Line marking paint is super versatile with applications indoors and outdoors, particularly in warehouse and industrial settings. We have written this guide to line marking paint to outline what it is, why it is used and how to apply it.
What is line marking paint?
As you might expect, line marking paint is used to paint lines on the floor – anything from parking space markers through to text or pictograms can be marked out easily and quickly with paint, which is why you can see it used everywhere from outdoor sports areas through to motorways.
Why is line marking paint used?
It is used instead of line marking tape, mainly because it provides a more seamless installation and makes it significantly easier to achieve non-linear shapes, letters and numbers.
How is the paint applied?
There are a few ways to apply floor marking paint: you can use a brush, a handheld spray can, an applicator gun or a wheel-mounted applicator unit. However you plan to apply the paint, there are some general rules to follow:
- Clean and dry the area to make sure that there are no loose stones, dirt or other debris that will prevent the paint from reaching the ground and ruin the finished lines.
- If you are not super confident in using floor paint, draw out your design, line or wording with chalk first. Be sure to double check spelling and that you have images facing the right direction. Stencils are extremely handy here for making sure that the text or pictograms are perfect.
- Apply the paint evenly and fairly liberally – particularly outdoors. You want the finished lines or markings to be solid, not faded or cloudy-looking.
You can remove any stencils you have used almost immediately (depending on your paint), but you might want to leave it in situ until the paint is completely dry and ready to be walked on/driven on – it will make it obvious to anybody visiting your site that the paint is fresh and should be avoided for the time being.
What are the options?
The most common use for floor marking paint in the UK is for parking spaces and road markings. It is also a great product for other markings, however, including highlighting the edges of steps and marking out different areas in your warehouse or industrial facility, for example. Any time you want to mark an aisle, hazard, walkway or other area, choose between floor marking tape or paint – if you want an almost perfectly smooth finish that stays in place for a very, very long time and does not affect forklift trucks, trolleys or dollies, then paint is probably the best solution. If you only need a short-term solution, then tape might be a better choice for you.
You can find floor marking paints in a range of colours to suit your environment – for an eye-catching, particularly conspicuous marking, contrast is key so pick a colour that stands out boldly from your flooring.
