Green Lasers

Still lurking on the painting ladder just off the parking lot. A question or two before jumping out there amongst the traffic cones and grabbing the sprayer... Are most of you line stripers also asphalt sealers? Are there folks who just stripe? If so, are asphalt sealers the best customers? Being a house painter for 21 years, my customers have always come 'word-of-mouth'. In house painting, if you are fairly punctual and don't show up drunk, you can stay covered up in work. I'm Just not sure who and how to go about seeking this new customer base. Also, there is the ethical question of painting a parking lot that is in poor shape... Perhaps that is where making a friend in the asphalt world woud come in handy??

i may be wrong, but i think most stripers "here" are just stripers, for sure there are sealcoaters/stripers here though, i mostly sealcoat, however stripe a little (my sealcoat jobs and some others that trickle in) as to some of your other questions, there is alot of variables that weigh into the answers, but having a friend in the asphalt world sure can help, and u mention "word of mouth" in your painting, for sure "word of mouth" will help u in your venture to stripe also(it generates alot for me personally), do a search here and these type's of question has been asked alot and u proably will find some helpful info,and i am sure someone else will chime in, my advise (and i am no expert) whatever way u started up your painting biz(that sounds successfull and "21 yrs"), i would apply that to starting up striping, good luck

we do not do sealcoating but we do power washing and window cleaning. It hasnt been real easy getting going but I'm sure it will come when we start getting more and more visible

I'd say the majority of folks here "just stripe" but there are many who do other things too. There is also a mix of full-time stripers and those who do it as a sideline to their "day job". Striping will be a different world than house painting because you will be dealing with a commercial customer base rather than residential so while there will be word-of-mouth it won't be as much as with residential work, although references will be very important. There is no ethical question IMHO about painting stripes on a lot that's in bad shape. Parking stripes are a necessity. There are properties where the owners can't afford to do repairs or just don't want to spend the money but they still have to have stripes. Making friends or allies in related fields is always a great asset. People like pavers, and sealcoaters who don't stripe, of course but also sweepers and landscapers or even window cleaning or other such service providers. For example a sweeper or landscaper probably already has a contract to sweep or mow regularly, they know who the "decision maker" is for the property and can also tip you off when they see they need new stripes. At the same time they can let the "decision maker" know that they noticed the lot needs striping and they know someone who can do the job for them so you already have an "in" with the contact. These type leads are invaluable compared to having to find who is and how to contact the decision maker yourself and then presenting your service as a total stranger. Of course to get started you will have to do a lot of your own marketing & selling just like any service business, especially until you build up a client base so you can get referrals and that word-of-mouth going as well as building a reputation in your area for good work to generate people calling you. There are lots of other tips already here, just keep reading & searching.

A word of advice, Do restripes until you a really good. You can't correct a mistake on new asphalt and that will surely cost you a customer and a bad reputation. Learning how to layout a parking lot is very important. Practice, practice, practice. Now for a word of encouragement, I started out doing commercial and industrial work. I would hate to start out striping without that experience. You have a leg up on anyone without your painting experience trying to go into the striping business. You can do both until you build a customer base in striping. Then you will wonder why you hesitated. Best of Luck, Rock

Looked at z-bolt and really don't know which one to buy to mount on my striper. Can some one help with pictures and info. Thanks, Teddy

hey https://secure1.nexternal.com/shared/StoreFront/default.a… get the one that has the on/off clicker it is like $55 bucks -Dean

Just did a pretty good size new layout. Been reading on the green lasers. No one has really said which one they use. I see the website yall refer to on the green lasers. Does everyone use hard wired ones or battery powered ones. I think I would like to get the 30 wt one. Can I hard wire that to the linelazer iv or do they need there own power source?

I just the ones with the battery's in it -Dean

can these from z-bolt stay on for a while or do you have to shut them down every couple of minutes?

I just leave it on for a couple of hours and when it is not as bright I just replace the battery's (AAA) -Dean

I just do line striping. Sealcoating is too messy for ME!! You can make a living on just painting parking lot lines . There is a lot of work out there you just have too find it.(LINE by LINE)

Hey can anyone give me the dimensions for laying out stalls 19' long by 10' wide at a 60 deg angle. what would be my numbers to get it going. offset and any such other helpfull info . also when you have a 5' walk in the middle of stalls ,what is the dimension on a 60 deg angle to get the 5 foot width? ......thanks!

When I am confronted with an odd width, like a 5 foot access aisle, I will measure off the line at a right angle in two places and snap a line. Then I can measure the curb distance if I need to layout more that width.

Go talk to sealcoaters. They are often too tired and don't want to stripe. Commit to the sealcoater that lets you begin for at least a year. He'll know you are serious. During this year w-o-m will begin. BE SURE 1ST MACHINE IS AIRLESS. Next try to get in with pavers doing new layouts. Pavers always want some HC signs and parking bumpers placed also.

Robert wrote on Jul 31, 2005:Go to #14

When I am confronted with an odd width, like a 5 foot access aisle, I will measure off the line at a right angle in two places and snap a line. Then I can measure the curb distance if I need to layout more that width.

Thanks for the response Robert, That's exactly the way I did it it worked fine

JB has a point you can get alot of work off of sealers and pavers. But be aware of who you are working for. Unfortunitly some sealers and pavers have a tendency to stiff you. Get everything in writing. Getting stiffed on a job or two when you are just starting out could mean life or death for your line painting career. Good Luck.

Just a note: New pavement & sealed pavement are like night & day. While new pavement will tend to "soak up" the paint sealer will keep every bit on top, so to keep crisp lines on sealer watch your pressure and/or tip size & no worn tips. I seen my share of splattered edges & such because a striper hit a sealed lot at the same pressure as a new pavement or re-stripe. No big deal to worry about but I thought I'd mention it since you are new. Also remember my original advice & keep working it, while there is good work to be had from a relationship with a paver or striper they won't be your highest paying customers because they usually have the cost built in to their price so if they can get you to go lower, they make more. Or they may be used to someone else who did it cheaper (they may have gone out of business doing it cheap but the paver or sealcoater won't have forgotten the prices )

I have never heard of using a laser before. I am curious, why a green laser? Is a red laser harder to see? Do you mount the laser by the gun or someplace else?

thats what Im trying to figure out.. Green for easier seeing in the daytime... And the mounting part im not sure. I just ordered one the other day, havent got it yet