When you own or manage a commercial facility of any sort, you may need to refresh the markings and lines in your parking lot or shipping area, either after you've made repairs to the surface or simply because the current lines have faded. It's good to note that road marking paint is not all the same, and you need to ensure you choose the right type for the surface, your typical weather conditions and even the tools you'll be using to apply the paint. Note a few tips before you begin shopping for your road line marking paint.
1. Water-based paints
Water-based paints have the advantage of being less harmful to the environment than paints made with solvents. As the paint eventually chips or fades away, the water based paint will release far fewer toxins into the soil and groundwater than paints with solvents. If you're concerned about the environment, this can be the right choice.
One thing to remember is that many fast drying paints are water based, and while choosing fast drying paints can mean having your parking lot or other area ready for traffic within hours if not minutes, you need to consider the type of equipment you use. Some fast drying paints will dry so quickly that they actually dry on a paint roller and clog up tubes and hoses. When using a fast drying paint, you may need to use a sprayer only, in order to keep it from drying before it's even applied.
2. Solvent-based paints
A solvent-based paint will usually be made with a type of oil; in some cases, it may be a form of vegetable oil. This offers the advantage of repelling water. If your facility is in a location with lots of rain or snow, you might opt for a solvent-based paint so the water drips away from the paint lines and markings. The solvent-based paint also won't freeze, so it's a good choice for areas with very cold winters as the paint is less likely to get brittle and chip in freezing temperatures.
3. Hybrid paints
Hybrid paints are those that may have different types of solvents added; some will be oils that are stronger than plain vegetable oil and will stand up to aggressive wear. Glass beads can also be added to make the lines more light reflective; this is the right choice for a facility that operates at night so the lines are still visible.
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