I Love Home Improvement Projects

Posted on: 3 January 2023

If your driveway needs to be re-paved or just a fresh new look, thermoplastic pavement striping is a durable and long-lasting way to mark driveways and other pavement surfaces.

Here's some of the steps you'll need to take when you apply thermoplastic striping to a driveway: 

Cleaning and Marking

Thermoplastic pavement striping is a heat-bonded material designed to permanent adhere to surfaces like pavement, asphalt, brick, and other composite driveway materials. For the thermoplastic material to adhere effectively, you must clean the driveway and mark it.

• Prep: before you start applying the thermoplastic, it's important to clean and prepare the surface. This includes removing any dirt, debris, or standing water from the pavement and ensuring it is dry. If the surface is rough or uneven, you may need to fill in any cracks or holes and smooth it out before starting. For a more thorough clean, you might want to pressure wash your driveway and use a leaf blower to clear off any remaining dirt, dust, or debris. It's important to make sure your driveway is dry before you attempt to apply thermoplastic pavement striping.
• Mark: next, use masking tape or chalk to mark the lines you want to stripe on the pavement. Measure and mark the lines carefully to ensure they are straight and evenly spaced. Many thermoplastic pavement stripping suppliers sell stencils and other marking tools designed to ensure that your marks are straight and evenly spaced.

Heating, Applying, and Finishing

Thermoplastic pavement marking requires both heat and pressure.

• Heating: thermoplastic is applied to the pavement by heating it until it becomes pliable. You can then press it onto the surface. Once pressed onto the driveway, use a propane torch or heat gun to heat the thermoplastic until it reaches the proper temperature, following the manufacturer's instructions for the specific product you are using.
• Application: now that the thermoplastic is heated and pliable, use a hand roller or a specialized tool to press it onto the pavement. Start at one end of the line and work your way to the other, applying even pressure to ensure the thermoplastic adheres to the surface.
• Finish: If you have any excess thermoplastic around the edges of the line, use a sharp blade or scraper to trim it away.

It's critical to allow the thermoplastic to cool and set, which can take anywhere from a few hours to a full day, depending on the temperature and humidity.