When a customer asks for solvent-based traffic paint, the first question shouldn’t be, “How many gallons do you need?”
It should be, “What are you painting?”
The surface, existing markings, application conditions, required dry time, equipment, VOC requirements, and project specifications can all affect which traffic paint is appropriate for the job.
Solvent-based traffic paints can be a strong option for roadways, parking lots, and other pavement-marking applications, but there isn’t one solvent-based formulation that fits every project.
For distributors, understanding a few key application factors can make it easier to recommend the right product—or recognize when more information is needed before making a recommendation.
What Is Solvent-Based Traffic Paint?
Solvent-based traffic paint uses organic solvents as the coating carrier rather than water.
Different solvent-based formulations can be designed around different performance, dry-time, VOC, and application requirements. Aexcel’s traffic paint lineup, for example, includes low-VOC acrylic solvent-based products as well as other solvent-based traffic and zone-marking coatings.
That means “solvent-based” is only the beginning of the product-selection conversation.
The right product still depends on the customer’s application.
When Should You Consider Solvent-Based Traffic Paint?
Solvent-based traffic paint may be worth considering when the customer’s application conditions, performance requirements, project specifications, or equipment make a solvent-based system a good fit.
Before recommending one, ask:
- What surface are you painting?
- Is it new pavement or an existing surface?
- Are you painting over old markings?
- What temperature and weather conditions are expected?
- How quickly does the area need to reopen?
- What application equipment will be used?
- Are there VOC restrictions or project specifications?
- What level of durability does the customer need?
The answers can help narrow the available Aexcel traffic paint options.
What Surface Is Being Painted?
Surface condition is one of the first things to understand before recommending any traffic paint.
Paint needs a sound, properly prepared surface to achieve good adhesion. Dirt, moisture, loose material, deteriorating existing coatings, curing compounds, and other contaminants can interfere with performance.
The specific preparation requirements depend on whether the customer is working with asphalt, concrete, or an existing painted surface.
Can Solvent-Based Traffic Paint Be Applied to New Concrete?
New concrete requires particular attention before traffic paint is applied.
The concrete needs adequate cure time, and curing compounds, laitance, contamination, or other materials that could interfere with adhesion may need to be removed before painting.
Rather than giving customers one cure-time rule for every solvent-based Aexcel product, distributors should direct them to the product data sheet for the specific coating being considered and confirm that the surface meets its application requirements.
If there is uncertainty about the condition of new concrete or the preparation required, that’s a good time to involve Aexcel’s technical team before the customer begins the job.
What About New Asphalt?
New asphalt presents different considerations from new concrete.
The condition of the pavement, the specific traffic paint, project requirements, and other application variables can affect when the surface is ready to be striped.
Don’t apply a concrete cure-time recommendation to asphalt or assume every traffic paint has identical requirements.
The product data sheet and applicable project specification should guide the recommendation.
Can You Paint Over Existing Traffic Markings?
Often, but the condition and compatibility of the existing coating matter.
Before repainting, customers should evaluate old markings for:
- Peeling
- Chipping
- Flaking
- Delamination
- Poor adhesion
- Excessive buildup
- Other visible deterioration
A new traffic paint applied over a poorly adhered existing coating will still depend on that old layer for adhesion to the pavement.
Compatibility also matters. If the customer doesn’t know what coating is already on the surface, or if the existing marking is deteriorating, don’t assume that simply applying another coat will solve the problem.
How Does Temperature Affect Solvent-Based Traffic Paint?
Temperature can affect application, drying, and overall coating performance.
But there isn’t one minimum temperature or dry time that applies to every solvent-based traffic paint.
Aexcel’s solvent-based products have their own application and performance requirements. Some formulations may be appropriate under conditions where another traffic paint would not be the best choice.
That’s why distributors should avoid giving customers a universal temperature recommendation based solely on the fact that a product is solvent-based.
Instead, check:
- The specific product
- Air and pavement conditions
- Expected weather
- Published application requirements
- Published dry time
- Project specifications
Then use the product data sheet as the source of truth.
How Fast Does Solvent-Based Traffic Paint Dry?
It depends on the formulation and application conditions.
Aexcel offers solvent-based traffic paints with different published dry times. That gives distributors options when turnaround is an important part of the customer’s job.
But a published dry time should always be understood in context.
For example, a product’s data sheet may report dry time at a specific temperature and film thickness. Actual jobsite conditions may differ.
When a customer says, “I need something that dries fast,” follow up with:
“How quickly does the area need to reopen, and under what conditions will you be applying it?”
That gives you much more useful information for making a product recommendation.
What About VOC Requirements?
VOC requirements are another reason not to treat all solvent-based traffic paints as interchangeable.
A project may have federal, state, municipal, agency, or other specifications that affect which coating can be used.
Aexcel offers low-VOC solvent-based traffic paint options for applications where solvent-based characteristics are desired while VOC content is also an important selection factor.
For example, Aexcel’s Low VOK™ acrylic traffic marking paint has a VOC content below 100 g/L and is designed for applications including streets, parking lots, crosswalks, and auxiliary markings.
Before recommending any product, distributors should confirm the governing project specification and applicable requirements for the location.
Which Aexcel Solvent-Based Traffic Paint Should You Recommend?
Don’t start with the product name. Start with the customer’s job.
Aexcel’s solvent-based lineup includes products designed around different application and performance needs.
For example:
Low VOK™ may be worth considering when the customer needs a fast-drying solvent-based traffic paint and low-VOC requirements are part of the project. Certain Low VOK™ products have a published maximum dry time of 10 minutes at 77°F and VOC content below 100 g/L.
ToughLine® is another low-VOC acrylic traffic and zone-marking option designed for higher-performance applications. Product-specific dry times, colors, specifications, and applications vary, so distributors should review the individual product information before recommending it.
Aexcel also offers other solvent-based and zone-marking formulations. The best option depends on the customer’s surface, conditions, required dry time, performance expectations, specifications, and application.
Questions to Ask Before Recommending Solvent-Based Traffic Paint
A distributor doesn’t need to diagnose every coating variable at the counter.
But asking the right questions can prevent a customer from leaving with a product that doesn’t fit the job.
Start with:
- What are you painting? Roadway, parking lot, auxiliary marking, or another application?
- What is the surface? Asphalt, concrete, or an existing painted surface?
- Is this new work or repainting?
- What conditions will you be painting in?
- How quickly does the area need to reopen?
- What equipment are you using?
- Are there VOC requirements or project specifications?
- Is there a particular performance problem you’re trying to solve?
Those answers will usually tell you whether a straightforward product recommendation can be made or whether the application needs a closer look.
Help Your Customers Choose the Right Traffic Paint
The best traffic paint recommendation starts with understanding the job.
Aexcel manufactures solvent-based, waterborne, low-VOC, and high-performance traffic marking systems for different surfaces, application conditions, dry-time requirements, specifications, and performance needs.
When the right product isn’t obvious, Aexcel can help distributors review the application and identify the traffic paint options that best fit the customer’s requirements.
