Parking Lot Striping in Biloxi, MS

Parking lot striping wears out long before the asphalt under it. Sun, rain and tires fade paint, and HomeGuide says striping typically lasts about 2 to 5 years depending on weather, traffic and paint quality. On the Gulf Coast, with strong sun and frequent rain, faded lines are common. When they go, drivers park crooked, lots lose usable spaces, and arrows, fire lanes and accessible stalls become hard to read. Restriping is one of the least expensive ways to make a lot work better and look cared for.

Restriping and the ADA

The Department of Justice's guidance says that when a lot is restriped, it must provide accessible parking spaces as required by the 2010 ADA Standards, and that because restriping is relatively inexpensive, doing so is readily achievable in most cases. Key requirements 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 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 wide with a 96-inch aisle
• Signs mounted with the bottom at least 60 inches above the ground
• Spaces and aisles no steeper than 1:48 in any direction

We count the spaces in each lot and put accessible stalls on the most level ground near the accessible entrance.

New layouts

After paving, an overlay or a sealcoat, the old lines are gone and the lot can be laid out fresh. That is the time to fix traffic flow, add stalls or widen tight ones. HomeGuide notes a new layout costs about 20 to 50 percent more than restriping over existing lines because everything has to be measured and snapped from scratch.

Markings we lay out

• Regular and compact parking stalls
• Accessible stalls with access aisles and the wheelchair symbol
• Arrows, stop bars and one-way lanes
• Fire lanes, loading zones and crosswalks
• Painted curbs
• Stenciled lettering and space numbers

Getting lines to stand out

White and yellow paint reads best on black pavement. A faded gray lot makes even fresh lines look dull, which is why striping is often scheduled right after a sealcoat. If the surface is still dark and the layout works, simply repainting the existing lines costs the least.

Scheduling around rain and traffic

Paint needs a clean, dry surface, and on the coast an afternoon shower can ruin fresh lines. We stripe early in the morning, after hours or on weekends where it helps, and block off sections so paint can dry before cars return.