What to Remember When Choosing Line Marking Stencils
Posted on: 7 April 2016
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Line marking and other such stencils can help any commercial property owner maintain their parking lot quickly and easily; they can touch up faded paint or remark their entire lot on their own, without having to call a professional to mark off the lines, handicap symbols, lettering, and everything else they need to have marked. Your stencils need to work for your lot in particular and they need to ensure a clean, crisp finish to your markings, so you don't want to just choose the cheapest stencils you can find on the market. Note a few things to remember when you're ready to invest in line marking stencils for your commercial lot.
1. Start with regulations
What are the regulations as to the size and design of handicapped spaces, lane markings, and other markings you might need to make on your commercial lot? You may already know the colors that you're legally obligated to use for the markings, but there are also usually regulations as to the size of lettering, based on your type of lot and where the markings are located, as well as the size of handicapped markings and the like. A stencil retailer can usually tell you the regulations you may need to consider for your area and this is where you should start when you're ready to choose stencils.
2. Consider longevity
If you want to choose markings that will be permanent such as for disabled parking or cautions to stop and the like, you might consider thermoplastic logos and stencils. These are actually meant to be melted onto the pavement with a gas torch. They become a permanent marking, although they can be painted over if you should choose to change the layout of your parking lot down the road. If your lot experiences a lot of heavy traffic or inclement weather, or your markings seem to fade regularly for any reason, these thermoplastic options can be a better choice.
3. Material
If you're just buying stencils for what you assume will be a one-time marking job, you may think you can or should opt for cheap cardboard. However, you want to consider more than durability when choosing the material for plastic. Note that cardboard might not actually block the spray of paint as easily as an acrylic or polymer stencil, but might allow any spills or drips to seep through. In turn, your markings may look very sloppy and uneven. Rather than risk this, choose a thick plastic or acrylic stencil even if you don't plan on keeping them for more than one or just a few jobs.
For more information, contact companies like A1 Roadlines Pty. Ltd.