Parking Lot Striping in Rapid City, SD

Parking lot striping marks stalls, drive lanes, arrows, crosswalks, fire lanes and accessible spaces. In Rapid City, plows, studded tires, sand and sun wear paint down quickly, and faded lines lead to crooked parking, lost spaces and confused traffic. HomeGuide says a well-maintained striping job typically lasts 2 to 5 years.

ADA counts

The Department of Justice says that restriping a lot triggers the 2010 ADA Standards for accessible parking. A lot with 1 to 25 spaces needs at least one accessible space, 26 to 50 needs two, 51 to 75 needs three, 76 to 100 needs four, and 101 to 150 needs five. One in every six accessible spaces, and at least one, must be van-accessible. Car spaces need at least 96 inches of width plus a 60-inch access aisle; van spaces need 132 inches with a 60-inch aisle or 96 inches with a 96-inch aisle. Spaces and aisles cannot slope more than 1:48, and signs are mounted with the bottom at least 60 inches above the ground.

Restripe or new layout

Restriping follows existing lines. A new layout, after paving or sealcoating covers the old lines, means measuring and planning stall widths, aisles and traffic flow. HomeGuide notes that a new layout costs 20 to 50 percent more than restriping. When a lot is sealcoated, it is a good time to rethink the layout and fix accessible spaces that do not meet current counts.

Summer traffic

Lodging, restaurants, gas stations and attractions along the routes into the Hills see heavy summer and rally traffic, including RVs and motorcycles. Wider stalls, motorcycle parking areas and clear arrows help those lots work better. We plan the layout around the vehicles you actually see.

Paint and timing

Striping paint needs a clean, dry surface and mild temperatures. HomeGuide says paint often dries within about an hour and cures in about four hours in temperate weather. On a freshly sealed lot, the sealer must cure first.

What we stripe

• Standard and compact stalls
• Accessible and van-accessible stalls with aisles
• Directional arrows and stop bars
• Crosswalks and fire lanes
• Curb painting
• Stenciled numbers and words

Signs and curb ramps

Striping is only part of accessible parking. Each accessible space needs a sign with the international symbol of accessibility mounted at least 60 inches above the ground to the bottom of the sign, and van spaces need a van-accessible designation unless the lot has four or fewer spaces. Access aisles must connect to an accessible route, and curb ramps cannot extend into them. We point out issues like these when we lay out the lot.