What Is Preformed Thermoplastic?
Thermoplastic road markings come in different forms and types. In many cases, a road striping company like Teniseal/Parking Striping Corporation will apply thermoplastic road paint from a block or powder form through an applicator machine. However, preformed thermoplastic also comes in handy for the application of road lines, legends, and symbols.
Specifications
All preformed thermoplastic markings fall under the guidelines of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD.) The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), which publishes this guide, may update it periodically, and all road markings change accordingly. This manual covers all types of roads, including highways, bike lanes, streets, and private roads. Preformed thermoplastic comes in various colors including white, yellow, etc., with an appropriate bead content, thickness, bond strength, and skid resistance.
Applications
Preformed thermoplastic can apply to all types of road markings. Preformed road striping material comes in convenient rolls. Meanwhile, road striping companies can also purchase and install pre-cut thermoplastic symbols and legends, including arrows, handicap parking signs, STOP signs, YIELD signs, and PED XING signs. One can also find preformed thermoplastic crosswalks, bike lanes, and more.
Installation
Installation is quite simple. All one needs to start with is a clean and dry asphalt or concrete surface. Next, a professional will outline with chalk or a lumbar crayon exactly where he wants the line, symbol, or legend to go. Without this step, it can be incredibly easy for permanent mistakes to occur.
After this, one will preheat the pavement on which the marking will go to at least 275 degrees Fahrenheit, heating between 3-6 inches outside the border as well. If it is asphalt, the surface will turn pitch black. A professional will typically work on only a 4’ by 4’ area at a time.
The preformed road marking will immediately go down onto the heated area. One will then slowly heat the marking until it reaches the same temperature as the pavement. Without the right heat level, the thermoplastic will fail to bond sufficiently with the surface. Once the thermoplastic is cool and dry, one will check to see it has bonded properly by chiseling off an interior place where bonding appears weakest.
Benefits
Preformed thermoplastic is a standard way to apply many common road markings and even lines. It saves time and effort pre-installation; plus, it dries in only a few minutes. It is also flexible enough to conform to any bumps or breaks on the surface and will last a long time despite heavy traffic.
Contact Teniseal/Parking Striping Corporation for Asphalt Road and Parking Lot Services!
Teniseal Corporation specializes in the application, restoration, and maintenance of all types of asphalt surfaces. It makes sense to trust your asphalt job to experts with the experience and technical know-how to do your project right from the start to provide a long-lasting result. Teniseal offers services for Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Howard, Prince George’s, Harford, Carroll, and Montgomery counties in Maryland. For more information, email them at [email protected], or call them at 410-485-5660 or 410-485-0717. Keep in touch on social media through Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn!
