Can a Dallas Parking Lot Striping Contractor Paint in the Winter?

Professional striping and marking can play an important role in boosting your property’s curb appeal and safety. Neat, crisp, visible lines are more attractive, but they also show drivers where and how to park. Pavement markings help guide people through your parking lot, and their condition and location can reduce distractions and confusion, thereby enhancing safety. As more and more trees lose their leaves, an increasing number of businesses begin to wonder whether Dallas parking lot striping can take place during the winter months. Unfortunately, the only truthful answer to that question is that it may or may not be possible. It all depends on the weather, the paint you want your contractor to use, and the scope of your project.

How Does the Weather Affect the Possibility of Dallas Parking Lot Striping in the Winter?

Experienced parking lot striping contractors typically consider the weather as the most important factor affecting the feasibility of applying paint in the winter.

1. Obviously, a parking lot striping contractor cannot apply paint if the pavement is covered by ice or snow. However, many people do not realize that the pavement must be completely dry before the striping company can start applying paint. In the heat of summer, it is not uncommon for parking lot striping in Dallas to begin or resume within hours of a light or moderate rain. However, as temperatures fall, the rate of evaporation slows. Therefore, rain that falls even a day or two prior to the start of a lot striping Dallas project may lead the contractor to reschedule the work.
2. High humidity levels can also slow the rate of evaporation. Even if the pavement is completely dry before the start of your parking lot striping Dallas project, you must remember that the paint itself relies on efficient evaporation to dry and adhere properly. If high humidity levels are accompanied by cool temperatures, the process of evaporation can be severely delayed.
3. Most parking lot striping paint cannot be applied unless both the air and ground temperatures are at least 40 or 50 degrees Fahrenheit. It is important to note that these two temperatures can vary by 20 degrees or more. For example, if the temperature plunges below freezing for several consecutive nights before a scheduled lot striping Dallas project, the ground temperature may be too cold for the parking lot striping contractor to apply paint.

How Does the Type of Paint Affect the Decision a Parking Lot Striping Contractor Makes About Wintertime Applications?

Dallas parking lot striping contractors have access to several different paints. Each paint tends to have different ingredients, and this can affect its drying time, minimum acceptable temperature for application, visibility, and resistance to wear. For wintertime applications, the two most critical factors a striping company must consider are the paint’s drying time and minimum acceptable temperature. An experienced, trustworthy parking lot striping contractor can explain the differences in detail, then recommend the best paint for your lot.

How Does the Scope of a Dallas Parking Lot Striping Project Affect the Feasibility of Painting It in the Winter?

You might think that the surface area of the pavement is the only thing that needs to be considered for parking lot striping in Dallas. That is one factor that must be evaluated for lot striping Dallas pavements. However, parking lot striping contractors must evaluate the full scope of the project. If any of the following apply, parking lot striping Dallas pavements can require more time, which carries the risk that the weather may not cooperate long enough to complete the project on schedule.

1. Does the pavement need to be repaired before a parking lot striping Dallas contractor can apply paint?
2. Is asphalt sealcoating part of the lot striping Dallas project?
3. Is the striping company required to work only on specific days or during specific areas?
4. When lot striping Dallas pavements, contractors are often asked to deliver their services piecemeal. That is, the customer wants the contractor to create sections that can be closed individually, then reopened before the next section is closed for parking lot striping. The primary reason for requesting this sectional approach to parking lot striping in Dallas is to avoid having to close their entire lot for the duration of the project.

If you need a trustworthy, experienced striping company in Dallas, reach out to Advanced Texas Striping. We serve the Dallas-Fort Worth area as well as parts of Oklahoma, and we are known for our integrity, craftsmanship, and service. In addition to parking lot striping, we offer parking lot layout, parking lot re-striping, ADA compliance markings, and warehouse striping. Contact us for a free quote by filling out our online form. If you prefer, you can also email Mark@ATStriping.net, or you can reach our Sanger office at 817-600-5975.