Stock Stencils
Arrows, letters and numbers, the International Symbol of Access, fire route, EV, visitor, reserved and pickup stencils, ready for any job.
Arrows, symbols and custom logos
Parking Lot Stencils and Custom Pavement Markings in Kitchener
Kitchener Parking Lot Line Painting Pros paints the stencils that tell drivers where to go and what each stall is for: directional arrows, EV symbols, stall numbers, PICKUP and LOADING text, and custom logos cut from your own artwork. We also paint curbs and drive-thru lanes.
Restaurants, dealerships, corporate campuses, condo corporations and plazas order this work, most often during a spring restripe. After 550+ jobs since 2015, our stencil shelf covers 4 in to 24 in letters and numbers, arrows, the accessibility symbol and the stencils Kitchener's by-law expects on visitor and EV stalls.
Stencils wear differently from straight lines, because tires turn and brake on them. We choose paint or thermoplastic for each one based on where it sits and how often it is driven over.
What we paint
Our Stencil and Custom Marking Services
A parking lot stencil is a cut template that lets us paint the same symbol or word cleanly every time. We offer three kinds of stencil work, plus curb painting.
Custom Logos and Text
Stencils cut from your logo or wording, for branded stalls, entrances and campus wayfinding.
Drive-Thru Lanes and Curbs
Lane arrows, order point stop bars and painted curbs that keep a drive-thru queue moving.
Stencil types
Stencils We Paint Most Often
Directional arrows are the stencil we paint most, followed by stall numbers, accessibility symbols and EV markings. The table shows where each is used and how big it usually is.
Letter heights come from our 4 in to 24 in sets, and we size each stencil to the aisle or stall it sits in.
Directional Arrows and Drive-Thru Lanes
Straight, left, right and combination arrows set the flow on one-way aisles and at entrances. Drive-thrus add arrows from entry to order point to window, with stop bars at the menu board.
EV Charging Stall Markings
Kitchener's Zoning By-law requires every required EV stall to be clearly identified and demarcated, under Section 5.8. We paint the EV symbol and can fill the stall green so it stands out from the row.
Reserved, Visitor and Expecting Mother Stalls
Text stencils mark stalls set aside for a tenant, a visitor or an expectant parent. Required visitor stalls in Kitchener must be clearly identified and reserved at all times, so VISITOR stencils are often more than a courtesy.
Curbside Pickup and Loading Zone Text
PICKUP, LOADING and NO PARKING text keeps short-term stalls and truck zones clear. We pair them with hatching where a zone needs a hard edge.
Stall Numbers
Condos and offices with assigned parking need numbers that match the unit or permit list. We paint them in sequence from your list and check each row before we leave.
| Stencil | Where it is used | Typical size |
|---|---|---|
| Straight, turn and combination arrows | Drive aisles, entrances, one-way rows, drive-thru lanes | Sized to the aisle width |
| Stall numbers | Condos, offices, assigned staff parking | Smaller letters from our sets, read at the stall |
| EV symbol | Charging and EV-ready stalls | Centred in the stall |
| RESERVED, VISITOR, EXPECTING MOTHER | Front rows, visitor parking, retail | Large enough to read from the drive aisle |
| PICKUP, LOADING, NO PARKING | Curbside pickup, loading zones, building fronts | Larger letters from our sets |
| International Symbol of Access | Accessible stalls | Centred near the back of the stall |
Custom stencils
Custom Logo and Branded Stencils
We make custom stencils from your logo or wording by cutting a plastic template from a vector file. A clean vector file (SVG, AI, EPS or PDF) gives sharp edges, while a low resolution JPG usually needs redrawing first.
Simple shapes with bold, open areas paint best on asphalt. Thin lines and small text fill in or blur on rough pavement, so we suggest simplifying fine details before we cut.
- Branded stalls at dealerships and corporate campuses
- Logos at main entrances and visitor drop-off zones
- One or two colours, with a contrasting outline if the logo is dark
- Lead time quoted with the job, based on size and detail
Traffic paint comes in a narrower colour range than sign vinyl, so we match brand colours as closely as the paint allows and show you the swatch first. Multi-colour logos are painted one colour at a time, letting each layer dry so the edges stay crisp.
Materials
Paint vs Preformed Thermoplastic Stencils
Paint is the right choice for most stencils, and preformed thermoplastic is worth it where every car drives over the marking. Thermoplastic lasts 3 to 6 years against 1 to 2 for paint, but it costs more upfront.
Here is how the two compare for stencil work.
| Painted stencil | Preformed thermoplastic | |
|---|---|---|
| Lifespan | 1 to 2 years | 3 to 6 years |
| Upfront cost | $20 to $150 per stencil | Higher; quoted per symbol |
| How it goes down | Sprayed through a cut template | Pre-cut plastic heated onto the asphalt with a propane torch |
| Ready for traffic | 30 to 60 minutes in summer | Minutes, once it cools |
| Best use | Stall numbers, EV and text in stalls | Drive-thru arrows, entrance arrows, crosswalk symbols |
Painted crosswalks and stop bars near school entrances are covered on our crosswalk and school zone markings page.
Our process
How We Lay Out and Paint Stencils
Painting a stencil well takes four steps, and the first two decide whether a row of numbers looks straight. Stencils go down after the lines, so they sit squarely in each stall.
Mark Positions
We chalk the centre point of each stencil, measured from the stall lines, so every number and symbol sits the same distance from the curb.
Set and Weight the Stencil
The template is laid flat and weighted so wind cannot lift it and let paint creep under the edges.
Spray With Overspray Control
We spray at the same 15 mil wet film as our lines, shielding the edges so there is no haze around the letters.
Lift, Check and Cure
The stencil lifts straight up, we touch up any gaps, and cones stay until the paint is drivable.
Pricing
Stencil Pricing
Stock arrows, NO PARKING text and stall numbers cost $20 to $45 each before HST in Kitchener. Accessibility symbols, fire route, EV and custom logo stencils cost $45 to $150 each, depending on size and colours.
Stencil-only jobs carry our $450 minimum, so most owners add them to a parking lot restriping job or an accessible parking stall painting job. Full rates are on our pricing page.
Why us
Why Businesses Choose Us for Custom Markings
Businesses choose us because our stencil inventory covers almost every stock marking, so most jobs need no special order. When a custom stencil is needed, we cut it from plastic using your file.
A Full Stencil Shelf
4 in to 24 in letters and numbers, arrows, symbols and zone text on hand.
Custom Cuts From Your File
Plastic stencils cut from your vector logo, kept for your next repaint.
Region-Wide
Stencil work in Kitchener, Waterloo office campuses and Cambridge drive-thrus and plazas.
FAQ
Stencil and Custom Marking FAQs
These are the stencil questions we hear most from businesses and property managers.
Can you make a stencil from our logo?
Yes. Send a vector file such as SVG, AI, EPS or PDF, and we cut a plastic stencil from it; we quote the lead time with the job because it depends on size and detail.
Do EV stalls need special markings in Kitchener?
Yes. Section 5.8 of Kitchener's Zoning By-law says required EV stalls must be clearly identified and demarcated, and an EV symbol stencil, often with a green fill, is the usual way to do it.
Do stencils wear faster than lines?
Often, yes. Arrows and text in drive aisles take turning and braking tires that straight stall lines avoid, so high-traffic stencils are the best candidates for thermoplastic.
Do you keep our custom stencil for next time?
Yes. We store custom stencils so your logo or wording matches exactly at the next restripe.
Free quote
Order Your Custom Stencil Work
Tell us which stencils you need and where, and attach your logo file if you want a custom design. We will reply within 1 business day with a per-stencil quote.
- Stock arrows, numbers, EV and zone text from our shelf
- Custom logos cut from your vector file
- Curb painting and thermoplastic options for high-wear spots
- Shop
- 85 West Ave, Kitchener, ON N2M 3A2
- Monday to Saturday
- 7:00am to 9:30pm
- Sunday
- 9:00am to 9:00pm