You’ve probably just noticed your line markings have worn out…

Then you probably remembered that you only just did them 6 or 12 months ago!

Now you’re probably thinking that they should have lasted longer than that.

You could be right.

 

But sometimes lines don’t last very long because of how they are done in the first place!

Line marking has a really bad name for itself, because most people choose the cheapest option in the first place.

It will save you money upfront, but not in the long term.

Now that we’ve covered that point, lets answer the question on hand. How long does it actually last?

We like to use the analogy of tyres on your car. They ‘wear’ out.

Your line marking is no different, it is a wearing surface and will wear out at some point!

The basic rule is this – the thicker the product, the longer it will take to wear out.

 

Here is a guide for you to go by:

Thickness	Longevity (Approx.)
0.1mm – 0.9mm	1 Year
1mm – 2mm	3 Years
3mm +	5+ Years

 

You must understand though, there are other factors that influence exactly how long it will take to ‘wear out’.

 

OTHER FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE LONGEVITY

1. Product – some products wear differently because of the chemical make up of the product. Product longevity goes from a Single Pack Paint, to a PVC Heavy-duty Tape and then up to a 2 Pack Epoxy.
2. Usage – if you have line marking that is getting thousands of wheel passes over it per day, this could reduce the longevity of any line marking product.
3. Cleanliness – if the area where your lines are is not clean, this will make your lines wear out quicker. Reason being the dirt and dust acts as an abrasive and will scratch off the line marking quicker than if it was clean.
4. Adhesion – one of the big reasons why line marking wears out quicker than it should is because of adhesion. Ensure you use a product that is going to adhere extremely well to the surface to ensure it lasts as long as possible.
5. Abuse – yep, that’s right line marking gets abused constantly. Things like spinning the wheels on it and dragging pallets or tines over it. You can have the best line marking product but doing these things will dramatically decrease the life of your line marking.
6. Tyre marking – black tyres of forklifts will always leave marks on line marking. In turn, it means your lines will look terrible after not too long and possibly need refreshing. We recommend using non-marking tyres to stop this happening and give your lines the best chance to last as long as possible.

So, if you want your lines to last as long as possible, use a product that is a good thickness and also keep in mind the factors that decrease the life/longevity of it.

 

We’d love the opportunity to help you with your line markings, so if you have any other questions, please contact us at enquiries@cotewell.com.au or phone 1300 590 505.