text: Building a multi-storey car park is an enormous undertaking best left to professionals. You will need a car park designer, a full building crew, and a number of specialized engineers. It is a massive project, not something that car park owners can do on their own.
  That is why hiring a professional firm like Multi Storey Parking Decks is the best way to approach car part construction, whether you are planning on building underground car parks, steel car park structures, or a simpler composite car park deck.
  We are a dedicated team of car park design and construction professionals, working with clients across the UK to build and install every part of the multi-storey car park of your dreams.
  We design bespoke car park layouts for clients, working from the car park layout to the final car park construction process. Our team of car park designers are the best in the business, with years of experience to prove it.
  From car park layout to helping you through car park planning applications, our car park designers are experts in good car park design and helping clients realise their dreams.
  Our permanent structures offer significant savings against many other companies, and we have a sister company that offers very reasonable maintenance costs on all new multi-storey car parks constructed by our design team.
  Every one of the many multi-storey car parks we build meets local construction requirements and guidelines for every step of the process, from design to installation.
  Our unique composition supporting columns are designed to resist all common physical stresses and meet foundation requirements, and the resulting car park environment has clear headroom, excellent performance, and a high level of safety and security coupled with cost-effectiveness for a long-lasting and low maintenance car park.
  We have over 15 years of experience in the design and installation of multi-storey parking structures, creating thousands of extremely durable multi-deck car park structures in city centres and other locations across the entire UK.
  If you are looking for a step up from on-street parking spaces, our car park structure design and construction services are exactly what you need. We will help you every step of the way, from design to installation to all the accessories needed for modern car parks - get in touch with our team today to start the process!
  There are several different types of materials and constructions that can be used in the car park constructions that we offer. Let's take a look at some of the most popular options available from our multi-storey car parks team.
  Kingspan Multideck is a high-performance, profiled, galvanised steel floor deck used to build composite car park deck floor systems. Because of its great span widths, durability, and strength, it is a suitable composite car park deck for use on raised deck and multi-storey car park projects.
  Most car park owners choose some form of Kingspan Multideck steel frame for their car park construction. The most popular forms of steel floor decking for metal floor car park construction in the UK are Kingspan Multideck MD60 and MD80.
  Because of its structurally efficient trapezoidal shape, which maximises span capacity up to 4.5m unpropped, MD60 is the original and most popular steel deck on the market. Kingspan Multideck MD60 uses less concrete than comparable steel decks due to its distinctive profile.
  MD80 offers all of the benefits of MD60V2 but in a deeper profile, allowing for larger unpropped spans of up to 5.4m. Because of its distinct profile, it takes less concrete than any other steel decking product to reach any desired concrete slab thickness. This is ideal for car parks that want to minimise concrete use.
  Because of its spanning capabilities and cost-effectiveness, MD80 is quickly becoming the preferred choice of trapezoidal composite steel car park deck flooring material for raised deck and multi-storey car park construction. It is also great for ramp features and anything where you need to clear span widths greater than usual, such as extra wide bays in your car parks.
  The variety of steel gauge thicknesses available enables MD60 steel and MD80 steel to be inexpensively built to meet the particular clear span profile of your car park design. These are available with standard galvanising, but we can also offer additional protective coatings over the steel frame to maximise protection and increase the lifespan of your steel deck even further.
  We can design car park floor plans for different flow plans, adjusting deck and ramp locations to match the ideal traffic flow for your location. A one-way flow vehicle pattern means cars can only move in one direction around a parking lot.
  This car park design works best when paired with angled car parking bays because it provides for simple access and departure from the bays and allows cars to freely travel about the car park building.
  Only when motorists become confused or ignore the one-way traffic pattern do problems occur. Car park owners should place visible signs and floor markers to reduce these accidents and ensure that each one-way ramp is clearly indicated.
  Vehicles in two-way flow patterns might go in opposing directions around a parking lot. This is a popular alternative for congested parking lots since it provides for a higher flow rate, allowing vehicles to depart a lot faster and allowing other drivers to occupy their place.
  This strategy, however, must be supplemented with 90-degree automobile parking bays, as angled parking bays might cause manoeuvring issues, resulting in hold-ups. Additional space is also required between the rows of parking spots to allow two vehicles travelling in opposing directions to pass each other safely.
  As a result, this car park layout plan may provide fewer bays than a one-way flow vehicle pattern. A double ramp to the raised deck will be required for this style of car park flow system.
  Steel frame and composite concrete flooring, which is a mix of profiled metal floor decking and a reinforced concrete slab, is the most commonly employed method for creating a raised deck car park.
  Steel, as a material, has good tensile strength and is very lightweight, requiring less foundation than other building methods. This makes it simple and inexpensive to build the raised deck elements of a multi-storey car park.
  Steel is incredibly robust and resistant to fire. It is a flexible material for designers, allowing all of the fundamental requirements of car park design to be addressed. Composite concrete flooring is made up of profiled steel decking sheets and mesh-reinforced concrete, offering a strong but relatively lightweight material for raised deck car park construction.
  Steel and concrete function nicely together because their strengths balance each other out. They both respond to thermal changes in the same way, expanding and contracting as ambient temperatures rise or fall. Together, they give exceptional structural rigidity, fire performance, and load-bearing capabilities, as well as the lifetime of a parking structure.
  An elastomeric waterproof coating will be put on top of the concrete slab to finish and waterproof the vehicle deck. This ensures that the surface of the deck remains weatherproof, protecting the concrete and steel of the deck structure from the environment.
  Any ramp needed for the raised deck surface will be made from concrete, with a steel core inserted into any ramp that connects the upper deck levels of the car park. Ramp elements are a central part of the structural frame, supporting large parts of the car park deck along with the steel frame component.
  Car parks must be protected from the impacts of the weather. The car park environment may be quite a harsh one, especially when corrosive or abrasive snow and ice removal procedures are used.
  It is consequently advised that the upper deck of the parking garage be waterproofed with a typical bituminous membrane or a liquid-sprayed seamless coating.
  It is also a good idea to treat other floors to avoid water penetration. It is critical to specify the correct products that are appropriate for the materials and ensure that installation and maintenance follow the supplier's guidelines completely.
  To minimise water buildup on the slabs, proper falls and drainage must be provided on all floors and ramp elements of your car park, particularly around the entrance module. A lightweight steel canopy over the top parking deck is becoming more popular.
  This provides additional protection to the top level of the parking garage, allowing users to park in all weather conditions. A vehicle park's visual appeal may be considerably boosted by having a roof that allows the car park to fit in with the urban surroundings. The long-term benefits of lower maintenance can greatly outweigh the initial cost of this method.
  A multi-storey car park structure is more expensive on a per bay basis than a single-storey ground floor open parking lot. While there is not a single specific number, you should expect to budget around £10,000 per bay for your multi-deck car park. For a free quote, get in touch with our team today.
  Let us break down the numbers for the cost of a multi-deck car park a little bit. Cost modelling for car parks can be complicated by land acquisition expenses, foundation concerns due to the ground underlying the site, and any unique planning constraints and consents.
  Uncertainty about prices and dangers might mean that much-needed parking lots never get past the idea stage. A feasibility study may also reveal that the profits are insufficient to justify the investment. All of this uncertainty is part of why we recommend that you get in touch with us as early in the planning process as possible so we can help you work out the most cost-effective solutions.
  Cost tends to be measured per space because this is the easiest way to understand how the expense will change for different sizes of car parks. That is not the only consideration that matters, however. A multi-deck car park will cost more than putting the same number of spaces all on the ground floor because the construction is more complex.
  Load-bearing materials, ceiling heights, structural walls and more considerations besides these are essential for a multi-storey car park, while a single-level car park only has to worry about a durable floor surface and traditional foundations.
  Stack parking systems are basic parking solutions that allow numerous cars to be parked in the footprint of a single vehicle, vertically stacking parking bays one on top of another. This allows for the most efficient use of vertical space in parking lots that would otherwise go unused.
  Stack parking systems do this by stacking movable platforms one on top of the other. Vehicles may be parked on the platforms and stay stable when users lift them to allow additional vehicles to park below. There are multiple different types of stack parking systems that can be incorporated into a multi-deck car park.
  A vehicle lift is the most basic configuration of a stack parking system, with two or more columns that work to move and support the parking platform. These are typically powered by internal hydraulic components and can accommodate two vehicles. Some are also movable, allowing for even more effective parking alternatives.
  Tri and quad lifts save a lot of room in parking facilities. Unlike ordinary park lifts, which can only stack one car above the ground and handle a maximum of two vehicles, tri and quad lifts are mechanical lifts that can stack three to four vehicles on top of one another. These automatic parking systems are ideal for locations that have very limited space, such as airports, hotels, and car dealerships.
  Car lofts, also known as suspended park lifts, are ideal for homeowners who wish to make use of empty attic space. These mechanical automobile parking systems are also ideal for people who wish to display one car while another is parked beneath. Vehicles can be suspended from overhead beams or by floor-based constructions in car lofts.
  The pit parking system is another sort of mechanised parking system. These devices enable drivers to enter their vehicles autonomously from a cocoon-like enclosure. These methods do not necessitate the movement of additional vehicles from the bottom or top.
  They are also usually built with a quiet mechanical structure. As a result, they are ideal for facilities that require drivers to be able to move their vehicles in and out by themselves.
  Multi-story parking structures are commonly found at railway stations, airports, hospitals, and city centre locations. They are found in mixed-use buildings, retail centres, and entertainment complexes. Car parks should be clearly identified for potential users while still blending into the general urban architecture of the surrounding area.
  Car park buildings are typically above-ground and permanent. However, there is an increasing need for temporary or demountable parking. Underground and basement parking is also employed, primarily in dense central urban areas where land prices are high enough to make this financially viable.
  Multi-story parking garages are one-of-a-kind structures in which all aspects of the structure are generally visible to the public. There is little need for weather protection, and the top level is usually left exposed.
  There are several different types of parking systems currently in use. Let's take a look at the most common types of car parks.
  Parking garages, often known as multi-level parking structures, multi-storey car parks, or parking decks, are multi-story buildings intended solely for parking cars and other vehicles. They maximise vertical parking space use, allowing for greater car density.
  Parking garages are typically located in metropolitan areas or places where there is a large need for parking, such as business districts, airports, or hospitals. They frequently have ramps or lifts for reaching multiple floors and can provide both covered and uncovered parking.
  A single-level parking garage is one with only one floor - essentially just the ground level of a larger car park as a structure on its own.
  Parking garages with numerous levels or stories are known as multilevel or multi-storey car parks. A multilevel parking garage can be designed in a variety of styles. A garage with ramps to travel from one floor to another is the most popular design. Parking garages that employ elevators to go from level to level are less prevalent.
  There are also parking garages equipped with robotic devices that transport automobiles from one level to another. The ramps between the parking garage's floors may move up, down, or both ways to manipulate traffic flow patterns and give the smoothest parking experience possible. The top decks may be open or closed.
  Underground parking garages are found beneath buildings or public areas. They are intended to maximise land use while maintaining visual appeal by concealing parking lots. Underground parking is frequent in heavily crowded regions or in buildings with limited surface space. These structures give shelter from the weather as well as secure parking.
  Parking lots are open places intended for the parking of cars. They are frequently located near new buildings, commercial malls, recreational facilities, or public places. Parking lots can range in size from tiny lots with a few parking places to big lots with hundreds or even thousands of parking spaces.
  They can be paved or unpaved or floored with any hard-wearing surface you prefer, and they can provide several parking options such as perpendicular parking, angled parking, or diagonal parking.
  Smart Parking Systems employ technology to increase parking efficiency and user experience. Sensors or cameras are used in these systems to monitor parking space availability and to help cars find available spaces.
  Mobile applications or digital displays may be used to deliver real-time information regarding parking availability, payment alternatives, and instructions. Smart parking solutions aim to minimise traffic congestion and improve the parking experience overall.
  The needs of the clients must be examined by the whole design team at the start of the project. Before moving further with a thorough design, technical and financial feasibility studies should be completed to ensure the project's sustainability.
  After the feasibility stage is completed, the entire brief should be evaluated and any required revisions agreed upon, taking into account initial and total life costs, service life, safety and security, and any other relevant criteria.
  The particular usage of the parking deck, as well as the client's main objectives and preferences, should be clearly outlined in the brief. A car park can be used for a variety of purposes, such as providing parking for a specific building, a public car park created for profit, having a consistent pattern of usage, or experiencing high demand at various periods.
  The type and variety of cars, trucks, and other vehicles that are expected to use the parking lot, as well as the possibility of any additional requirements for vehicles with non-standard dimensions, must be described in the plan. The possibility for future growth of the car park should also be considered.
  In general, it is best not to design a multi-storey car park on your own but instead to hire a firm like Multi Storey Parking Decks that can help with every step of construction, from planning to installation.
  A multi-storey car park is a large and expensive project, and it is worth hiring professional designers to ensure that the resultant composite car park deck is functional, safe, and secure. All of the materials used need to be durable to survive weather, heavy usage, and corrosion from de-icing salts, for example.
  If you are interested in the car park construction solution options we offer, get in touch with us through the contact form on our website, and a member of our team will be happy to discuss options and ways to move forward with you.
  We can help you find a suitable solution, no matter what your needs for your car park structure are; from a steel frame and concrete slab construction to a more complex solution, we can tailor all of our construction to your unique and specific needs.
  No matter what stage you are at in your car park construction journey, we can help. For a free quote or just to explore some design and construction options with no obligations attached, simply use the contact form on our website to get in touch today.
  From composite car park deck designs to parking ramp addons, multiple floor levels, touchless ticketing systems and more, we offer a one-stop solution for car park owners. No matter what sort of vehicles you are planning on parking in your parking deck, from cars to HGVs, our premium concrete car park construction services can be tailored to fit your unique individual needs perfectly.
  All of the concrete and steel materials we use in car park structure construction are stable and resistant to de-icing salt, and we design our car parks for easy entry and clear flow patterns around the building. If you are interested in car park structure construction, get in touch with our team today to start the process.
  We cover Exmouth (Devon)