How Get Rid Of Line From Paint Stipes

Removing unwanted lines from a parking lot is not easy. In this article – taken from his book – Dan Zurcher of American Striping offers iii effective methods for making it easier to remove new and established line paint from pavement. The three methods include: (1) A wire brush for small mistakes, (2) a "scarifier", (3) and a "shot blaster".

1. Use A Wire Castor

Everyone carries a wire brush. I of mine looks like an 18" toothbrush. The wires are about 1" long. The other looks similar a wood block.

Wires are i" long and the wood block is 3" 10 8"? Information technology's a scrub castor! I as well buy boxes of rags and I mostly have one within reach.

The first step in removing old parking lot lines is using a wire brush

Next, you lot'll have the cutting amanuensis for the particular blazon of paint. So, if my machine does not shut off (detect how it'south the automobile'due south mistake), take hold of the brush and try to rapidly scrub it off. If your rag is closer, wipe it upward quickly before it dries. Then, you'll have less to wire brush off.

And if you can wet the rag with the cutting agent to wipe it off (before it dries), you'll practice well.

It'due south not easy. It'south not fun. But, it'southward not difficult either. This "elbow grease" job only lasts for a minute. And yous're a responsible person. So, forget ego and scrub. Bluntly, when I come across someone wire brushing, I think to myself…that'southward a adept striper.

2. Scar the Pavement

Pronounced "scare" but, think of information technology as "scar" considering that's what y'all're going to do – scar the pavement by scratching information technology!

Yous've probably seen this, on the street. When I move a traffic lane, I cannot simply "black out" the onetime line. I need to remove it then you don't crash.

Using a scarifier will

And the end result is this: you've seen the "scratches" where the old line was. They're not likewise deep. Simply they are at that place. This "path" is about viii" broad. (The scars or scratches look like grooves.) I've just "scratched" = "scarred" the road.

I've removed the one-time line, taking a little bit of the road too. Just, the line is gone! The small hand operated machine that does the work, looks like a paw operated Garden Tiller. It's called a Scarifier. Rent information technology.

It costs something like $200.00 per hour hours or $400.00 per solar day. And, you may accept to pay for the blades. They look similar the sprockets from a bike. Or, "Sub" the task out to someone with a Scarifier to "grind" off the lines.

If they charge $200.00 for removing 30 lines or an abandoned Crosswalk, hire them. I'd try to be in that location, to assistance. Peradventure you tin can help clean up. That's next.

4. Remove the Debris

Picture grinding a parking lot using an 8" grinder, walking slower than normal. Yes, at that place are debris.

Bring five gallon buckets, a blower, (large or small) a large dust pan and an 8', big broom.

You lot tin blow the debris to a spot and sweep it up… then booty it away. Or you can sweep every line, (the debris doesn't actually fly very far and this saves blowing off the entire lot, unless you lot bid for that also).

Prior to applying the new parking lot paint, you should clear the debris on the area

Here'due south some adept news. I hear the debris is a fantastic base. Or, dump it at a local landfill. Charges may be $35.00. And then, call your local landfill and check the price.

So…I've done this myself for a Regional Aerodrome. I removed Taxi Lines.

I and then reapplied new ones. I've also subbed jobs out = I called another Striper to remove 1900' on a grocery store job. I needed to plow that striping, xc degrees. So, his crew showed up and they did the work. I helped clean up, they hauled it all away. It took 2 hours. They left, I striped, and I'm done.

Pricing varies…I think the going rate is .xl to $ane.00 per foot.

And then, if yous have a "Scarifier, yous may also get jobs from other stripers. Bid fair and help them. Don't steal their client. You'll need help on a job one day, too.

five. Use A Shot Blaster

Think of it as a Sand Blaster, but instead of using sand to smash off the line (what a mess that would exist!), we utilise metal "Shot". Yeah, only like the metal BB'due south that are within a Shotgun Shell chosen Shot.

So, it'due south called a Shot Blaster and nosotros are Shot Diggings.

Shot blasting the pavement allows the paint to better grip on the pavement

Shot blasting is a bit specialized. It's used almost exclusively for "roughing up" concrete. That way, the paint will be able to get a better "grip" on it and hopefully concluding longer. There are three difference scenarios, you can employ the Shot Blaster:

Shot Blast either the unabridged floor before I paint the unabridged floor.
Shot Smash only where I'grand going to stripe.
Shot Blast just to "clean off" ugly, disgusting concrete.

A notation hither: If y'all're Shot Blasting the unabridged floor, it's chosen Shot Blasting. If you're merely Shot Blasting where you lot plan to stripe, information technology's called "Track Blasting"- 8" wide "tracks". Your stripe will then get "on" or "in" this "track". Track Diggings.

And once again, you'll be "roughing upwardly" the smooth, and sometimes, shiny surface of a concrete flooring.

Another note: I want you to pretend you're Shot Diggings an entire floor. If you movement methodically and if you lot move at a consistent speed, you'll do well. But, if you stop to look at the pretty people, your Shot Blaster won't and you lot'll have an surface area rougher = "alot prickly".

So, if it's filthy, do go a little slower. If's if not as well bad, you lot can movement a little more quickly. Merely I wouldn't stop. Don't just end.

When to apply A Shot Blaster?

My jobs are mostly warehouse floors or parking garages. Warehouse floors have two strikes against them.

They're smooth…then shine…they're shiny = the paint won't stick.
hey come across enormous volumes of hard traffic = fork lifts at the dock expanse.

Floors are smooth and fork lifts pirouette. Paint won't last. And then…Shot Blast…showtime. Parking Garages besides accept 2 strikes.

They're filthy.
They're really filthy.

So again, the Shot Blaster volition "rough up" the surface past diggings it with metal BB'southward and also remove the filth and paint that'southward in that location. The new surface volition at present resemble the "prickly" surface of the exterior sidewalk.

Now nosotros can do a couple things. You tin can pigment information technology because the pigment can now "grip" the surface. Or, you tin walk away considering information technology's clean already!

What are the Types and Sizes of Shot Equalizer?

At present the auto. In that location are basically ii types – electrical or gas engine. In that location are also three sizes – dinky one, a medium sized one and a large one that you ride!

Beginning. If you rent the dinky one or the medium sized one, y'all'll also rent the vacuum system with information technology. The vacuum system vacuums up the debris you'll create, including very small chips of concrete. Information technology also collects virtually of the BB'south – a few volition fly all over the place. So, you must wear eye protection and ear plugs. Then, walk effectually with a "magnet broom" to option up remnant BB'due south. The vacuum gets near.

I like the "Large Boy". It vacuums itself. The rent does not include the trailer. If you have a trailer, cool. If not, rent the trailer with it. How many BB's should you get? Inquire the Equipment Rental Visitor how many bags of BB'due south you'll need, and buy more that.

You tin always return them and get your coin dorsum. Besides, you're bringing the car back anyhow.

OK? Iii machines, and two types = Dinky, medium and big; electric and gas.
Dinky and medium demand a vacuum. "Big Boy" has his own and you lot tin ride him = fun, but, you lot'll too need a trailer to tote him around.

There are types of jobs; Shot Blasting, "Track Blasting" and "Just Make clean The Physical".

Practise You Demand to Apply Pigment After Shot Blasing?

Whenever I've Shot Blasted, I've always used a Part Paint. (I wrote virtually this in my book.) You'll mix Function A with Part B. These Office Paints are sticky and dry incredibly hard.

When yous consider tight turning traffic, on concrete a Part Paint is a must. (Don't forget the cut agent.)

AND, when you start spraying, don't finish. A Part Epoxy is different than a Part Tile Clad. They dry differently. And so, don't permit your striper just set idle while you accept a lunch. That said, make clean it out well and right when you're done.

What to Bid?

I've had no luck bidding the following…

A) Track Nail the floor to accept paint.
B) Layout and Stripe to Specifications. When y'all do this operation…you'll use a (two) Part Paint. Information technology gets pricy quickly.

Merely, I have had good luck bidding the following…

A) Shot Boom the entire floor.
B) Use (2) Office Paint to the entire flooring.

I've also had skillful luck bidding…

A) Shot Smash the entire floor. To clean it up and / or remove grime and sometime paint.
Then…I'g done…

OR…

A) Shot Blast the entire floor. To clean it up and / or remove crud and former paint.
B) Layout and Stripe to Specifications.
AND…Simply use (2) Role Pigment to a Physical floor. (It's a judgment call.)

LAST…I have to include this next story…or I'd hate myself…

I used a Grey (2) Part to cover an expanse of a garage floor. I practical it with a roller on an 8' pole. I was going to change the existing standard layout to a H/C layout. (The expanse had been "blacked out", "re-striped", too many times.)

The customer wanted to try "just paint the floor". The (2) Part "ate" the old stripes…just…just in some places. It blistered. Then, I scraped the small areas here and there, and reapplied the (two) Office past hand. All was well.

Merely, here'due south the lesson; IF you're going over sometime lines or paint, do a test area. Do information technology. That saidyou may still have some problem spots. Just let your client know. Why? They'll appreciate honesty. Ii years after, we Shot Blasted that expanse…and…?…the other floors as well.

On Line Removal… (This is my recap = recapitulate.)

A) A Wire Brush, Rag, Cleaning Amanuensis, Elbow Grease. Rapidly.
B) A Scarifier, Empty five Gallon Buckets, Blower, Large Grit Pan, Large Broom.
C) Shot Equalizer, Eye and Ear Protection, five gallon buckets = empty the vacuum.
(Or rent someone else to do information technology =…a "Sub" contractor = "submarine…!" = "nether" you = "Sub" information technology out. Get it? Cool.)

I hope this primer helped. Find your niche. Piece of work hard. At least you know nuts.

Come across ya.

Dan Zurcher
How I Stripe a Parking Lot, (16) Years, By Myself, Third Edition. http://www.AmericanStriping.com