What is the Best Red Traffic Paint?

You pass by traffic lines, fire lanes, and painted curbs every day as you go on errands or commute to and from work. But have you ever wondered how those lines and signs always look so bright and pristine? This article will teach you a little more about what red traffic paint is and how it is used. If you’re in the market for some red traffic paint, it will also give you a guide to know how to buy the best kind.

What is Traffic Paint?

Traffic paint is a damage-resistant paint that is quick drying and made from a single component. Resin, pigmentation, and other solvents come together to make a paint that is as vibrant as it is extremely durable. Generally, traffic paint works best on exterior or interior concrete or gravel road pavement. If you’re planning to buy some traffic paint, double-check what material you’ll be painting to make sure you’re using the right paint for your project.

What is Red Traffic Paint Used For?

Red traffic paint is used in many different areas. For example, it might be used to paint signs or directional instructions on highways. It is very commonly used on curbs to mark areas where residential vehicles shouldn’t park. It might also be used in warehouses to show heavy machinery where to go and how to maneuver. Even parking lots often have painted lanes and directional markings to facilitate cars that are moving around the parking lot.

If you’re working on creating a fire lane at your business, apartment complex, warehouse, or any other sort of location, you’ll want to invest in some red traffic paint. You can even get a stencil that says, “fire lane no parking” to indicate the express purpose of your bright red paint job. Just make sure you’re painting your fire lane in the right spot. More on this below!

Where Can I Paint a No Parking Fire Lane?

Before you get a little too eager with the red traffic paint, you should probably make sure your paint job is in compliance with the law. The government has full jurisdiction over street markings, and its laws can solely dictate where and when a no-parking fire lane should be painted down. Certain locations, such as in front of a home in a residential area, should not be painted with red traffic paint unless there is a fire hydrant or mailbox that indicates you can do so. Unfortunately, there will be legal repercussions if you want to add a no-parking paint job in front of your house to keep unwanted neighbors away.

What Brand of Red Traffic Paint Should I Use?

A fire lane (or similar traffic or parking instruction) is supposed to be visible and eye-catching. When you’re preparing to paint a fire lane, you’ll want to make sure that you use exterior paint that will be long-lasting and resistant to any damage or wear and tear. Being outside, this type of paint will have to withstand a lot of debris from the natural elements of the different seasons. Choosing a paint brand that you know is sturdy and trustworthy will prevent you from having to paint over your curbs, fire lanes, and other parking instructions after only a year or two.

You might be tempted to buy your traffic paint from a big box store since those stores and brands are generally more well-known. However, the paint at big box stores, such as Home Depot, is mass-produced. It might not always have the qualities that you’ll need in a paint that is supposed to withstand traffic, rain, ice, and more for a number of years. Buying your paints from a more specialized company, such as Vista Paint, will get you the long-lasting result that you really need.

Vista Paint is one of the leading brands in high-quality, damage-resistant, outdoor paint. They have carefully created four different types of traffic paint with different qualities to make them fit for the job of directing traffic. Here are a few specifications about each of their types of traffic paint. If you don’t need red traffic paint but are looking for a different color, good news! Each of these types of paint comes in a variety of colors, including white, yellow, green, black, and blue, expressly made and designed by Vista Paint.

• 6700 On-Line Flat Traffic Paint: This traffic paint is usually used for road markings such as crosswalks, lanes, and parking instructions. It is acrylic and lead-free, making it extremely durable. It has a flat style sheen which will help it to withstand any damage from the outdoor elements and weather. You can apply this paint with a sprayer, no additional priming, straining, or thinning is necessary.
• 6800 On-Line Semi-Gloss Traffic Paint: This traffic paint from Vista Paint is usually used on concrete, asphalt, stone, and other surfaces. You can even use this on metal poles if they’re sufficiently primed. This paint is extremely adhesive and has a coating of “tough flexible film” helping to increase durability and color retention over time. It has a semi-gloss finish, making it a little more shiny than other matte alternatives. You can apply this paint with a sprayer, paintbrush, or paint roller.
• 6900 On-Line Fast Dry Traffic Paint: This waterborne traffic paint is entirely acrylic and is specifically created to be extremely durable over time. It has a fast-dry feature when applied, and will be completely dry within only a few minutes, no heating is required. This will help to prevent any debris from sticking to the paint. It is also CalTrans-approved for any painting you might do in California.
• 7200 Optiline Fast Dry Low Sheen Traffic Paint: This traffic paint is used for legend work and other markings on roads, parking lots, sidewalks, and more. It is also very adhesive, damage-resistant, and quick-drying, no matter what time of day you paint it. This helps to prevent the pick-up of dirt and dust while drying.