When The Difference Between Dry and Cured?
Most people think line marking is done when it looks dry. It's not. There's a big difference between 'touch dry' and fully cured.Touch dry means the surface isn't tacky, it won't stick to your finger. But the paint underneath is still soft. Full cure means the paint has reached its final hardness and chemical resistance.Walk on touch-dry marking and you'll leave footprints. Drive on it and tyres will pick up paint. We've seen carparks ruined because someone let traffic back too early.A shopping centre in Glenorchy let traffic back onto a remarked carpark section after just three hours. We'd said four hours minimum. It was a warm day, the paint looked dry, and they had customers waiting. The first car left tyre marks through three parking bays. By the time we got there, a dozen cars had tracked fresh paint across the carpark.We had to remark 15 bays, four pedestrian crossings, and clean paint off 30 metres of asphalt. Cost us around $2,800 and a full weekend.
Key Benefits
Water-based acrylic: touch dry 20-40 minutes, vehicle traffic 4-8 hours, full cure 24-48 hours
Solvent-based paint: touch dry 30-60 minutes, vehicle traffic 8-12 hours, full cure 48-72 hours
Thermoplastic: traffic-ready in 10-15 minutes once cooled, ideal for roads that can't close
Two-pack epoxy: vehicle traffic 24-48 hours, full chemical resistance 5-7 days
Traffic cones, barriers, and signage provided to protect fresh marking during curing
Weather and temperature monitoring to provide accurate drying time guidance
Site Inspection
Free assessment and detailed quote
Professional Marking
Expert application with premium materials
Quality Assurance
Final inspection and compliance sign-off
Compliance Standards
AS 4049
Paint curing requirements followed per manufacturer specifications for durability.
Safe Work Australia
Traffic management during curing period to prevent workplace incidents.
AS 1742.3
Temporary traffic control requirements for road marking curing periods.
Fully Compliant & Certified
All our work meets or exceeds Australian Standards and state road authority requirements
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5,000+ Projects
Since 2009
Fixed Prices
Not Estimates
AS 1742
Traffic Control Devices
Specifies line colours, widths, arrow designs, and placement for road markings. Ensures all traffic control devices meet national safety standards.
AS/NZS 2890
Parking Facilities
Covers bay dimensions (2.4m × 5.4m standard, 3.2m × 5.4m accessible), aisle widths, and traffic flow requirements for compliant parking areas.
AS 4586
Slip Resistance
Defines slip resistance classifications (P rating) for pedestrian surfaces. Critical for wet areas, ramps, and high-traffic zones.
AS/NZS 1428
Access & Mobility
Sets requirements for accessible parking bays, tactile indicators, and mobility access. Essential for DDA compliance and accessibility audits.
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Results based on typical project outcomes. Individual results may vary.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Typically 4-8 hours for water-based paint in good conditions. We'll give you specific timing based on the materials and conditions for your project.
Looking dry and being cured are different. The surface might be touch-dry but the paint underneath is still soft. Footprints and damage can occur.
Tyres can pick up paint, leaving marks on the vehicle and destroying the line marking. Tracking can spread paint across wide areas.
Yes, significantly. Cold temperatures slow drying dramatically. Hot temperatures speed it up. We factor conditions into our timing guidance.
To some extent with fans and ventilation indoors. But paint needs time to cure properly. Forcing it too fast can affect durability.
Rain on uncured paint can damage or destroy it. We check forecasts and don't apply if rain is expected before marking can cure.
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Professional airport line marking in Melbourne. Airside and landside marking for aviation facilities. CASA compliant. Apron, taxiway, and carpark marking.
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