Paint

Road surface marking is any kind of device or material that is used on a road surface to convey official information. Road surface markings are used on paved roadways to provide guidance and information to drivers and pedestrians.

Paint is a road surface marking that is generally used to mark travel lanes on roadways. It can also be used to mark specific spaces in parking lots, loading areas, airport runways and time restricted areas. Colors for these applications can vary by locality.

Most commonly, the road is marked by a truck called a “Striper”. These trucks have large tanks that hold the material. The markings are controlled manually or automatically by the operator. Paint is run through a series of hoses under high pressure and applied to the roadway surface through a paint gun. Glass beads are applied for retroreflectivity. They are round beads made out of waste glass from windows. These are applied using a separate gun, immediately following the paint.

Paint markings usually last 9 to 36 months. This can vary due to weather conditions, snow plows, and high traffic being the determining factors.