Ask what paint they actually use
Most parking lots in Massachusetts should be striped with a high-build water-based traffic paint applied at the proper mil thickness. Cheap contractors thin the paint to cover more ground with less material, which is why those lines disappear after one winter.
Ask directly: what product, how many mils, and one coat or two? A contractor who can answer that has a real process.
Confirm insurance and references on similar properties
You want general liability coverage and a certificate naming your property. You also want references from lots like yours — a contractor used to small residential driveways is not the right fit for a 400-stall plaza.
Make sure they understand accessible parking rules
Accessible stall counts, access aisle widths, signage height and route of travel are the most commonly cited issues in commercial lots. A striping company that can't explain your required stall count shouldn't be laying out your lot.
Scheduling matters more than price
The right crew works nights and weekends so your customers are never blocked in. Ask how they phase large lots, whether they bring lighting, and how they cone off wet paint.
- Will the lot stay open in sections?
- Do they stripe overnight at no extra cost on scheduled work?
- Who removes the cones the next morning?
Get a written, itemized quote
A real quote lists stall counts, markings, accessible stalls, signage and any blackout work. Lump-sum napkin pricing is how scope disputes start.
Want this handled for you?
Boston Line Striping stripes commercial lots across Greater Boston with fixed written pricing and overnight crews.