Parking Lot Marking

It seems like there isn't much to know about parking lot marking, but there's more to it than meets the inexperienced eye. It's a balancing act between maximizing the amount of usable spaces in a lot, with the most efficient direction of traffic flow and ease of access for lot users, and a few aesthetic concerns. It can be a major design project, depending on the dimensions of the lot you're working with, and this is before even reaching any decisions regarding materials.

Choices in striping design start with the angle of the spaces, ranging from straight, perpendicular 90 degree head-in spaces that allow for two way traffic, all the way to the rarely used 30 degree angle for exceedingly tight spaces, with anything else in between. 60 degrees is more common for angled spaces, usually used to accommodate narrower aisles and tighter areas. Angled spaces have the disadvantage of taking up more space, but offer the advantage more efficient one way traffic flow. Other types of markings, usually used in special situations, are boxed stalls, good for use in alleys and along walls, and tandem spaces that accommodate 2 or more vehicles bumper to bumper. Another detail to consider is whether to use lower cost single stripes, or double stripes, which offer a buffer for entering and exiting vehicles. If using double stripes, there's a choice of square ends, or more expensive round ends. With many details to consider, and the importance of complying with ADA regulations regarding handicapped accommodation, it can be a time saver to work with an experienced company for parking lot markings.

This holds true with materials as well. There is a huge range of modern materials available with varying degrees of durability and difficulty of application, priced accordingly. They range from less expensive water based acrylics and oil based paints, to more costly two part epoxy or enamel preparations, to pre-formed thermoplastic polymer stencils, though these aren't typically used for parking lot marking due to their thick profile. In addition to all this, some companies can do custom colors if needed. Generally, more durable materials will involve more preparation, and sometimes more than one application, but will also require reduced re-striping in the future. Factor this in when considering cost, and also keep visibility in mind. Safety is important, and parking lot markings go a long way to creating an orderly space that's safer for users. If the public will be using the lot, a well striped lot can go a long way to forming a positive impression right away.

I am Jeff with Parkin Markin, We are a full service commercial Parking Lot maintenance company located in Daytona Beach, FL. We are centrally located on the east coast of Florida allowing us to provide seal coating services, crack sealing services, line striping, parking lot marking, ADA compliant parking lot products such as wheel stops, detectable warning mats, speed bumps, warning signs & rubber curbs to Daytona Beach, Port Orange, New Smyrna Beach, Deland, Deltona, Palm Coast, Ormond Beach - Volusia County - Flagler County For more info about parking lot sealcoating or pavement crack sealing services & parking lot repair, please call 386-868-2704 or visit Parkin Markin http://www.AsphaltSealCoatingPro.com

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Why Sealcoat My Asphalt Parking Lot Or Driveway?

Sealcoating your asphalt parking lot or driveway will protect your expensive asphalt investment saving you thousands of dollars. This simple periodic maintenance can double the life of your pavement and reduce the likelihood of larger repair issues, while providing a jet-black finish for your asphalt that will beautify your home or business. This simple, low-cost procedure can save you a significant amount of money in the long run by eliminating the need for more extensive and costly types of services such asphalt repairs, paving, asphalt overlay and crack repairs. Sealcoating asphalt pavement with coal tar emulsion sealer slows pavement deterioration by protecting against the enemies of a parking lot or driveway.

The three major elements that deteriorate asphalt are:

1. Sun and Oxidation: Sealcoating prevents oxidation and resists ultraviolet rays. Asphalt pavement begins to deteriorate almost as soon as it is placed. As the pavement is exposed to oxygen, the asphalt binder (tar) hardens. This hardening results in a brittle surface that eventually cracks. Cracks in the pavement enable oxygen and rainwater to penetrate the pavement, often into the sub base, weakening it and reducing the pavement's strength. Sealcoating protects the surface and fills surface voids, reducing pavement's exposure to oxygen and water and extending pavement life.

2. Water and Ice: Sealcoating resists water & ice. The sealer provides a protective shell that prevents water from penetrating through the asphalt. Water will soften the base causing larger more expensive repairs such as sink holes, depressions and cracks. In colder climates, the water will freeze and expand which will create pot holes and cracks throughout the asphalt. Sealcoating your parking lot or driveway can save you a significant amount of money by preventing water and ice from penetrating the asphalt surface.

3. Oil & Gas Spills: Sealcoating resists oil and gas spills. This is especially important on driveways and parking lots where cars are parked or worked on. Oil and gasoline soften asphalt. A professional-grade coal tar sealer contains additives that enable it to resist any such leaks. By filling surface voids, sealcoating also reduces the depth to which oil or gas can penetrate the pavement.

Sealcoating will help protect the asphalt from harmful elements and enhance the curb appeal of your home or business.

Please visit http://rdssealcoating.com to learn more about the sealcoating process and how it protects your asphalt investment. BJ Reedy I am the President of RDS Paving & Sealcoating INC. If you are interested in additional information on asphalt sealcoating please visit our website. http://rdssealcoating.com

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Asphalt - To Seal or Not to Seal, That Is the Question

It's a tragedy! You can find it everywhere, black and smelling like a new parking lot with lines so yellow and straight. But wait, upon closer examination the secret reveals itself. This is not a new parking lot, but a newly seal coated parking lot. Upon even closer examination, the new coat is concealing even more. Like a reptile hiding in the shade you can barely see it, but it's there. Alligator cracking, pot holes, and raveling oh my!

This is an issue that comes up with a majority of customers. Many want their parking lot to glisten in the sun and impress their customers, employees, and neighbors. The easiest and least expensive way to do this is seal coat. While this is not necessarily a bad thing to do, it might not be the wisest choice when there are other issues present. In order to continue, I need to dispel a few seal coating myths:

1. It will prevent moisture from entering cracks
2. It will extend the life of your parking lot
3. It will always be the cheapest solution

Myth: It prevents moisture from entering cracks.

Crack filling prevents moisture from entering cracks.

Myth: It will extend the life of your parking lot.

While there are many aesthetic benefits, sealant acts like a layer of paint. It functions more as an "eye pleaser" than improving the overall structure of the asphalt. Some may argue that it protects the asphalt surface against UV rays, chemicals, and oils. This statement does have some truth to it. UV rays will oxidize the surface of asphalt and will show up by the surface changing color. Seal coat's thin layer partially protects against oil spills and chemicals. I say partially because seal coat will wear away in a short period of time depending on damage from the snow plow etc. Oil and chemical spills won't structurally affect the asphalt, but the surface may "pit" and look aesthetically unpleasing.

Myth: It is always the cheapest solution

Some may try to sell seal coating to a customer using the previous two myths as reasons why they should apply seal coat. While this option is cheaper than structural repair, costs can add up over the long-term especially when seal coat only lasts about 2-3 years. The budget process becomes a balancing act of what should be done. A structural repair does not look as nice nor will it be as painless as simply seal coating. If there is a choice between structural repair and seal coating, structural repair most always should be chosen. If repair is too expensive and maintenance is still a priority, choose to crack fill and protect the structure of the asphalt.

Of course, it is all a matter of preference. A newly sealed lot can boost the look of a business, raise the morale of the employees, and impress customers. When deciding; "to seal or not to seal", remember "tis nobler to understand thine options than to purchase blindly."

Learn more about proper asphalt maintenance at http://blackdiamondgrp.com/  Contact Black Diamond Group, Inc. for a detailed proposal today!

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Could You Be Hurting Your Blacktop Surface by Seal-Coating Every Year?

In the past decade as our workforce loses out to foreign competition, many people have decided to go into business for themselves. A very easy and lucrative business is asphalt sealing. A person can get started with as little investment as a couple hundred dollars and no experience. This has led to even more problems in an industry that is already marked with scars from bad ethics and scrupulous scams. Until wide spread use of the Internet, consumers have been limited to educating themselves regarding pavement maintenance through the actual installers. The problem is, most of the installers have little knowledge themselves.

Lets explore and offer some answers to the most common questions:

1.) Q. Should seal coating be performed on an annual basis?

A. No. Sealing your surface too much can lead to many problems. Many seal coating installers will lead you to believe otherwise. However, the first two coats of sealer applied to your asphalt are what really protect it. Anything after this is usually for cosmetic purposes. Sealer applied annually tends to crack and flake after about 10 years of annual applications. This may influence the owner to resurface prematurely. To sum up, too much maintenance is not a good return on investment. Other problems caused by over sealing are tracking, creating slippery surfaces, and a smaller balance in your checkbook.

2.) Q. Is it better to apply sealer in hot weather?

A. While this is true for paving, it's not appropriate for sealing. Remember, asphalt can get so hot under the hot summer sun; it can nearly burn your skin. This also causes the sealer to dry too quickly. When sealer dries too quickly it can peel, flake, or get a streaky finish. If you must apply sealer in temperatures above 90 degrees, it's a good idea to spray the surface with a light mist of water first. This will cool the surface considerably. Ideal air temperatures are between 50 and 80 degrees.

3.) Q. Sealer is all the same, why shouldn't I choose a less expensive bid?

A. There are far more variables to the seal coating industry than consumers realize. Most directly influence the differences in quoted prices. First off, sealer is water based. Therefore it can be diluted to save money, or not diluted to provide a more superior product. Unfortunately, there is hardly any way to tell what the water content is in sealer. Most applications will have an average of 10%-25% water dilution rate. This is acceptable. Consumers should choose a reputable contractor. Usually a good installer will be more expensive because he doesn't over dilute his material, he may use additives which greatly improve the sealer, he has all the required insurances and licensing to be in business, pays his trained employees a fair wage to do a good job, and will stand behind the work. Shoddy contractors almost never have any insurance, offer a low price to get a large volume of work, hire cheap inexperienced labor, dilute the material heavily, and will never offer any guarantees once paid.

4.) Q. Surface cracks always come back, so why bother filling them?

A. Inexperienced, or unethical contractors will shy away from filling cracks. It is important to fill cracks especially in climates that are subjected to freezing temperatures. Water can cause damage to pavement if permitted to get down into the pores of blacktop. Qualified installers will know exactly the best solution to treat cracks.

5.) Q. Why do I need to seal my surface. After all, the interstates don't get sealed.

A. Although your surface may be comprised of similar materials as the highway, it is subjected to much different uses than a highway. Highways don't get sealed because they carry a large volume of high-speed single direction traffic. This has a polishing effect on the surface, which will naturally repel water from being soaked into the pavement. Your surface is subjected to slow moving, heavy loads, or constant maneuvering of vehicles. Asphalt can realize a longer lifespan by sealing because it keeps water or damaging chemicals from penetrating into its pores.

6.) Q. Can I save some money by doing it myself?

A. At one point, some courageous homeowners (and very few commercial property owners) will try to personally seal coat their pavement. Stop for a second and add up the total costs you will incur by undertaking this project. Sealer by the pale costs 4-5 times more at improvement stores (and usually is not of the same quality). Tools available to homeowners are often expensive and not up to the task. Figure on ruining a whole outfit from your shoes all the way to gloves. You may have to persuade somebody to help you, which could cost additional money. On average this will take you four to five times longer than a professional. On a 1,200 square foot driveway you can expect to fork out around $300.00 for the supplies listed above. That doesn't include what you would make hourly at your job. Plus it is highly doubtful that you would do half as good a job as a professional. By today's rates, most professional jobs will range between $180.00 and $320.00.

7.) Q. Should the sealer be applied by spray or squeegee?

A. Here is another reason you should rely on a real professional to come up with a solution for your specific needs. Both application types are suitable under the right circumstances. There is no "one size fits all" method of seal coating. A true professional will determine the process based off of age, degree of deterioration, climate, expected use, budget, term of ownership, obstacles, and how many coats already exist on the pavement.

The main point of this article is to influence the consumer to research and make an educated decision when maintaining asphalt surfaces. Do not make an impulsive decision based solely on price. The first thing you should do is be sure your contractor has an upstanding report with the BBB. Make sure they are well established by investigating whether they have a local advertisement in the yellow pages or a website. It also wouldn't hurt to get several bids, and check references on all of them. Keep in mind you usually get what you pay for.

A well-paved blacktop surface can last 20+ years if maintained on proper intervals. Save money by hiring a reputable, paving or sealing contractor. They can develop a strategy to maintain your pavement. Spending a little more now, can save you a lot down the road.

Creve Coeur Paving: A St. Louis based; family owned paving company focused on delivering the best possible solutions for its clients. Motivated by the company's highly regarded work ethic, it's owners and employees have been striving for perfection in paving for over thirty years. "Our Reputation Rides On Our Service." Contact: Richard Dinkela II, Operations Creve Coeur Paving 314-427-3303 http://www.ccpstl.com

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Why Sealcoating Is Important To Your Asphalt

Your driveway or parking lot is a significant investment in your property. To beautify you establishment and protect your investment as long as possible, you want to protect your asphalt from the damaging effects of certain natural elements including moisture and ultraviolet oxidation. Natural and man-made elements can cause cracks half way into the asphalt, little as 5 years. Small cracks act as miniature storm drains after a good rain and cause raveling between the asphalt over time. Larger cracks and potholes can appear within the base as early as 8-10 years unless certain precautions are taken. Protecting asphalt with sealcoating basically has the same benefits as sun block has to protect your skin, or varnish on wood.

What causes asphalt to break down? Standard asphalt is very susceptible to naturaland man made elements such as sun, wind, rain, snow, frost and ice. These elements cause oxidation to the pavement, drying out the asphalt. Man made elements such as fuel, oil, antifreeze, and salts break down the oils and cohesive properties in the asphalt.

As new asphalt age's small open cracks are formed between the asphalt, from oxidation and rain. These small cracks permit water, salt, fuel, oil, and ultraviolet rays to penetrate into the base leading to greater damage, unless repaired properly. Water is said to be the most damaging agent to asphalt. This leads to larger cracks, eventually collapsing into the eroded voids, causing potholes. Alligator cracks and potholes should be cut with a saw, and replace before sealing asphalt.

What are the benefits of sealcoating? Sealcoating protects your investment, extending the life of your asphalt, saving you money in the long run. Asphalt sealer beautifies and enhances your driveway or parking lot, giving it a dark black color to the pavement making it look and wear like new. A dark black parking lot offers a positive image of how clean a company, or residential home is.

-Asphalt Sealer slows down oxidation and water penetration, blocking out natural elements such as, sun, wind, rain, snow, frost, and ice.

-Asphalt sealer resist harmful man made element spills such as fuel, antifreeze, oil, and salt. Find a sealer that is made from a coal tar emulsion that isn't soluble in oil or gas.

-Asphalt sealer fills small voids in asphalt reducing exposure to oxygen and water and extending pavement life.

How often should you sealcoat Asphalt? You should sealcoat your new asphalt as soon as it begins to turn grey or 90 days after installation. If you have already sealcoated your asphalt in the past, it is recommended to re-apply sealer every 3 to 4 years depending on the wear of the previous applications. If you sealcoat too much voids will be created in the sealer causing cracking later on. You need to let the old sealer wear off before applying new sealer. Talk to your local contractor before making any serious decisions.

Nick has worked in the asphalt industry for most of his life. Growing up working in the family business he has helped Deal Asphalt Inc. become a full operational asphalt company specializing in asphalt paving and sealcoating. Find out more at http://www.DealAsphalt.com

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Selecting a Sealcoating Contractor

Your investment in asphalt pavement, whether it is a parking lot or simply a residential driveway, will require maintenance to extend the life of the surface. It is the "welcome mat" to your business or a vital part to the curb appeal of your home or residence. Maintaining the asphalt is important and sealcoating is one of those steps. However, selecting the appropriate contractor for sealcoating is as important as just making the decision to protect the asphalt to begin with.

The first thing to look for in a sealcoating contractor is their history or reputation. Can they provide references? Will they offer you properties to look at to see the quality of their work? Avoid those individuals that are going door to door and offering to sealcoat your driveway at a great price because they have left-over material from work before. More often than not you'll never hear from them again. That's not good if any issues arise and you need them to make good on any mistakes.

Secondly, you should compare warranties on workmanship between sealcoating contractors. How long do they claim their application will last or wear? Also, what is included in the quote? Are they including any crack repair or pothole repair? And remember to get any promises in writing and collect any additional information from them such as business cards, reference lists etc...If any striping is necessary, ask if they are doing the work or if will it be subcontracted out. If they are hiring another contractor to do striping, be sure to check them out as well. Once you've selected a contractor, make sure they have insurance to protect you and your property from any damages or loss.

Before any work begins, do not be afraid to ask what equipment they have or how the sealcoat will be applied? Based on the size of the job, you need to be sure they have the appropriate tools to clean and prepare the surface and the necessary tools or equipment to apply the sealcoating or other materials in an efficient and timely manner.

If you are the property owner of a facility involving a decent size parking lot, you will want be conscience of how the work is completed and the time involved. If the sealcoating crew is only preparing the lot with brooms without the use of blowers and if they are applying sealer by hand instead of a spray or squeegee machine, that will cost you in the end in additional labor costs.

What do you need to know about the sealcoating material? Ask them how many coats are included in the quote? It is best practice to demand or specify two coats. The first coat of sealcoating will fill in the voids and porosity of the asphalt surface. The second coat is the wearing layer. The second coat is important to get longevity. The top of the rock or smooth sides of the rock in asphalt tend to wear quickly and a second coat of sealer will help reduce that wear. Also, verify the contractor is following the manufacturer's specifications for mixing and applying sealcoat. With that, it is important you know the square footage of the area getting sealed so you have an idea of how much material should be applied.

Other tips to follow include keeping an eye on the weather. Do not allow application if temperatures are expected to fall below 50 degrees for 24 hours and make sure no rain is forecasted for the same 24 hour period to ensure proper curing and performance. Once the sealcoating is complete you must keep vehicles off the driveway or parking lot for 24 to 48 hours. Following these few steps will ensure the sealcoating will beautify and protect your asphalt pavement for years to come.

Visit http://www.sealmaster.net for more information regarding sealcoating and pavement maintenance and asphalt repair.

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The Importance of Parking Lot Line Painting and Pavement Marking

In business today it's important to be professional. This includes the upkeep of property maintenance inside and outside of the business. Parking lot line painting is one of the most important aspects of external property maintenance and this article explains three excellent reasons why.

1) Appearance

The parking lot of a business acts as a welcome mat for customers and can often act as a first impression to new clients. If the parking lot pavement markings are worn and barely visible it may give the impression to some clients that the owners are irresponsible or that they don't care about the way their property looks. Parking lots simply look better with a fresh coat of high grade traffic paint on the stall lines, handicap symbols, arrows, speed bumps and any other pavement markings the lot might have. When line painting is done it allows that mat to say "welcome" again.

2) Parking Organization

If there is no visible lines to indicate parking spaces in a parking lot, people will park anywhere and everywhere they can fit their vehicle. This is not good since it increases the chance of people getting boxed in and unable to get out of the lot. When parked vehicles are in disarray it can also increase the chance of dings and scratches to vehicles if navigation around the lot is tight and difficult. Parking stalls and drive lanes have regulated sizes for these reasons and a nicely painted lot keeps the parked traffic organized and moving vehicles can be driven through the area safely and easily.

3) Space Maximization

I can't count the number of times I've seen 20 vehicles in a "full" parking lot that could easily fit 24 or 25 automobiles if it had been given the correct line painting job done. It doesn't seem like much but let's say it's a restaurant that averages $50.00 per bill. That adds up to about $200.00 - $250.00 in revenue. This to me would be the most frustrating parking problem for the business owner since most of the time if people can't park at the establishment, they don't shop there either. Painting proper stall lines allows optimal space maximization that fits as many vehicles as the parking lot can safely manage.

These are three basic problems that can be easily avoided if the correct pavement markings are applied to the lot. As long as parking lot line painting is done by professionals it can be one of the quickest and effective aspects of external property maintenance.

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Allow Vaca Vet Striping to Make Your Business ADA Compliant

Allow Vaca Vet Striping to make your business ADA (Americans with Disabilities Assoc.) compliant. 

We understand the importance of quality asphalt maintenance and the importance of leaving a lasting impression to prospective tenants, home buyers, customers and the general public.

V.V.S. strives to provide quality work and great service at an affordable cost. We provide services in Solano, Napa, Yolo and Sacramento counties. Our services include city, county, and state roads, highways, airports, commercial parking lots, driveways and racetracks.

Take Advantage of Vaca Vet Striping's Special!

 

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707-592-8331

Seal Coating: Should Be of High Importance

Roadways, runways and pavements, all are prone to damage. Just imagine the number of people walking and number of cars passing over them. External factors like heat, rain and snow also add to their degradation. According to experts, maintenance work should be done quite frequently in order to avoid heavyweight expenses in the future. Especially, pavements are prone to severe damage. If you neglect minor cracks now, they might magnify sooner or later. Then, you might have to suffer huge expenses on a re-construction. If you do not want all that to happen, get a seal coating done for your pavement. It would help you enhance its quality.

If you are still considering seal coating callously, these following points might just change your mind.

• An effective coating helps in developing resistance. The pavement becomes resistant to UV rays. These rays penetrate into the asphalt surface and infuse damage in the long term. Therefore seal coating helps a lot in keeping the pavement penetration free. Moreover, it keeps many chemicals (that encourage degradation) away from the pavement. Isn't this quite a substantial reason to incorporate such coats on your pavement?


• These types of coatings help the pavement endure the weight of heavy vehicles passing over it. You must have noticed huge cracks due to the pressure of vehicles on certain pavements. This particular coating is specially designed to endure the heavyweight.


• This coating makes the surface of the pavement extremely smooth. A spell of rain would be enough in clearing up the entire surface. Moreover, you have to invest even lesser in getting the pavements clean.


• Coatings are waterproof. They do not let water seep into the base level. Moreover, the smooth surface discourages water stagnation.


• Seal coated surfaces are friction free. Drawing traffic lines and guidelines would be extremely easy. Certain service providers provide services for line marking as well. They do it flawlessly.

Hopefully, these points should change the way you look at your pavement. However, there are certain points to consider as well.

1. Accreditation - The company should be recognized by the Better Business Bureau and should be appreciated by its customers too.
2. Experience - Don't settle with inexperienced companies. You might have to pay the price for improper seal coating.

So, keep these points in mind before even taking a step ahead towards seal coating for your pavement.

North Shore, MA shelters some companies who are around for more than 50 years now. Seal Coating North Shore, MA - You should never overlook minor problems on your pavement and instantly opt for seal coating. North Shore, MA is the right place to consult and hire services from companies.

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