Parking lot striping plays a big part in keeping your property safe. Those lines and traffic markers do more than boost curb appeal. They also direct drivers in the right direction, minimize the risk of accidents and keep traffic flowing. Keeping your parking lot striping paint vibrant and crisp makes all the difference. But how long does it take Hammond parking lot striping paint to dry?
Why Does Lot Paint Drying Time Matter?
It’s important to consider drying times when investing in lot striping in Hammond. Why? Parking lot striping can cause some downtime for your business! Lot striping paint needs time to cure and bond with your asphalt. Otherwise, it may fade and peel off not long after application.
Drying and curing are integral parts of the process, but the time parking lot striping paint companies spend on your property can be disruptive. Understanding dry times can help you plan for service. Lot striping paint contractors typically recommend restriping lots every 18 to 24 months, and most are willing to work with you to minimize downtime as much as possible.
How Long Do Lot Striping Paint Companies Recommend for Curing?
Paint typically feels dry after about 30 minutes. However, your chosen parking lot striping paint company will likely recommend staying off the asphalt for at least an hour. An hour is usually enough time for the paint to cure fully. Once cured, it will bond tight with the asphalt, giving it enough strength to withstand normal traffic.
Does the Type of Parking Lot Striping Paint Used Make a Difference?
One hour is the standard that most lot striping paint companies will recommend for curing. However, that’s just a baseline. Many factors can cause your lot striping in Hammond to dry faster or slower.
The factor that has the most impact is the type of formula used by your parking lot striping paint company. The most affordable options are traditional water-based and solvent-based paints. They can keep the total parking lot striping costs low but take longer to cure.
Water-based paints often dry faster than oil- or solvent-based alternatives. However, you can still expect to wait an hour or more.
Some lot striping paint companies offer thermoplastic paint. This paint cures significantly faster than traditional paints, in as little as five minutes, while providing better visibility and durability. The downside is the parking lot striping cost. Thermoplastic paint is more expensive, but the tradeoff is faster curing and less downtime for your business.
Can Weather Conditions Affect Parking Lot Striping Dry Times?
Another factor to consider is the weather. Temperature and humidity will affect how long your Hammond parking lot striping takes to dry. Traditional water-based paint formulas rely on the mechanics of evaporation to cure. Cool temperatures and high humidity impact evaporation, causing paints to take much longer to dry!
Most parking lot striping paint contractors will pay close attention to the weather before scheduling an application appointment. Generally, it’s not wise to paint when the temperatures are below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity is above 50 percent.
If you struggle to work around the weather, your lot striping paint company may recommend upgrading to thermoplastic. While it drives up the total parking lot striping cost, thermoplastic cures quickly regardless of the weather.
What Other Factors Should I Consider Before Hiring a Lot Paint Contractor?
Hammond parking lot striping may take longer to dry if you recently invested in sealcoating. Sealcoating is a necessary maintenance task that can significantly improve the look of your asphalt while keeping it protected from the elements. The problem with sealcoating is that it covers existing stripes. The sealcoating results are also dark, requiring at least two coats of paint to ensure maximum visibility of your stripes.
Post-sealing striping often takes twice as long because your parking lot striping paint company must wait for the first layer of paint to cure before applying the second.
When you need lot striping in Hammond, turn to Second Line Striping! We’re a Hammond-based parking lot striping paint company that proudly serves property owners in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Covington, Lafayette, Metairie and the nearby communities.
We’ve spent years developing a positive reputation for our quality work and reliable customer service. You can count on us to complete your projects to the highest standards. We do parking lot striping, restriping, thermoplastic line markings, parking lot cleaning and more.
Reach out to Second Line Striping today to get a free quote. You can use our online contact form, email us at mike@secondlinestriping.com or call (225)331-0062.
