How to Paint a Safety Diagonal Pattern

Painting safety stripes, the zebra pattern that you see on crosswalks and in places where you aren't supposed to park, is important for keeping high visibility for drivers and pedestrians alike. When painting an area to be sure that it's properly striped, take all of the proper steps and lay out the diagonal stripes just right.

Things You'll Need

• Power washer
• Broom
• Spray paint
• Painting tape
• Tape measure

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Instructions

• 1

  Check your local regulations and with your department of transportation safety to determine what color paint you need. If no regulations are given, use a bright color such as yellow or safety orange.

• 2

  Sweep the area with a broom. Use a power washer to clean the dirt out of the pores in the stone, metal or other material. Allow the area to dry.

• 3

  Put down painter's tape around the edges of the area you plan to paint, and then mark the diagonals with painter's tape. Where there is tape, there won't be paint, so check that only the diagonal areas that you want painted are clear when you look at the tape pattern.

• 4

  Spray paint the area one layer at a time.

• 5

  Wait for the paint to dry, then peel off the tape and throw it away.