The main purpose of constructing a car park is to offer convenience to customers and staff members to park their cars without hassles; however, other purposes should also be considered while moving forward with a car park design blueprint. This can typically include:
- An asphalt or concrete car park
- Landscape trees
- Shade navigation — a fixed awning
- Security lighting
- Ramp or disability access
- Line marking
- Garbage and waste material accessibility
For constructing a resourceful car park, it’s vital to consider all the above-mentioned points in the design layout of the proposed car park. It’s important to make sure there is enough space to navigate easily into the car park from the driveway while maximising the number of car parks in a given space.
You need to consider foundations, landscaping, load, the material used and space for water to flow — an experienced engineer or car park consultants should design the car park layout for you.
Besides, car park consultants can offer professional car park solutions to meet your needs — they will ensure that your car park gets a visually stunning and clutter-free look and feel because the car park serves as the first impression of your business in the mind of your potential client.
Modest but effective landscaping can be used to offer a comfortable area. Nonetheless, before the construction work can start-off, it’s vital to get proper approvals for the car park construction work from the local councils or planning authorities.
As per the directives of the local authorities, it’s highly recommended constructing the car park using only the design and materials approved in the engineer’s report including any construction approval package. Here, we have gathered a list of some construction materials that can be used.
For relatively smaller car park area, the price of concrete can be parallel to the asphalt construction. However, for larger areas that can include office blocks, shopping centres, warehouse car parks etc., it can get pricier. As a robust and durable material, concrete requires a minimum of maintenance. With regular vehicle use, concrete can endure for 15 to 20 years after which it will just require resurfacing.
If the car park area is larger, then asphalt can be an affordable option and cheaper than concrete. Besides, it’s easier to repair and resurface when it's damaged. Asphalt offers an excellent grip for the sharp and steep driveway as it’s supple and won’t skid. When asphalt is installed in larger areas where natural movements take place in the ground during rain or drought (i.e. dry period) wherein the earth contracts and expand, asphalt is vulnerable to cracking. Besides, it’s vulnerable to potholes if there is a larger downpour of rain and heavy traffic. Asphalt should ideally be laid on the ground after the completion of earthworks and rolling. Asphalt is debated to be the most tolerant for weeds because it has fewer cracks than the concrete.
Before constructing any car park, it needs considerable earthworks — this will make sure that the levels are accurate to facilitate safe movements of vehicles and to make sure it’s draining effortlessly. Thus, before laying the material, the ground is compressed and ditches are dug to facilitate electrical, plumbing and storm-water needs.
Loose gravel is the most affordable material that can be laid down speedily for constructing a car park. As it is loose, it’s tolerant when laid on land with little imperfections like potholes. Issues may develop with the size of gravel that is being used because it could stir likely dust and movement when driven on. Nonetheless, weeds or grass grows through it, which becomes a constant difficulty to keep it neat at all times.
Well, a major part of the cost is dependent on the construction material used, other things that affect the cost include design and counsel fees, electrical and plumbing works if required, landscaping, storm waterworks, kerbing, sealing if need be, line marking, lighting if required, and any other miscellaneous facilitates you want to have included, will all go into additional cost considerations needed for building the car park.
