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Is Parking Lot Striping Removal Effective For Existing Stripes?

For many property owners and managers, maintaining parking lot striping paint to keep it as vibrant as possible is the top priority. Striping helps to maintain safety, accessibility and traffic efficiency. But there are moments when you’ll need to remove striping to create a clean slate for fresh application. Parking lot striping removal is effective for eliminating existing stripes, but when is it necessary?

Do I Always Need Lot Striping Removal?

Whether or not you need to remove existing striping depends on several factors. One of the biggest is your goals. Do you plan to restripe over the existing lines, or are you hiring striping companies to revamp your existing layout? Removal is the best choice if you’re updating your parking lot design.

In some cases, removal isn’t necessary. Instead of fully removing stripes, contractors can black them out with paint before sealcoating. Once sealcoating goes on, the existing lines won’t be as visible.

However, you may still encounter ghosting and texture issues. Striping companies in Richmond don’t recommend blacking out existing lines unless you plan the work to be temporary. Maintaining the blacked-out look isn’t easy, and the quality of your pavement may suffer over time. It’s suitable in the short term, but you should have plans to remove the parking lot striping paint shortly.

Why Should I Remove Striping?

When striping parking lot surfaces, it is always recommended to remove existing lines beforehand. The product will accumulate over time, no matter what type of parking lot striping paint you use. Some products are thicker than others, creating a noticeable raised texture. However, any paint will look raised as it builds up.

The problem with that buildup is that it is difficult to maintain accuracy and crisp edges. The higher striping companies layer the paint on, the messier things look. Furthermore, the texture issues piled-on paint creates can become a safety hazard, especially for pedestrians.

For those reasons, striping companies in Richmond recommend line removal services. Removing Richmond parking lot striping gives contractors a clean slate, ultimately improving the look and reliability of your parking lot pavement.

How Does Parking Lot Striping Removal Work?

Removing lines before striping parking lot surfaces is easier than you think. Experienced contractors use specialty equipment called scarifiers. A scarifier is a machine equipped with rotating drums and cutting wheels. It’s similar to what contractors use to mill asphalt during resurfacing projects. However, scarifiers have more precise control, allowing striping companies in Richmond to remove the thinnest paint layer.

Striping companies use scarifiers to cut away the paint while leaving your pavement intact. There are other approaches. Contractors can also utilize wire brushes for more precise manual work and solvents to dissolve the paint. That said, scarifiers are the most effective and eco-friendly method.

Let CVA Striping handle all your striping and paint removal needs. We have many years of experience striping parking lots throughout Central Virginia. We have the tools and know-how to do things right, delivering exceptional results and customer service you can count on. That applies to all our services. In addition to doing Richmond parking lot striping, we’re available for restriping, sealcoating, pothole repair, parking stops, signage and more.

Get your free project quote today by calling CVA Striping at (804)432-3255, emailing cvastriping@gmail.com or submitting your information through our online form.