Parking Lot Safety With Rubber Wheel Stops
"Concrete, truck and van wheel stops" is the title of my article, but I can say straight away what this article is not: a review of concrete or other concrete wheel stops. This is a discussion of other stop systems like plastic, metal, etc. Some of these other systems have better traction, are easier to install, etc., but that's another topic for another article.
Parking lots and residential streets around the city are often built with curbs and out-of-way stop signs, but you don't see many parking lots with concrete or metal wheel stops. Maybe you do, but most of them are on power sliding blocks, which have very limited life and wear out after a short while. Besides, parking lots with concrete wheel stops usually cost more to install because they tend to be wider, hence requiring more concrete, more labor, and a lot more material. The costs can be mitigated if your parking lot is small and your traffic is light. Click to learn more about
DuraSkirt. Parking lots with heavy traffic and lots with heavy concrete use rebar in the design. Rebar comes from the manufacturers or suppliers and is expensive, especially if you need to replace just one or two sections. Recycled rebar may be available but not easy to find, and the price will be much higher. I've seen some rebar suppliers make their own proprietary blend of recycled and synthetic rebar which may be slightly cheaper. But that still adds up to more money than most parking lots with concrete wheel stops and a lot more labor, so again, it may be a good idea to build your own.
With a steel crash or car wash system, all you need are steel crash trucks with platforms and concrete wheel stops. If you can afford a heavy-duty vehicle, your total system can include the carwash, the power lift and the electric rinse. In most states you must use non-hygienic concrete or scrubber to protect the parking lot surface. There are some parking lot systems which combine the car wash with a pre-sprayed layer which protects against surface deterioration due to water, but these systems are more expensive.
Most rubber wheel stops are made of rubber-based compounds or rubber resins. Click this page to get more info.
Rubber wheels are less expensive than steel, and they are usually made in the USA. They are ideal for parking lots where there are a lot of cars, since the rubber is a very good insulator. But it's important to note that they don't offer the same insulation benefit as that from concrete. And with rubber wheel stops, they don't prevent skidding resistance as well. This can cause skidding, depending on the condition of the road or parking lot.
You don't have to be in an area where there is heavy traffic or where you need a special surface to install rubber car wash or concrete wheel stops. A simple wheel stop can be installed in many locations and serves its purpose just as well. In fact, most wheel stops are used in commercial areas such as parking lots. If you're considering adding a designated parking area, consider looking into rubber wheel stops first. They make driving a safer, more comfortable experience for you and your passengers. Learn more from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_chock.