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Worker marking white parking bay lines on a tarmac car park

Car park line marking in London

Car park line marking in London, bays to loading zones

Clear bays, arrows and walkways marked to a plan agreed with you, including accessible bays and relining after resurfacing.

  • Marked to an agreed plan
  • Accessible and loading bays
  • Relining after resurfacing

Step 1 of 3

What do you need?

What does car park line marking involve?

Some people search for parking lot line striping, but in the UK the usual phrase is car park line marking. It covers the white or coloured lines, symbols and arrows that organise a car park, yard or loading area. Good marking keeps cars in their bays, shows drivers where to go and keeps pedestrians on safe routes.

A marking job normally includes:

  • sweeping and cleaning the surface so the paint can bond
  • measuring and setting out the layout from your plan
  • masking the edges and applying the lines with a marking machine
  • adding symbols, hatching, arrows and walkway lines

Paint is common for car parks and is quick to apply. Harder-wearing products are available for busy areas, and we can talk through what suits the traffic on your site.

What are the rules for accessible bays?

Under the Equality Act 2010, service providers have to make reasonable adjustments so disabled people can use their premises, and accessible parking is part of that. Guidance such as BS 8300 gives sizes for accessible bays, including extra space beside the bay so a driver or passenger can get in and out. Bays also need to be close to the entrance and on a level surface.

The detail of what applies to your site depends on its use, its size and any conditions set by planning or your landlord. We mark out the layout you agree with us, and we suggest you check the requirements with your managing agent, building control or an access consultant before the plan is final.

Layouts that cover accessible bays, electric vehicle bays, motorcycle bays and loading zones are best planned together, rather than added one by one.

When is the best time to re-mark a car park?

The best moment is straight after new surfacing, once the surface is ready to take paint. Lines on fresh tarmac cannot go down while it is still oily or soft, so we plan the timing with the surfacing. If you are planning that work, see our page on commercial paving.

On an existing surface, relining makes sense when the lines have faded, when the bays have been redesigned or when the layout has changed, for instance after adding bays for electric vehicles. A repair or patch is best finished before the lines go on, so the new paint is not covered up or cut across later. Our page on sealing and crack filling explains how a tired surface can be protected first.

The surface has to be dry and clean, so rain can delay a marking day.

We do not list prices here because every layout is different. The main factors are:

  • the number of bays and the length of lines
  • whether old lines have to be removed or painted over
  • the extras, such as symbols, arrows, hatching and walkway marking
  • whether the layout needs designing or redrawing, rather than copying what is there
  • how much of the car park can be closed at once

After a site visit you receive a written quote that sets out what is included. A layout that follows an existing plan is quicker to price than one that needs to be measured and worked out from scratch.

How long does it take, and what happens on the day?

A small to mid-sized car park can often be marked in a day, though bigger sites and removal work take longer. We usually work in sections, so some spaces stay in use while others are being marked.

On the day, expect the car park to be swept, cones and tape to go up and a marking machine to travel along the lines. Paint is usually touch-dry fairly quickly, but we tell you how long to keep cars and feet off the lines on your site, because it varies with the product and the weather.

Call us when your lines have faded, when you have changed the layout or when you have had the car park resurfaced. You can start from the London Paving Pros home page to see the other work we do.

What you can expect

1

Free written estimates

2

Local crews

3

Clear timelines

4

Site cleanup included

Questions about paving in London

Can you copy my existing car park layout?

Yes, where the old lines are still visible enough to measure from, we can set out the new ones to match. If the lines are gone, we need a plan or a layout you have agreed, and we can measure the area on the visit. A copy of the original plan helps. For a changed layout, check any planning conditions on the site first.

How wide should a parking bay be?

It depends on the site and its use, so there is no single answer here. Standard bays are marked to a size that suits the cars using them, and accessible bays are wider, with a marked space beside them. Guidance such as BS 8300 sets out accessible bay sizes. We mark to the layout you agree, and we suggest checking requirements with your managing agent first.

Do you remove old lines or just paint over them?

That depends on the old lines and the new layout. Where the lines are simply faded and are staying in the same place, painting over them is usually enough. If the layout is changing, old lines left visible can confuse drivers, so they may need to be removed or covered. We explain which route is right on the site visit.

How long should I keep cars off freshly marked lines?

Paint dries fairly quickly in dry weather, but cold and damp slow it down. We put cones and tape around fresh lines and tell you how long to wait on your site, because it depends on the product and the day. Driving over wet paint leaves tyre marks, so it is worth following that advice and keeping the area closed until we confirm.

Can lines be marked on a new tarmac surface straight away?

Not usually. New tarmac is oily and soft at first, and paint may not bond or may stain. Suppliers often advise waiting before marking, and the wait depends on the mix and the weather. We plan the marking date as part of the surfacing job and tell you when the surface is ready to take paint.

Step 1 of 3

What do you need?

Ready when you are Call now or request a quote online. Call for a free estimate Get my free paving quote 020 7946 0921

How it works

1

Tell us about the surface

Size, condition and goals.

2

Site visit and quote

We measure and price it in writing.

3

Prep and paving

Base, drainage and surface done in the right order.

Takes about 30 seconds. Get my free paving quote