The safety of road users depends on road markings. It is in fact the set of indications written on the ground to guide or instruct the users. Discover in this article the different phases of the operation which consists in making the road markings that you see every day on the road.

The Choice of Road Marking Products

To choose a marking product, it is necessary to take into account the method of application, the desired durability, the type of project to be carried out and the desired performance. Different types of products are used by public works companies for road marking.

There are ready-to-use road paints, easy to use, packaged in buckets and mono-component. They are well adapted to urban and road markings as well as to large linear marking works.

There are also cold coatings which are two-component products without solvent. They are made of a base and a hardener. They are applied manually with a spatula not notched following the mixture of the 2 elements. Their drying is done by polymerization of the latter. Some cold coatings are mono-component.

As for the hot coatings, they are still called thermoplastic resins. They are packaged as solvent-free powder mixes in hot-melt bags. After their preparation, they can be applied using various application techniques, namely casting, spraying and extrusion.

The prefabricated marking strips are ready to use, pre-formed for quick and easy use. As soon as they are applied, they can be used immediately. There are sprinkling products that can be used in addition to coatings and paints.

Finally, there are decorative marking products that can be used to decorate urban spaces using colors. They also materialize sensitive areas to make the road more legible.

Preparing the Ground Before Road Marking

It is essential that the ground be perfect before the marking is done. Indeed, if for example, it is cracked, this will be visible after the application of the paint. A small hollow is likely to cause reflections. The road marking makes the imperfections of the ground even more apparent. Therefore, the floor must be repaired and cleaned if necessary.

The floor must be perfectly clean and smooth for the project to be successful. It is important that any dirt, dust or oil be removed, as the paint will last longer if the floor is thoroughly cleaned. Simply sweep and wash with clean water. A previously painted floor should ideally be removed with a stripper.

Applying the Paint to the Floor

To make a floor marking, it is necessary to use a good quality paint. It will adhere properly to the ground, regardless of its nature, and will resist petroleum products and chemicals as well as abrasion. The road surface will be subjected to thousands of daily passages, harsh weather conditions, high pressure, etc., for a long time.

It is therefore necessary to choose a paint with a very long durability. In addition, road marking paint can be applied by spray or stencil. It can dry very quickly in 30 minutes for example.

It can also be reflective to make it more noticeable. It is possible that the road marking will last for approximately 2 years. As mentioned above, there are many different techniques and products to do this job.

The resin lasts about 4 years, but it takes several days to dry. Generally, it is completed with elements that will make it anti-slip, and therefore safer. Prefabricated markings in rolls, pieces or strips are easy to install, durable and functional. The only drawback is that they lack aesthetics.

In short, road marking consists of choosing the product, preparing the ground and applying the paint.