How to Install Surface-Mount Delineator (2026)

Installing a surface-mount delineator takes 8 to 19 minutes per post when the pavement is in good condition and the crew is set up correctly. The seven-step process is: layout, surface prep, drill, mix adhesive, set post, torque anchor, verify. Skill level: intermediate. Tools: hammer drill, calibrated torque driver, two-part epoxy gun, layout chalk and tape. Compliance reference: MUTCD Section 3F, ASTM C881 epoxy spec, ASTM D4956 sheeting spec.

This guide walks through each step with the same playbook Cojo runs on Oregon parking-lot installs. Or hire Cojo's installation crew if the install scope or pavement condition pushes outside the basic surface-mount window.

What you need before starting

Tool / Material	Purpose
Hammer drill with masonry bit	Drill anchor hole in asphalt or concrete
Calibrated torque driver	Torque anchor to manufacturer spec
Two-part epoxy adhesive (ASTM C881 grade)	Bond post to pavement
Mechanical anchor (drop-in or expansion)	Resist lateral shear
Wire brush	Clean drilled hole
Compressed air or shop vac	Clear hole of dust
Layout chalk and tape measure	Mark post positions
Crayon or paint marker	Permanent post-position mark
Safety equipment	Eye protection, gloves, hi-vis vest
Time estimate	8 to 19 min per post (one crew, one shift)

For sub-25-post installs, expect 6 to 10 hours of total crew time including mobilization, layout, and traffic control setup.

How does MUTCD spec affect the install?

MUTCD Section 3F defines the visible characteristics of the delineator -- height, color, retroreflectivity, spacing. The mounting method itself is not regulated. The install must produce a post that:

• Stands at proper height -- 4 ft minimum on public ROW, 36 in acceptable on parking-lot interior
• Faces the right color toward traffic -- white on right edge of travel lane, yellow on left
• Carries proper retroreflective sheeting -- ASTM D4956 Type III, IV, or IX (Type IV is the parking-lot baseline)
• Sits at proper spacing per Section 3F.05 -- variable by application

State-highway-adjacent work in Oregon defers to Oregon DOT supplements. Sidewalk-adjacent installs in Portland coordinate through Portland Bureau of Transportation Title 17.

For full spacing math, see our delineator spacing MUTCD guide.

Step 1: Layout the post line

Mark each post position before any drilling. Three rules:

• Use a calibrated tape measure -- the cumulative error from pacing or visual estimation drifts fast over a 50-post run
• Snap a chalk line along the proposed edge to verify alignment
• Mark each post position with a crayon or paint marker, not chalk -- chalk washes off in rain or under epoxy

For curved sections, calculate spacing along the arc length, not the chord. Tighter spacing on curves is required by MUTCD Section 3F.05 to maintain driver visibility through the curve.

Step 2: Prepare the pavement surface

The bond between epoxy and pavement is the load-bearing path on a surface-mount install. Pavement prep determines bond quality.

• Clean the surface -- sweep loose debris, then wire-brush the immediate post position
• Remove oil contamination -- a degreaser pass is required if the lot has been an oil-drip zone
• Verify dryness -- moisture in the surface or in the upcoming drill hole compromises epoxy cure
• Verify temperature -- most ASTM C881 epoxies require 50 degrees F minimum pavement temperature for proper cure

In cold-weather Oregon installs, plan around temperature. Coastal valley work is generally fine November through March; central and eastern Oregon installs are tighter (May through September is the safer window).

Step 3: Drill the anchor hole

Drill diameter and depth depend on the anchor system specified by the post manufacturer. Common parameters:

• Drill size: 5/8 in for mechanical anchors, 3/4 in for expansion anchors, 1 in for sleeve anchors
• Drill depth: 3 to 6 inches for asphalt, 4 to 5 inches for concrete
• Drill angle: 90 degrees from pavement surface (perpendicular)

Use a hammer drill with a fresh masonry bit. A worn bit produces a glazed hole wall, which compromises both anchor grip and epoxy bond. Replace bits at the manufacturer's recommended life or sooner if hole quality drops.

Step 4: Clear the hole

Dust in the drilled hole is the most common cause of epoxy bond failure. Clear with:

1. Wire brush -- mechanical scrub of the hole wall
2. Compressed air or shop vacuum -- remove loose dust
3. Visual inspection -- shine a flashlight; the hole walls should be clean and rough, not glazed

Skip this step and the epoxy bonds to dust, not pavement. The post will pull free in the first vehicle impact.

Step 5: Mix and apply the adhesive

Two-part epoxy must be mixed in proper ratio. Most products use a static-mix nozzle on a dual-cartridge applicator, which guarantees ratio. If you mix manually, follow manufacturer instructions exactly -- under-catalyzed epoxy never reaches full strength.

• Apply epoxy to the cleaned hole wall, filling roughly 60 to 70 percent of the hole volume
• Apply a thin epoxy bead to the post anchor flange or base
• Work within the open time specified on the product (typically 5 to 10 minutes)

In hot weather (over 85 degrees F), open time shortens significantly. In cold weather (under 50 degrees F), cure time stretches and the post is unusable until cure completes.

Step 6: Set the post and torque the anchor

• Insert the post anchor into the epoxy-filled hole, ensuring the post is plumb (use a level)
• Press the post down to the proper height stop
• Torque the mechanical anchor to manufacturer spec (typically 25 to 60 foot-pounds for parking-lot anchors)
• Wipe excess epoxy from the surface around the post base

Verify the post is plumb on both axes before walking away. Once the epoxy starts to set, repositioning is no longer possible.

Step 7: Verify and document

Final QA pass:

• Post is plumb (within 2 degrees of vertical)
• Sheeting faces the correct direction (white side facing the traffic from which the post will be seen)
• Anchor is fully torqued
• Epoxy is curing without surface displacement
• Post height matches spec (within 1/4 inch tolerance)

Record post count, GPS or street-address coordinates, and any anomalies (rejected anchor pockets, replacement bits used). Documentation supports warranty claims and future maintenance scheduling.

How long until the post is operational?

Most ASTM C881 epoxies reach 70 percent strength at 4 hours and full strength at 24 to 48 hours, depending on temperature. The post is typically rideable (low-impact) within 4 hours, full-strength service within 48 hours. Verify against the specific product's data sheet.

Common mistakes to avoid

Three failure modes that show up most often:

1. Inadequate hole cleaning -- dust in the hole compromises bond. Wire-brush and compressed-air every hole.
2. Wrong drill diameter -- too tight produces a friction-only fit that fails under impact. Too loose lets the anchor walk. Match the spec exactly.
3. Cold-weather install -- epoxy cure is temperature-sensitive. Cold installs that look fine on day one fail in the first warm-weather impact months later.

Real install: 32-post Salem retail edge

For a 32-post 36-inch surface-mount install at a 14,000-square-foot Salem retail center in March 2026, the crew completed layout in 30 minutes, drilling in 90 minutes, and post-setting plus QA in another 90 minutes. Total install time including mobilization and traffic control: 6 hours. Five months later all 32 posts remain in service with no anchor failures. Three posts have visible bumper-paint impact marks; all three returned to vertical without intervention.

For Salem-specific delineator pricing and install context, see our delineator installation Salem Oregon page.

When to hire a professional

If any of these apply, hire Cojo's install crew rather than self-installing:

• Project larger than 25 posts
• Pavement older than 10 years or known to be patchy
• State-ROW-adjacent install requiring permitted traffic control
• Cold-weather install (under 50 degrees F)
• ADA path-of-travel zones requiring flush-mount anchor verification

Contact Cojo for a site walk and a quote, or browse our striping services for the painted layer.

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