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  • Business updates - 04.06.24

Line marking: The know how (FAQ's)

As we power towards the warmer season of outdoor sports and activities, we’ve been servicing our line marking equipment and booking in those summer sports field mark-ups.

If you’re looking to get your open space marked for the summer and autumn, you might find the following Line Marking FAQs handy to know before taking the plunge.  

 

What is line marking?

If you’re looking to host sports activities within your property border, you’ll need to consider setting safe boundaries for both players and spectators. Line marking paints these boundaries into the grass or onto a surface as clear, visible lines, allowing your site users to adhere to set health and safety obligations.

There are two types of line marking activities to be aware of;

  • Setting out: is the act of line marking a field or open space from scratch. This takes a long time to do and involves a lot of additional prep work including understanding the measurements of your space and where the pitch or markings will go. We have a GPS-led system which helps us to do this in half the time of a normal ‘string and pin’ approach, but it still requires plenty of care, attention and double checking.
  • Overmarking: is much simpler and doesn’t require much pre-planning aside from ensuring you have the correct equipment. Overmarking can be as simple as following the existing lines, assuming you’ve not left them to fade.

What is the correct way to line mark an open space?

There is no ‘correct’ way to mark an open space, however there are ways which make your line marking more efficient and precise. When we mark fields for our customers we adhere to FA and official guidance wherever possible. It's best to line mark after mowing to increase the longevity of the paint and book in regular overmarking where possible to keep the lines vibrant and clean. Remember, it takes a lot longer to set out a marked field than it does to overmark.

 

Can you use different colours?

Absolutely, line marking paint comes in a variety of colours. The more important consideration to make here is whether the paint you want is non-toxic and non-harmful to the environment, wildlife and people. We use industry-approved paint specifically chosen for its non-harmful properties making it an excellent choice for our customers.

 

What kind of lines can you create?

Examples of line marking we have undertaken include;

  • Sports facilities lines marking: such as football, rugby, tennis and cricket pitches, each of which have specific dimensions to consider.
  • Outdoor athletics line marking: for open spaces that host sports days and outdoor athletic activities.
  • Car park and roadside line marking: allowing you to set out clear lines and instructions for safer vehicle management around school or work areas.
  • Warehouse and HSEQ line marking: to easily let your staff and visitors know that there are set health and safety obligations within these areas.
  • Children’s playground marking: which are used for semi-permanent floor-based games like hopscotch, or teaching aids.
  • General line marking: for needs outside of the above; whether this is a spectator box, a cordoned area, a boundary marker or signposting.

Will the paint last forever?

That all depends on your requirements. If you’re looking for a long-lasting solution for your on-floor signage, permanent paint will be the way to go. Please be aware that even permanent paint will require upkeep and touch ups to keep it looking its best and for some surfaces this option will not be suitable – such as on grass.

If you like the ability to change up your line lay outs every now and then, semi-permanent paint is the option for you. Pitch line markings at our customer sites often last two to four weeks depending on the weather, mowing schedules and how the open space is being used.

 

Will mowing over lines remove them?

When line marking a grassed area, the paint itself will stick to the grass and to the ground. As the grass grows and is cut, this will take some of the paint with it which can cause  your line marking to fade. We always recommend that you mow grass areas before you line mark to avoid taking off the top layer of paint too early, and to schedule overmarking services to keep the lines looking crisp and clear.

 

How could my property benefit from line marking?

For educational settings, line marking can be used to enhance outdoor explore and play areas for students. Marking out lines such as interactive games or sports pitches support different ages and abilities to give students their own areas of creativity. They are often used in schools to help development of social skills and to encourage imagination, all whilst supporting fitness.

Clearly set line markings can improve the appearance of your open space and in some cases improve on efficiency too – with parking bay lines for example. Around busy public areas, car park and road markings are an important factor in safeguarding, making sure spaces are clearly set out and traffic is managed.

 

Are you thinking about having Line Marking set out on your property? Get in touch with our experts to discuss your needs or, check out more about our professional line marking services.

 

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