Parking lot lines fade a little at a time, so it is easy to stop noticing them. Here are five signs it is time to re-stripe.
1. You can't see the lines from the driver's seat
Walking the lot is one thing, but try driving through it. If lines are hard to see in the late afternoon sun, at night, or after a rain, drivers are guessing where to park. Long, hot San Antonio summers and strong sun are hard on pavement paint.
2. Cars are parking crooked or across two spaces
When drivers can't see the stall lines, they spread out. That means fewer usable spaces, more door dings and frustrated customers or tenants.
3. Your ADA markings are faded or missing
Accessible spaces, access aisles and the wheelchair symbol need to be clear. Worn markings make it harder for people who need those spaces, and they can lead to complaints. See our ADA parking basics guide for what to check.
4. The lot was just repaved or sealcoated
New asphalt and sealcoating cover the old lines completely. Plan striping as part of the project so the lot can reopen with clear, fresh markings.
5. The layout doesn't fit how the lot is used anymore
Maybe you need more spaces, a new loading zone, clearer traffic arrows or a fire lane. Re-striping is a good time to rethink the layout instead of painting over the same lines.
How often should you re-stripe?
It depends on how much traffic your lot gets and how much sun and weather it sees. Many lots need re-striping every one to three years. Busy retail lots and drive-thrus often wear faster.