We use many different materials for pavement marking. Click on a product to learn more about it:
- Water based paint
- Chlorinated Rubber paint
- Penetrating stains
- Thermoplastic
- Raised markers
- Epoxies and Urethanes
- Temporary Tape
- Removable Paint
Water
based paint has come a long way in the last 20
years. Today paint companies are spending all their R&D on
coatings that do not contain VOC's (volatile organic
compounds). Water based paints used in traffic marking are
based either on a latex resin or an acrylic resin, or a
combination. Latex is cheaper, and suitable for less
demanding applications, acrylic is more expensive and used
in better grades of traffic paint. Robert Liles uses water
based paints that meet D.O.T. specification 1952D, the
newest and best type of water based paint. An example is
Sherwin - Williams "Hotline", their 100% acrylic water based
traffic paint. Often architects and specifiers do not have
the latest specifications on hand and we still see them
refer to older specs like 1952B, which is not as durable and
takes longer to dry.
Chlorinated
Rubber paint is an oil based traffic marking paint.
A limitation of water based paints is that they do not dry
well, if at all, during times of low temperatures or high
humidity. We can use oil based paints to get the job done
when weather conditions do not permit the use of water based
paints. Chlorinated rubber paint is alkyd paint that is
fortified by the addition of a rubber compound that gives it
increased resistance to wear, and much improved adhesion
over regular alkyd paint. The only oil based paint that
Robert uses is chlorinated rubber.
Penetrating
stains are useful on concrete in areas of pedestrian
traffic, like accessible ramps. The stain changes the color
and seals the concrete, without changing the texture. We
can comply with ADA requirements for contrasting colors
while maintaining slip resistance. And example is H & C
concrete stain. Stains are available in any color.
Thermoplastic
pavement marking is the most durable marking used in our
area. The reason for it's durability is that it is applied
at approximately ten times the thickness of paint markings.
Thermo is a solid material that is heated to a temperature
that allows it to flow. The highway stripers get their
thermo in bags or blocks and melt it in huge pots. We use
preformed thermoplastic that is heated with a special torch
and flows and bonds with the pavement. Preformed thermo is
great for small jobs in high traffic areas, but the cost is
quite a bit higher than paint.
Raised
markers are installed by the millions on Texas
roadways every year. In fact most are replaced on a one or
two year cycle. We can install them on parking lots and
they last for years. They are useful because of their
nighttime visibility and serve as tactile warnings to
drivers. We have reflective and non-reflective markers, in
several colors.
Epoxies
and Urethanes are high cost and high performance
coatings. They take special skills and equipment for proper
application. We generally use them for warehouse and factory
floor markings that are subject to heavy forklift traffic.
We often use Sherwin - Williams Corothane for floors because
it very hard and glossy and won't get dirty like other
paints. These paints adhere well to concrete, but we like
to slightly roughen and clean the surface with our scarifier
before painting.
There
are many tapes made for pavement
marking, but the only ones that are durable are also much
more expensive than coatings, so we don't have much use for
them. Temporary tape is used in highway construction for
safety until the line stripers can get to the job.
Magic Colors is a permanent /
removable paint system that can be used for temporary road
markings. The paint is tough and long lasting, but can be
easily removed with their special remover. The residue is
environmentally friendly and can be washed away and allowed
to decompose in the soil. For information, visit
www.magiccolors.net
