Does your parking lot provide the best possible user experience? If you're not using your painted stripes and signage to their greatest advantage, it probably doesn't. How can you do this? Here are a few key painting tips.

1. Keep Up the Paint

No matter what stripes, lines, or signage you use on the ground, the key is to keep it clear and visible. Parking lot paint will begin to wear down as soon as it's applied, so create a maintenance budget that includes repainting at regular intervals so users aren't confused by faded instructions. And make sure you cover old signage thoroughly. 

2. Rethink Your Striping

If it's been a while since you designed your parking lot layout, it may be time to assess it anew. Business needs change over time. Perhaps you have more — or fewer — employee or customer cars. Maybe you need more motorcycle or bicycle parking. Or perhaps there have been more accidents lately. Some or all of these issues may be solved through a new parking lot layout within the same boundaries. 

3. Include Directional Signs

Give drivers and pedestrians clear instructions through painted signage as well as traditional upright signs. The best directional ground signs are directional arrows, one-word instructions, and color indicators (such as red, blue, and yellow spaces or curbs). Everyone can easily see and understand these signs, reducing conflicts and accidents. 

4. Add Some Flair

Who said that parking lot painting has to be solely utilitarian and practical? It's okay to add some fun, whimsy, or elegance to your lot. How? You might add humorous parking spot signs, a design painted directly on the asphalt, or even a story for visitors to read as they approach. This is a good chance to surprise guests and build out your brand more. 

5. Keep Up the Base

Along with normal wear and tear, the paint in your lot is affected by damage to the asphalt or concrete below it. Large cracks, chips, potholes, and aggregate on the surface can all make signage unreadable even if it's fairly new. Confusing painted instructions don't help customers at all. So keep the base surface in good repair. 

Where to Start

Could your parking lot benefit from improvement in any of these areas? Could it look better, be more functional, or help customers out more? If so, now is the time to give it some attention. For more information, contact a local company like Arrow Black Top & Masonry Inc.