There are two materials that most car parks in the world are made from: asphalt and concrete. While asphalt car parks are excellent, concrete car park construction also has a unique set of benefits that make it a great investment for commercial property owners.
If you’re trying to make the call between these two camps, we’d love to help. Read on as we unpack why concrete car parks stand out as a smart investment for commercial property owners across a range of different sectors.
What Sets Concrete Car Park Construction Apart?
Concrete car parks are known for their strength and resilience. While other materials may be generally softer and more prone to forming ruts and potholes over time, concrete offers a more solid and stable surface. Concrete is well-known for having a high compressive strength, which means that it can handle a lot of heavy loads without deteriorating over time.
On top of that, concrete is highly resistant to a lot of weather factors. In New Zealand, where we see a lot of rainfall, moisture infiltration in particular can cause some other materials to wear away prematurely, which is why concrete is a strong choice. That said, asphalt is better at enduring temperature changes, especially when it comes to cold snaps.
To really delve into the differences between these two materials for a car park, let’s break down what goes into each one. Asphalt is actually a type of concrete, the full name of which is ‘asphalt concrete’. Essentially, asphalt concrete is a combination of standard concrete components and something called bitumen. Bitumen is a petroleum by-product, a sticky black substance that gives asphalt its characteristic colour.
On the other hand, concrete is a mixture of different aggregates, some cement, and water. Once dried down, it takes on a grey colour. These changes in composition mean there are a lot of differences in how these two materials function in car park construction, so let’s dive into that further.
Top Three Benefits of Concrete Car Park Construction
Concrete is Cost-Efficient
Concrete is different from asphalt because it’s generally more durable. Concrete surfaces require less frequent maintenance and have a longer lifespan. In other words, it costs less to maintain and most likely won’t need to be replaced as soon as an asphalt car park might.
It’s important to note that concrete car park construction can be slightly more expensive than hot mix asphalt installations, which might be a consideration for you. That said, this is compensated by the fact that concrete car parks can last for up to 40 years with appropriate maintenance.
Concrete is Flexible on Finish
The second benefit we want to highlight is how flexible concrete is on finish. As a business owner, you have a variety of options available to you apart from the standard concrete car park finish.
For example, you can colour certain sections of the car park to denote particular parking spots or pedestrian sections, or you can opt for a textured finish.
Concrete is Tough
Generally speaking, concrete is slightly better suited to handling heavy vehicle loads without sprouting potholes. For commercial car park construction, where high traffic volumes and heavy machinery are important considerations, concrete is a solid choice.
The rigid surface of the material helps the car park to remain as even and safe as possible for vehicles, which is also helpful for avoiding liabilities.
Concrete is Sustainable
When compared to asphalt, concrete is generally considered to be slightly more sustainable thanks to its natural materials. Asphalt contains bitumen, which is a by-product of petroleum, which is well-known for the harm it does to the environment. On top of that, most asphalt car parks are made using either hot or warm mix asphalt, which both require a lot of additional energy to manage.
On the other hand, concrete doesn’t require heat to be poured, and can even incorporate recycled materials into the mixture as a way to reduce the environmental impact. Plus, it tends to last for longer, thus reducing the amount of materials a single car park will use over its lifetime.
At the end of the day, concrete car park construction is so popular because these car parks are high-quality, long-lasting, and incredibly versatile. As a commercial property owner, a concrete car park is a safe long-term investment that will improve your property.
Though the initial cost might be higher than asphalt by a small margin, the long-term benefits outweigh that difference fairly easily. The key to seeing this investment pay off for you is to partner with an experienced team that can pour your car park efficiently, safely, and durably.
Looking for a new concrete car park? Talk to the team at Asphalt & Civil today.
With many years in the asphalt and concrete business, we’re proud to provide a premium finish with optimal curing times for car parks across a range of industries. Enjoy a high-quality, long-lasting commercial car park from the experts in concrete car park construction.
Ready to get started? Book your consultation with our team to get a free quote today.