Parking Lot Striping in Columbus, OH

Parking lot striping wears out faster than the pavement under it. Tires, sun and especially snowplow blades take paint off a Columbus lot every winter, and HomeGuide notes that striping typically lasts about two to five years before it needs repainting. Faded lines mean crooked parking, lost spaces, confused traffic and accessible stalls that no longer meet the rules. Fresh striping is one of the cheapest ways to make a lot look cared for.

Restriping triggers the ADA standards

The U.S. Department of Justice's ADA guidance says that when a business or a state or local government restripes a parking lot, it must provide accessible parking spaces as required by the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. That holds even if the old layout fell short. Key points include:

• 1 accessible space for 1 to 25 total spaces, 2 for 26 to 50, 3 for 51 to 75 and 4 for 76 to 100
• At least one van-accessible space, and one of every six accessible spaces van-accessible
• Car spaces at least 96 inches wide with an access aisle at least 60 inches wide
• Van spaces 132 inches wide with a 60-inch aisle, or 96 inches with a 96-inch aisle
• Signs mounted with the bottom at least 60 inches above the ground
• Accessible spaces on the shortest accessible route to the accessible entrance

We count spaces lot by lot and place accessible stalls on the most level ground near the accessible entrance.

New layouts

After an overlay, rebuild or sealcoat, the old lines are gone and the lot can be laid out fresh. That is a chance to fix traffic flow, add stalls or widen tight ones. HomeGuide puts a new layout at 20 to 50 percent more than restriping existing lines, because it has to be measured and snapped from scratch.

Markings we lay down

Beyond stall lines, a working lot usually needs a mix of the following: ADA stalls with their hatched aisles and wheelchair symbols, one-way arrows and stop bars at exits, pedestrian crosswalks between the lot and the door, loading-zone and fire-lane hatching, painted curbs, and stenciled lettering such as NO PARKING or reserved-space numbers.

Paint and contrast

Lines stand out best on a dark, even surface, which is why many owners pair restriping with sealcoating. On a lot that is still in good shape, restriping over the existing layout is the most economical option.

Fire lanes and local requirements

Fire lane markings, curb colors and no-parking wording are set by the local fire code and the fire department, and they differ between Columbus and the suburbs. If your fire marshal or property manager has given you marking requirements, we paint to them. If you are not sure what applies, ask the fire department that serves your property before the layout is finalized.

Scheduling

Traffic paint needs a clean, dry surface and mild temperatures. We stripe early in the morning, after hours or on weekends where it helps, and block sections until the paint dries. Spring striping after plow season is common in Central Ohio, and fall striping before the first snow helps lines survive the winter.