If you fail to properly prepare your surface, you should prepare for your playground markings and surface materials to fail as well.
Whether you are doing some last-minute playground marking removals before the end of the summer holidays or you are planning your winter maintenance, here are some of the most common mistakes that are made when painting or repainting line markings.
Failing To Prepare The Surface
If you are relatively unfamiliar with thermoplastic line marking or are in a rush to complete necessary repairs before the playground becomes incredibly busy, the temptation is to simply paint over the existing surface without preparing it or clearing off the old paint first.
This is not the best approach, partly because it can look somewhat unsightly and produce lines that are too thick, but the loose surface debris, excess oil and dirt can stop the paint from properly adhering to the surface.
The result is a set of markings that will not last anywhere near as long as they should.
Not Using The Right Paints
You need to make sure that you use the right marking paints for your playground, taking into account the type of surface you are painting on and how much wear you are expecting during each playtime and lunch break.
For playgrounds, it may be necessary to install an anti-slip paint with a finely-ground aggregate in order to avoid potential injuries and legal liability.
Failing To Consider The Weather
Whenever you are preparing a surface and especially when laying paint down, you need to consider if the current weather and environmental conditions will allow the paint to stick and cure properly.
Not only does this mean avoiding laying paints and doing final surface preparation in the rain, but also being wary of extremely hot temperatures, which can cause issues with the curing time of the paint and lead to uneven results.
