Line marking

[DBriggs]

Afternoon everyone - As part of a contract we've picked up we need to re-line some car park bays and put a disabled sign on one of them. I have had some quotes to sub it out from various local line marking companies but they all seem very expensive for something that seems very easy to do.

Has anyone ever done car park line marking before? Am I right in thinking that it's easy to do and it would be cheaper to buy the line marking paint and the machine and DIY it, rather than pay someone to come out?

Any advise would be most welcome!

[Carberry]

The line marking machines are very expensive, the small ones cost about £4000 new. I don't know how difficult the job is or how much the paint is though.

[DBriggs]

£4000?!?!?!?! :O The ones I seen are £99!

I'm after a push along trolly type, not a ride-on / road-going one. Is that what you are thinking of?

I'm only using it on a car park with 20 bays.

[Carberry]

£4000 is for the a brand new trolley that melt the thermoplastic as you go along, not a ride on one. The guys next to me do road marking and I took the delivery for one of their machines once.

You could try looking at preformed thermoplastic markings, you heat the surface that you are putting them on and plonk them down, come in 1m strips or rolls.

[DBriggs]

ah, I understand the type you mean. We aren't looking at the thermoplastic "fancy-pants" stuff, just the bog standard line marking paint. It's usually in a 750ml aerosol can which fits in to a machine. You push the machine forward and pull the handle (which is a bit like a bicycle brake) and that in turn presses the aerosol and the paint comes out.

[bobbi o]

preformed markings from colas are your friend.

colas

[Dave_L]

Road marking paint won't last very long.

20 open ended bays and a disabled bay marker won't be that expensive.

Road marking work in my experience has always struck me as good value for what you get.

[Dave_L]

I have had some quotes to sub it out from various local line marking companies but they all seem very expensive for something that seems very easy to do.

If you don't mind me asking, what sort of money have you been quoted?

[local patios and driveway]

The aerosol jobbies are crap. You may as well use eggshell white for how good it will be, You have been quoted for the proper stuff that last years and years

[Kuts]

The guys I use would charge about £500 for that, maybe abit less.

[DBriggs]

£390 ex-vat was the best price but this was from a company who would use paint and not thermoplastic. I had two other quotes of £460 and £420 but again these are using paint. hmmm I'll have to have a think on this one it seems!

[GB_Groundworks]

the guys i use are £380 +vat minimum to turn up with the wagon, then they go from there but you get a fair bit in the turn up price, those wagons aint cheap to run so i think thats good value. last time i checked i got whole disabled bay and chequered walkways for £80 cash to the forman hehe