By this time of year, your commercial parking lot is likely already covered in a layer of snow and ice, making it difficult for your customers to navigate. If you’re regretting not restriping your parking lot before winter, you’re not alone. Restriping can’t be done in the winter—not in Minnesota, at least—so there isn’t much you can do right now except enlist the help of a good commercial snow removal company.

However, that doesn’t mean you can’t start thinking about restriping in the warmer weather. Especially if you haven’t had your parking lot lines repainted in a while, doing it before winter is one of the best times to take care of this essential parking lot maintenance task.

How Often Should I Restripe My Parking Lot?

Most parking lots should be restriped every 18 to 24 months. For us Minnesotans, it’s best to do it a bit more often, as snow and cold weather can exacerbate parking lot damage.

Benefits of Restriping Before Winter

Clearly Defined Lines

When sleet is coming down or the wind is whipping snow across the parking lot, it can be hard for your customers to see where they’re supposed to park. Even if you’re diligent about clearing your parking lot quickly after a storm, snow can still build up, partially obscuring your parking lines and traffic guides. If your lines are already faded, they’ll be nearly impossible to see with a layer of snow on top.

Increased Safety

Between the low visibility and icy roads, it’s safe to say no one likes driving in the winter. Even when traveling at low speeds through a parking lot, there’s still a high risk for accidents in the winter. Along with other maintenance tasks that prep your parking lot for winter, ensuring your parking lot is restriped before winter will increase safety for your patrons.

In addition, your parking lot needs proper striping to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This includes having an adequate number of handicapped parking spaces, properly spaced stalls, and clear, visible lines.

A Great Looking Lot Come Spring

When the snow is constantly melting and refreezing during spring, the unsightly piles of dirty slush that accumulated over winter are on full display. While there’s not much you can do to avoid those, you can boost your company’s curb appeal with clean, visible parking lot lines. Spring is a busy time for many businesses—put your best face forward and start the season with a well-maintained parking lot.

If you missed out on the prime time for restriping your parking lot this year, Land Concepts can help. Call us when the warmer weather arrives, and we’ll help you improve the safety and visual appeal of your commercial parking lot. In the meantime, get in touch with our team for commercial snow removal services or to schedule your spring parking lot cleanup.