Stall Lines and Numbers
Restriping resident, visitor and commercial stalls, with stall numbers stencilled to match your unit or parking register.
Underground and structured parking
Parking Garage and Underground Line Painting in Kitchener
Kitchener Parking Lot Line Painting Pros paints stall lines, numbers, columns, ramps and wayfinding in underground and above-ground parking garages. We work for condo corporations, office towers, hospitals and mixed-use buildings across Waterloo Region, from single-level resident garages to multi-level structures.
Garage work runs year-round because the slab stays sheltered from rain and snow. That makes it the one kind of line painting a property manager can book in January, as long as the concrete is above 10 C and dry.
Since 2015 we have finished more than 550 line painting jobs, and underground garages bring their own problems: dim light, damp slabs, waterproofing membranes, fumes and residents' cars. This page explains how we handle each one.
Our services
Our Parking Garage Line Painting Services
We paint everything a garage needs on its floor and columns, from routine stall restripes to a full wayfinding refresh. Most condo garages combine several of these in one phased job.
Column Painting
Colour bands and level numbers on columns, plus hazard stripes on column bases that cars keep clipping.
Ramp Markings
Centre lines, direction arrows, stop bars at ramp tops and chevrons where a ramp meets a drive aisle.
Level Wayfinding
Colour-coded P-levels, exit arrows and stencils that lead drivers to the right ramp and residents to the right elevator.
Pedestrian Paths
Painted walkways from stall rows to elevator lobbies and stairwells, so people are not walking down the drive aisle.
Accessible and EV Stalls
Type A and Type B stalls with hatched access aisles through our accessible parking stall painting service, and EV stalls beside new chargers.
The difference
Why Garage Lines Differ From Surface Lots
Garage lines differ from surface lot lines because the floor, the air and the light are all different. Paint that works on outdoor asphalt can peel, smell or simply vanish in the dark underground.
Garage floors are bare or sealed concrete, or concrete covered by a traffic-bearing waterproofing membrane. Each takes a different coating, and the wrong one can lift in sheets or void the membrane warranty.
Underground levels are also dim and damp, with limited fresh air and residents' cars parked a few metres from the work. Lines need to be brighter, prep needs a dry slab, and the crew needs a ventilation plan.
The good news is that a garage has no plows and no road salt from spring to fall. Well-applied lines underground usually outlast the same lines on the surface lot above them.
Coatings
Coatings for Concrete and Membrane Decks
We use three coatings in garages: waterborne traffic paint for routine repaints, two-part epoxy or polyurea for hard-wearing lines on bare concrete, and a membrane-approved coating on waterproofed decks. The surface decides the coating first, then traffic and budget.
Waterborne Traffic Paint
Waterborne acrylic is the low-odour choice for most condo garage restripes. It dries fast, cleans up with water, and keeps the smell down for residents walking to their cars.
It wears faster than epoxy in tight turning areas, so we sometimes pair it with epoxy on ramp tops and entry lanes.
Epoxy Line Coatings
Two-part epoxy and polyurea line coatings bond hard to bare concrete and stand up to tires turning in the same spot every day. They need ground or abraded concrete and a longer cure, so each zone stays closed longer.
We use them on busy commercial and hospital garages and anywhere waterborne paint has worn through within a year.
Painting Over Waterproofing Membranes
Many Kitchener and Waterloo condo garages have a traffic-bearing membrane on the top deck or over occupied space below. We check the membrane brand with your property manager or engineer and confirm with the manufacturer which line coatings are compatible before painting.
On an unknown membrane we paint a small test patch first. Painting the wrong product can soften the membrane or void a warranty worth far more than the lines.
| Coating | Surface | Cure | Durability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterborne traffic paint | Bare or previously painted concrete | Dry to touch in 10 to 15 minutes in warm conditions | Good for routine repaints |
| Two-part epoxy or polyurea | Bare, ground or abraded concrete | Longer; the zone stays closed for hours | 3 to 5 years under heavy traffic |
| Membrane-approved coating | Traffic-bearing waterproofing membrane | Set by the membrane manufacturer | Protects the membrane warranty |
Prep and air
Prep and Ventilation Underground
Underground lines last when the slab is clean, dry and above 10 C, and the crew works with fresh air moving. Most early peeling we see in garages traces back to paint sprayed over road salt residue or a damp slab.
Indoor work follows the ventilation rules in Ontario Regulation 851 for Industrial Establishments under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Gas-powered pressure washers should never run inside an enclosed level, as the CCOHS guidance on garage washing explains, because of carbon monoxide.
- Wash: salt and grime are washed off ahead of time, with electric equipment or by your garage cleaning contractor.
- Dry: we check the slab after washing and wait out any damp patches, which can take a day in a cold garage.
- Test patch: on sealed, coated or membrane floors we paint a small patch first to confirm adhesion.
- Fresh air: the building's exhaust fans run during painting and curing, with extra fans where air is stagnant.
- Low-VOC products: waterborne coatings keep odour down for residents in the lobby above.
Scheduling
Scheduling a Garage Repaint Level by Level
We repaint garages one level or zone at a time, so residents only move their cars for their own zone's window. A typical condo garage is done over two or more weekdays while most residents are at work.
We supply printable notices for your property manager to post 72 hours ahead, listing which stalls clear on which day. Cars left in a zone are worked around and their stall lines finished on the next pass.
Winter is a good time for garage work because outdoor crews are idle and slots are easy to get. The slab must still be above 10 C, so unheated levels near the entrance sometimes wait for a milder week.
Our process
Our Garage Painting Process
Every garage job follows the same six steps for each zone, repeated level by level. A zone usually reopens the same day when we use waterborne paint.
Notice
Your manager posts our notice 72 hours ahead with the zone, date and time for each group of stalls.
Clear the Zone
We cone and tape off the zone, leaving a drive route so other residents can still get in and out.
Prep
We sweep and blow the floor, check that the slab is dry and above 10 C, and grind or abrade where epoxy is going down.
Paint
Lines go down along your existing layout or a new chalk layout, followed by numbers, arrows and column bands.
Ventilate
Exhaust fans keep running while the coating cures, and the zone stays coned until it can take tires.
Reopen
Cones come off, and before and after photos of each level go to your manager the same day.
Pricing
Garage Line Painting Costs
Restriping a parking garage costs $12 to $20 per stall before HST. That is a little more than a surface lot because of indoor prep, ventilation and the phasing needed to keep residents parked.
The total depends on the number of levels and stalls, how many columns are painted, the coating, and how much washing and drying the slab needs. Our line painting price guide compares garage rates with outdoor work.
| Item | Typical price before HST |
|---|---|
| Garage restripe, existing layout | $12 to $20 per stall |
| Arrows, numbers and NO PARKING text | $20 to $45 each |
| Accessible stall, complete with aisle and symbol | $120 to $220 each |
| Old line removal by grinding | $1.50 to $3.00 per linear foot |
| Small touch-up visit | $450 minimum charge |
Column bands are priced per column on the quote, because column size and the number of colours vary. A garage that changes its layout must still meet the stall sizes in Kitchener's parking stall dimensions guide, so a re-layout is quoted separately from a restripe.
FAQ
Parking Garage FAQs
Short answers to what condo boards and building managers ask before booking a garage repaint.
Can you paint our underground garage in winter?
Yes, underground garages can be painted in winter as long as the slab and air are above 10 C and the floor is dry. Heated levels are fine all year, and unheated levels near the entrance may need a milder week.
Will residents need to move their cars?
Residents only move their cars for their own zone's window, usually part of one weekday. The notice we supply lists which stalls clear on which day.
Will paint fumes be a problem underground?
Fumes are rarely a problem, because we use low-VOC waterborne coatings and keep the garage exhaust fans running while lines cure. Epoxy has more odour, so we schedule it for times when fewer residents are in the garage.
How long do garage lines last?
Garage lines usually outlast surface lot lines because there are no plows or winter sand. Epoxy lines last 3 to 5 years under heavy traffic, and our repainting schedule guide covers when to plan the next coat.
Free quote
Book Your Garage Repaint
Send us the number of levels and stalls, a floor plan if you have one, and whether the deck has a waterproofing membrane. We reply with a phased quote within one business day, or book a walk through the garage that week.
- Phased by level so residents keep parking
- Winter dates available for heated garages
- Membrane compatibility checked before we paint
- Shop
- 85 West Ave, Kitchener, ON N2M 3A2
- Monday to Saturday
- 7:00am to 9:30pm
- Sunday
- 9:00am to 9:00pm