal.

4. Use the chalk snap lines for the edges of all stripes to get straight lines. Tape the duct tape along the edge of each line to ensure a sharp edge when you begin to paint.

5. Paint your stripes with yellow or white coal tar paint. Apply the paint with a spray can or a 4 inch paint roller. Coal tar paint is sticky, but it wears well and is a good barrier for moisture. Asphalt paint is too slippery for this project.

6. Allow the paint to dry for 24 hours. Remove the duct tape.

Tips & Warnings

• Call your municipal parking authority and determine if there are any local rules on parking lots and parking spaces. Restrictions can include size and width of driving lanes and width of parking spaces. These rules will help you determine where the no-parking spots must be.

• For different options and designs, survey the parking lots in your geographic area. Look at books and websites with pictures of parking lot and street lines as a guide.

References

• Parking Lot Lines Striping

Resources

• No Parking Photos