Facts About Thermoplastic Pavement Markings

Posted on April 20, 2021 by admin

If you are a business owner with a brick-and-mortar location, thermoplastic pavement markings should be something on your priority list. Your surrounding paved lot is more than an investment; it is also potential liability if not properly maintained. Furthermore, it must be kept in adherence to all local and state regulations, including ADA compliancy codes.

Continue reading to learn more about thermoplastic pavement markings, and what you can do to ensure your commercial or industrial lot is up to code and well-preserved for years to come.

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What are Thermoplastic Pavement Markings?

Thermoplastic pavement markings are a specially formulated type of polymer that turns into liquid form when exposed to high levels of heat; 392 degrees Fahrenheit to be exact! Once cooled, or cured as we pavement contractors say in the industry, thermoplastic pavement markings turn back into a solid. For this reason, they are used in a wide range of industries all across the world, including in applications for machinery parts and hardware, consumer goods, packaging, medical instruments and devices, stored materials, and of course, road safety and paving.

Hot Melt Marking Paint

In terms of road safety and paving applications, thermoplastic pavement markings are used as paint, also known as hot melt marking paint. As mentioned, this paint is heated to the high level of 392°F, which is the necessary temperature in order for thermoplastic marking paint to turn into a liquid. Once in liquid form, it can be applied to all sorts of flat, grounded surfaces in parking lots, roads, streets, and more.

For many pavement markings, templates, cut-outs, and stencils are used to create the needed symbol, marking, sign, or directive. Once the paint is poured, it is allowed to completely cool and hardened. At that point, the stencil is removed and what’s left is thick, wear-resistant markings that will last for years with good pavement care.

The most common types of markings made with thermoplastic pavement paint include:

▻ Handicap Spaces
▻ Parking Spaces
▻ Reserved Parking Spaces
▻ Arrows for Directing Traffic
▻ STOP Markings
▻ Emergency/Fire Lanes
▻ Crosswalks
▻ NO PARKING Zones
▻ Bus Lanes
▻ SLOW Zones
▻ Bollard Posts
▻ Loading Docks
▻ Mobility Ramps
▻ Bike Lanes
▻ Curbs and Steps

Aside from their longevity and resistance to wear and tear, many proprietors are pleased with thermoplastic markings because they are bright, reflective, and deliver a higher level of aesthetic compared to regular pavement paint. Best of all, hot melt marking paint dries quickly, and can even be walked on or driven on after only a few minutes!

Are your pavement markings looking a little dull, or non-existent altogether? Contact ACI Asphalt and Concrete at 317-549-1833 for top-quality, cost-effective line striping and road marking services in Indianapolis, Indiana. We offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee!

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Indianapolis Pavement Repair Company 317-549-1833

How Thermoplastics are Used For Road Safety Pavement Markings

Posted on December 29, 2020 by admin

If you are a commercial proprietor looking to improve your parking lot’s appearance, safety, and performance, then thermoplastic technology might be the right choice to meet all of these objectives and more. Continue reading to learn the real facts about thermoplastic pavement applications, including how thermoplastics are used in road safety pavement marking applications.

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What are Thermoplastics?

Basically, thermoplastics are polymers. They are heated until transformed into a liquid, and then once in liquid form, they are cooled down, which transforms them back into a solid. This type of thermoplastic process is used in various industries and applications all across the globe, including the manufacturing of medical equipment, machine parts, shipping and packaging, and many consumer goods. As for road safety pavement markings, such thermoplastic technology is applied for the purpose of improving lot safety and function, as well as, supporting aesthetic longevity of all markings.

Hot Melt Marking Paint

When it comes to using thermoplastics for the purpose of applying road markings, a very specific type of paint is used called hot melt marking paint. This road marking paint is specially formulated to render a particular finish that both reflects and withstands natural wear and tear. For application, the hot melt marking paint is heated to 392 degrees Fahrenheit, at which point it is poured over a road marking stencil and quickly adheres to the pavement. Common road marking stencils used in hot melt marking paint applications include handicap signs, fire lanes, lane striping, and safety words like STOP, YIELD, SLOW, or NO TURN. They are also commonly used to mark pedestrian cross walks, walkways, bollard posts, culverts, and ADA ramps.

Once the thermoplastic marking paint is poured over a stencil, the finished product cures quickly into a thick layer of bright, high-quality paint that is both reflective to light and resistant to many damaging conditions, including inclement weather, chemical spills, temperature fluctuations, and natural wear from traffic. This paint is proven to last up to 8 years longer than standard road paint, and can be professionally laid and cured in as little as 36 hours. For these reasons, thermoplastic technology is often the go-to solution for parking lots in need of a quality road marking renovation or new paint marking applications.

Thermoplastic Markings for Walkways

In addition to parking lots and commercial pavements, it is common for thermoplastic markings to be used for pedestrian walkways too. Glass beads are added to the thermoplastic hot melt marking paint to aid those on foot with traction, thus improving safety and protecting proprietors against certain legal liability. Not only does this glass bead strategy render walkways anti-skid, but they are also highly-reflective against headlights, which provides better navigation for pedestrians during dusk and evening hours.

Professional Road Marking Services for Parking Lots in Indianapolis

Call ACI Asphalt and Concrete at 317-549-1833 for line striping and road marking services for parking lots and roadways in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our licensed and qualified paving contractors provide several Indianapolis asphalt and concrete services, including pavement repair, sealcoating, road work, commercial paving, industrial paving, winter cold patching, and more. We are the industry veterans to trust for skilled craftsmanship and competitive prices! Request a free estimate, today.

What to Include in a Parking Lot Preventative Maintenance Plan (PMP)

Posted on December 7, 2020 by admin

As a commercial proprietor, you must understand that your parking lot is a vital investment to the overall success of your business. Even if you do not serve customers at your location, your staff and laborers will require a safe and functional lot to park and drive through. For these reasons and more, one of the best methods of investment protection you can take is to incorporate a parking lot preventative maintenance plan (PMP) into your comprehensive facility maintenance program.

Continue reading to learn more about parking lot preventative maintenance, and walk away with a better understanding of what you need to do for your pavements, year round.

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Parking Lot Preventative Maintenance

The parking lot is the very first opportunity you get to make an impression on your customers. Furthermore, the functionality and safety of your parking lot directly influence your annual costs and ultimately, your bottom line. Not only does unsafe parking lot conditions put your business at risk for being sued under premise liability laws in the case that someone is injured as a result of negligent pavement care or ignored repairs, but it also sets a tone for how you conduct your company’s operations. Customers want to see a nice-looking lot because it speaks to the professionalism and capability of a business.

Sealcoating and Crack Filling Services

The absolute best investment you can make for your commercial property is developing and implementing a parking lot preventative maintenance plan (PMP). Although referred to by many other names, a parking lot preventative maintenance plan basically involves routine sealcoating and hot rubberized crack sealing services. And although there are several other components of parking lot maintenance, these two services are key in abating asphalt damages.

Sealcoating

One of the most common and effective methods for extending the life of asphalt pavement is sealcoating. A properly-applied sealcoat provides long-lasting protection against chemical spills like oil and gasoline, as well as inclement weather and heavy traffic. Once new asphalt pavement is laid, it generally takes at least 4 to 6 weeks for the surface to rid itself of light oils through the process of oxidation. Once this process is complete, sealcoat can be applied. Sealcoat your asphalt parking lot and pavements every 3 to 5 years for optimal protection. Talk to a trusted and licensed paving contractor to learn when is the best time of year to sealcoat asphalt.

Hot Rubberized Crack Sealing

Crack sealing is equally important to asphalt sealcoating because it stops working cracks from becoming worse, and ultimately, causing massive and exponential destruction to a parking lot. A working crack is a crack that is either vertical or horizontal, and is exhibiting movements greater than 2.5 millimeters. Examples of working cracks include transverse cracks, and in some cases, longitudinal cracks. Crack sealing is applied in a unique configuration to give asphalt less permeability, stopping water infiltration, salt, and other debris. They bend, stretch, and flex along with the surrounding pavement’s movement, preventing further cracking.

Crack Filling

For non-working cracks, or cracks that move less than 2.5 millimeters per year, crack filling is the service required. Examples of such material includes crumb rubber, asphalt emulsion, AC-3, and more. This not only reinforces the pavement, but it also drastically reduces water infiltration which can cause cracks to expand.

Additional Aspects to Include in a PMP:

⛿ Routine Cleaning and Debris Removal
⛿ Pothole Repair
⛿ Winter Cold Patching
⛿ Drainage Inspections
⛿ Culvert Maintenance and Repair
⛿ Bollard Maintenance and Repair
⛿ Line Striping
⛿ Road Marking
⛿ Snow Removal/Ice Management

Indianapolis Indiana Parking Lot Maintenance and Repair Service

Call ACI Asphalt and Concrete at 317-549-1833 for commercial pavement maintenance and repair for parking lots in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our licensed and qualified paving contractors provide several Indianapolis asphalt and concrete paving services, including pavement repair, sealcoating, road work, commercial paving, industrial paving, winter cold patching, and more. We are the industry veterans to trust for skilled craftsmanship and competitive prices! Request a free estimate, today.

Important Concrete Maintenance Tips

Posted on August 28, 2019 by admin

The visual appearance of concrete pavement is not the only important factor in terms of your overall investment. Your concrete needs to also perform and function well over an extended period of time. The only way to achieve this level of dependability is to implement regular maintenance and repair.

Continue reading to learn what you need to know about routine concrete pavement care.

Concrete Maintenance and Repair

There are some fundamental guidelines for concrete care, all of which can be applied to all outdoor concrete surfaces, including roads, parking lots, sidewalks, walkways, trails, patios, decks, and plazas. These concrete maintenance basics involve seal coating, cleaning, prompt repairs, and safe treatments. Follow these guidelines and you are on the right track toward long-lasting, bright concrete pavements!

☈ Concrete Seal Coating:

Seal coating is one of the most important preventative maintenance measures you can take to protect your concrete pavements against all sorts of outdoor threats. Concrete seal coating provides a protective layer that shields concrete surfaces from water penetration, chemicals, sun exposure, and more. The general rule of thumb is to have concrete pavements sealed every 5 to 10 years, depending on local climate patterns, condition of concrete, amount of traffic, surrounding environmental factors, and more.

☈ Concrete Cleaning:

Periodic cleaning of concrete pavements is an important part of overall concrete maintenance. This involves daily tasks like sweeping and trash clearance, to weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual obligations like pressure washing, rust and chemical stain removal, graffiti removal, line striping, crack filling, and even concrete overlays. You should have a short-term and long-term cleaning plan in place for concrete pavement if you want them to remain safe and functional for years to come.

☈ Safe Treatment of Concrete:

It is strongly encouraged to avoid using harmful or toxic chemicals on concrete pavements since many can be quite damaging to the integrity of the concrete, overtime. This also includes avoiding using harmful deicers in the winter to combat snow and ice accumulation. Keep in mind, deicers that contain ammonium nitrates and ammonium sulfates are more damaging to concrete than others. Sand and shoveling are the best methods of snow management when it comes to protecting concrete.

☈ Prompt Concrete Repairs:

Concrete pavements last much longer and perform much better when small repair needs are met promptly and properly. Such minor repairs includes cracks, exposed expansion joints, potholes, faded markings, and more. Be sure to hire a professional pavement repair company for reliable and skilled service you can trust. It is not recommended to perform your own pavement repairs without the proper tools, equipment, and training. This is especially important for larger projects and commercial properties.

Commercial Concrete Repair and Service

Call ACI Asphalt and Concrete at 317-549-1833 for licensed, bonded, and insured concrete repair services in Indianapolis, Indiana. We offer a wide range of asphalt and concrete paving services for commercial and industrial properties, at the most competitive prices in town, including inspections, installation, replacement, repair, and more. Request a free quote, today.

How to Modify a Parking Lot to Promote Pedestrian Safety

Posted on November 28, 2018 by admin

As a real estate owner, your parking lot says a lot about your commitment to customer and employee safety. When it is in great condition, not only do vehicles run smoother and experience less damage, pedestrians are well-guided and protected, thus supporting a safe premises for both staff and guests. However, when you neglect the maintenance needs of a parking lot, whether asphalt or concrete, you can expect a heap of structural problems that may create an unsafe environment.

Continue reading to learn which areas of your parking lot can be improved to promote pedestrian safety, as well as, who to call for trusted pavement repair near you.

Indianapolis Parking Lot Repair 317-549-1833

Common Causes of Parking Lot Damage

Whether concrete or asphalt, parking lots require ongoing maintenance. Overtime, freeze-thaw cycles, heavy traffic, inclement weather, biological growths, and more, can cause pavements to lose their strength and durability. By staying on top of pavement care, you can better prevent or delay such effects. Pavement maintenance can also be a very serious responsibility, and even an obligation, under tort law. You see, if someone is seriously injured on your property as a result of negligent parking lot care, you could be held financially liable for their economic and non-economic damages and losses.

Pavement Maintenance

When it comes to maintaining a safe premises, pavement maintenance is key. This means staying on top of routine care and minor repairs. There are several types of pavement damage that can lead to unsafe or hazardous conditions for people. Potholes, faded road marks, crumbling curbs, unleveled sidewalks, loose handrails, cracked ramps, and more, are all potentially dangerous defects of a parking that can cause someone to suffer an accident or injury.

Here are some key areas to focus on for pedestrian safety:

⛖ Line Striping – When parking lot road markings begin to fade, it can lead to serious accidents. This is especially true for pedestrian crosswalks, directional arrows, and other indicator-based markings. If there areas are not perfectly visible, both drivers and pedestrians can become confused on where (and where not) to go.

⛗ Handicap Spaces – Painted handicap parking spaces should be perfectly visible at all times. If they start to fade, drivers may not be aware that the spaces exists and occupy the spot, which may force handicap individuals to walk farther than they should, potentially putting them at risk of being hit by a car or slipping and falling.

⛖ ADA Ramps – ADA ramps are another important consideration, especially for disabled or handicapped individuals. Overtime, ramps can deteriorate, which can lead to crumbling aggregate, unleveled surfaces, holes, and more.

⛗ Water Drainage – Poor water drainage will cause a wide range of structural damages, such as potholes, but it can also lead to flooding, which can pose certain safety hazards for both drivers and pedestrians. A flooded parking lot is not safe to walk and it can block important emergency exits. For drivers, it can cause skidding and wipe-outs, which puts everyone at risk.

⛖ Potholes – Potholes and wide gaps in a parking lot can be quite hazardous to anyone on foot. These form as a result of freeze-thaw cycles, and worsen from lack of maintenance and surrounding environmental conditions. It is important to repair potholes as soon as they form to prevent accidents, as well as, worsening pavement conditions.

If your parking lot has any of the above defects, it is strongly encouraged to have them resolved before the heaviest part of winter is here. To get started, contact a licensed Indianapolis pavement repair company for a professional assessment and written quote.

Indianapolis Parking Lot Repair

Call ACI Asphalt and Concrete at 317-549-1833 for parking lot paving services in Indianapolis and its surrounding areas. Our licensed and qualified paving contractors provide a wide range of pavement repair and installation services at the most competitive prices in town. Request a free estimate, today.

The Advantages of Thermoplastic Pavement Markings

Posted on May 22, 2018 by admin

In a basic sense, thermoplastics are polymers that convert into a liquid when heated, but return to a solid form when cooled. When it comes to roads and other types of paved surfaces, thermoplastic markings play an important role.

Continue reading to learn more about thermoplastic pavement markings, and why they are an essential part of road safety.

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Although thermoplastics are used widely applied in all sorts of trades, such as medical equipment, machine parts, and packaging, they are very important in the paving industry. In fact, they can even save lives. The process of applying thermoplastics for pavement markings involves heating a special type of road paint called “hot melt marking paint.” This specialized paint is heated to a temperature of 392 degrees Fahrenheit, melting it quickly into liquid that can then cool quickly once set. The result is a thick, bright, reflective, weather-resistant coating.

Road Templates

Pavement symbol and word templates, such as “FIRE LANE”, “NO PARKING”, handicap parking, interstate emblems, and more, make the use of thermoplastic hot melt marking paint much easier and much faster. These templates are filled in with thermoplastic hot melt marking paint to create these bright, reflective road markings we see in parking lots, streets, crosswalks, and highways. After just a few minutes, these markings are completely dried and finished.

Common Thermoplastic Road Markings:

☑ Parking Spots
☑ Reserved Parking
☑ Stop Indicators
☑ Handicap Spots
☑ Fire Lanes
☑ Emergency Vehicle Lanes
☑ Taxi/Bus Lanes
☑ No Parking Zones
☑ Pedestrian Crosswalks
☑ Traffic-Directing Arrows
☑ Highway Divider Lines
☑ Interstate Emblems
☑ Registered Traffic Symbols

Road and Pedestrian Safety

Thermoplastic road markings play an important role in road and pedestrian safety. Their bright, reflective properties make them more visible, especially at night. They are highly reflective against the heads lights on vehicles, aiding pedestrians and cyclists alike. Thermoplastic road markings can also be manufactured in a wide variety of colors, and can last 6 to 8 times longer than standard road paint. They can even be designed with glass beads to create antiskid surfaces and improve traction.

Parking Lot Owners

If you have a commercial or public parking lot, it is wise to consider repainting all of the traffic signs, parking lines, pedestrian crossings, arrows, letters, numbers, and any officially-registered traffic symbols with thermoplastic technology. Many others have chosen thermoplastics, and have had great success. Talk to a licensed and insured Indianapolis paving company for personalized answers and advice for your paved lot.

Indianapolis Asphalt and Concrete Paving Contractors

ACI Asphalt Concrete 317-549-1833

Call ACI Asphalt and Concrete at 317-549-1833 for commercial paving services in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our licensed and qualified paving contractors provide several Indianapolis asphalt and concrete paving services, including pavement repair, sealcoating, road work, commercial paving, industrial paving, and more. Request a free estimate, today!

Learning About Road Surface Markings

Posted on July 12, 2016 by admin

We drive over them, alongside them, behind them, and we obey them. Surface stripes and pavement markings serve a very important purpose in traffic and road systems, and play a major role in the organization, functionality, and safety of drivers and pedestrians. But many drivers are unsure about the different colors, applications, and meanings behind the most common pavement stripes and markings. It is important to know this information so you can be safer on the road. To improve your driving acumen and security, continue reading to learn about pavement stripes and marks.

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Road Stripes and Markings

Road surface markings and striping is any material or device used to assist or convey official information to motorists and pedestrians. They are either mechanical, non-mechanical, or temporary, and used in several applications, including parking lots, roads, highways, toll booths, school zones, pedestrian crossings, and more. And today, there are new innovative technologies available for road marking systems, such as retro-reflectivity, that lasts longer and costs less to apply. So we can count on reliable traffic and pedestrian surface markings for years to come. Below is a review of some common road markers, and the purpose they serve.

Mechanical Markers

Botts’ Dots – A type of mechanical non-reflective marker that is raised off the ground in the form of small mounds, or “dots.” They are used to indicate the edges of traffic lanes and are commonly used in combination with raised reflective markers. Botts’ dots are also used to alert motorists of highway toll booths, school lanes, and speed limit reductions. Since they are easily damaged by snow plows, they are usually used in areas with warmer climates.

Rumble Strips – If you have ever accidentally veered off the road, then you have probably experienced driving over rumble strips. They are repetitive troughs carved into the pavement (generally 1 cm deep and 10 cm wide) on the edges of roads to alert or awake drivers that are falling asleep or not paying attention. When you drive on rumble strips, your vehicle shakes and vibrates as it moves over the deep ridges.

Raised Reflective Markers – Also called road studs, these markers are reflective, making them more visible at night and in poor weather. They are raised off the ground, usually in the form of dots or small squares, and used as travel lane dividers, median markers, exit slip-road markers.

Non-Mechanical Markers

Paint – The most common form of non-mechanical road markers is paint, sometimes containing retroreflective glass beads. The primary colors of road paint depend largely on locality, but generally include white, yellow, red, blue, and orange. Paint markers are used for a wide variety of purposes in terms of road systems and pavement, including driving lanes, parking lots, handicap parking, no-parking zones, time-restricted parking, loading zones, and much more.

Yellow Lines – Yellow lines are used to mark the center of two-way streets that have two-way traffic lanes. If the center yellow lines are dashes instead of solid lines, you can pass on a two-way street with two-way traffic. However, if they are solid, you cannot. So this means you cannot drive to the left of these lines.

White Lines – White lines are applied in the center and on the shoulder of a two-lane road to advise traffic traveling in your direction. If the lines are solid, you cannot legally pass on the road. If they are broken up into dashes, you can legally pass other vehicles if the way is clear.

ACI Asphalt and Concrete Inc.

Indianapolis Paving 317-549-1833

Call ACI Asphalt and Concrete Inc. at 317-549-1833 for professional pavement installation and repair in Indianapolis, Indiana. Owner, Lindsey Lewis, and his team of licensed and insured pavers, are fully-equipped to manage any size pavement application or installation project for commercial, industrial, and municipal properties. We provide road striping services, as well as, pavement repair, pavement installation, pothole patching, and more. Call 317-549-1833 to speak with a knowledgeable Indianapolis paving contractor, today.