The city of Calgary has been looking into glowing road paint to help alleviate the energy usage of regular traffic lights. The paint shines without needing to have traffic lights shine on it. 
A couple years back, they began testing the super paint on less densely populated areas,  The aim is to reduce energy costs for the city, while increasing nighttime visibility for motorists.
They are also looking at adding glass reflective beads to traffic paint markings to heighten reflectivity and increase visibility on regular traffic lines. 
A version of the glowing paint used in Europe stores the sunlight in the daytime to shine light in the nighttime.  
They have tested a similar product in England, but rejected the idea due to its limited effectiveness in rainy regions. 
The Netherlands became the first area to install the glowing road paint on their highways back in 2014.
The city of Calgary is seeking a grant from a private fund to test initial workings of the glow paint project.   Who knows, could this be the next big thing?
This is taken from a news article from the calgary herald:
​https://calgaryherald.com/news/traffic/could-glowing-road-paint-replace-calgary-street-lights-theyre-looking-at-it

"Prevention is better than the cure". said wise man Benjamin Franklin. I like the similar adage "spend pennies, save dollars."
Which brings us to our subject today: "Why should you invest your money in parking lot maintenance, including regular line striping?"
Well think back to old Ben= its far easier and cost efficient to spend little amounts on maintenance of items then huge amounts on replacement.
Lets look at the example of your car. Old bessie needs regular oil changes. If you wait way too long to change the oil, or, perish the thought, never do it, bessies engine will seize. This happens because of sludgy oil, or having no oil because you never checked it!. Those $40 oil changes look pretty cheap when compared to a $3000 engine overhaul!
Its the same with parking lot maintenance and line striping. Fresh, regularly painted lines provide safety for all tenants who use the lot.  A lack of safety, otherwise know as negligence, can be costly both in regards to possible accidents and even lawsuits! A lack of safety could come in the form of accidents and even injury due to an poorly maintained parking lot.
As a rule of thumb= Marked traffic is safe traffic.  It maximises your parking space traffic and makes it safe for all your visitors. It can also reduce the risks of lawsuits if anything were to happen. 
Think safe and spend pennies on maintenance to save dollars on replacement. You will be glad you did!

The weather in the great white north can be, well ...... unpredictable, to say the least- (although i'm sure that we could think of more colourful words that could apply...) This makes it a challenge to schedule and accomplish line painting projects, sometimes fall projects need to wait until warmer spring months. 
What are the advantages to spring postponement? 3 main reasons:
1) Well the weather is nicer, so its much easier to apply line paint without incidents of storms of dangers of freezing temperatures. Line paint, like most people, hates it when its freezing!
2) The paint has warmer time to cure when applied , which means that it will achieve its maximum durability. When high quality paint has adequate cure times in peak temperatures, it will last longer!
3)  Do you know when the best time to have your lines painted is? 
After the snow melts and disappears, and your parking space is swept and cleaned, thats when! Your parking space will be perfect- clean, swept and ready for a fresh coat of paint!
Spring is a time of rejuvenation, a fresh coat of line painting will maximize the health, safety and overall value of your lot.
Right now is a great time to plan ahead for the spring months and new line painting projects. Spring will be here before we know it!​

Every year, many clients ask us the same two questions.  How often should we paint our parking lot lines?  Do we have to paint them every year?
We hear it so much that we know they are going to say it before they do.. 
So whats the answer? ​

Line striping, or line painting is an important maintenance item of a safe and functional parking lot. Here are 4 reasons why it matters that you have your lines and markings regularly re-painted.   ​

During the warmer spring and summer months, many look to get their parking lot and parkade lines re-painted. 
These newly re-traced parking lines do look amazing and make your whole parking area look great! But is that the only reason to regularly paint your lines?  

Line markings are incredibly important for the safety and functionality of parking spaces. If markings are faded or non-existent, people can be confused as to where they can walk or park.  This can create illegal parking in fire zones, blocked entry spaces, even accidents! Clear and plain markings can help reduce liabilities, accidents and the safety of your space.

Filters are everywhere- your car, your homes HVAC, even your water canister. But there is one filter that needs regular servicing you might not have thought of- your homes carpets!


FACT: Your carpets act like a giant filter for your health. It captures dirt, dust, pollen, bacteria, dust mites, and their waste, and the bacteria that feed on it.
Government studies have shown that when you remove carpets from properties, people get sick four times more often!! But like any filter, your carpets become saturated and ineffective over time- creating a need for professional quality cleaning. Vacuuming is important, but even if you vacuum every day it doesn’t kill bacteria that’s deep down in your carpets.
​
The EPA found that professional carpet cleaning actually gets carpets 1500 percent cleaner that daily vacuuming. Professionals use steaming hot water that kills germs and bacteria that are sitting in your homes carpets!

​Theres an old cliché that you only learn from your mistakes. But when it comes to making sure your carpet lasts a long time, mistakes aren’t the greatest teachers.
If you use the wrong products or techniques you can damage the carpets appearance and even its overall lifespan.