All these pictures were taken in Feb. 2003. None of this work was performed to manufacturers specifications and of course, none was done by NPCA members.
This photo is of striping on a Wal-Mart store in Texas at about 4 months old. Note the striping between the end of the parking area and the crosswalk is almost worn off and the fire lane which in this state should be six inches wide is not as wide as the 4 inch parking striping. Poor quality workmanship and/or inferior paints.
This
photo is of a supermarket parking lot sealed with 2 coats of name-brand sealer
using a professional type machine. However the lot was not properly cleaned and
the main problem was the sealer was applied in January 2003 (It was only a month
old when the photo was taken). But the temperatures were too cold for the sealer to cure
properly. Remember just because sealer "dries" doesn't mean it
"cures". The striping was also of such poor quality it is almost worn
off in many areas.
This illustrates the reason proper surface preparation is necessary and proper weather conditions are essential even though the material and the equipment were of a suitable grade. Just poor workmanship. One of our members was offered to bid this job but refused due to the weather conditions so they hired someone else.
This is what happens when you hire a contractor that "breaks the rules". This is a typical photo of the interior floors of the same supermarket. The discoloration and black marks are permanently embedded into the floor tiles, The only option at this point will be to replace the floor. This is what is referred to as sealer "tracking" which may occur when sealer is not properly applied . The cost spent on the floor replacement and a re-sealing job will greatly outweigh any benefit the owners may have perceived by having it done in January.
This is an example of a new "add on" handicap ramp that does not meet ANY type of specification or requirement. The first problem is the ramp slope is 3 1/2 feet shorter than required for the height of the curb. The second is that a ramp must either have tapered edges or rails or raised edges. A person in a wheelchair or walker would not only have a difficult time going up or down this steep slope, they would also risk falling over off the sides of the ramp since they are vertical and there is no railing, raised edge, or tapered edge to prevent them from just toppling over. Not only a non-compliant A.D.A. issue but a liability for a lawsuit for which there would be no defense.
These are a few examples of why choosing a quality contractor who will not do
improper work or non-compliant work is so necessary. The problems
range from the Wal-Mart that will have to pay for re-striping far sooner than
normal, to a "cheap" sealcoat job that is already gone in just a month
AND has created a more expensive problem for floor replacement than any savings
they might have obtained on the original job.
Of course the ramp creates an immediate liability for fines for violation of the
Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) which are federal penalties plus the
obvious potential for huge liability claims if someone falls as a result of this
non-compliant ramp.
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