You’d like to increase the parking capacity of your garage, but expansion is a nonstarter due to your budget or ability to expand. Think vertically instead! With parking lifts, you can add another layer (sometimes more) of parking to the same area. But before you buy a lift, consider the following questions to ensure you’re getting the safest and most efficient system for your money. Here’s what to consider when purchasing a parking lift.
Measure, Measure, Measure!
Before you contact anyone about installing a lift, make sure you have the space for it. In general, when it comes to parking lifts, keep in mind that you’ll need at least 12 feet between the floor and ceiling to ensure you can fit two cars in one place. If you have more, all the better, and that can leave room for a third level. But anything below 12 feet will be more difficult to fit (lower heights are possible but may require extra effort to install). There should also be at least six feet of space between the undercarriage and the ground, leaving room to walk or park underneath. Ensure there’s room to maneuver between the car, too, allowing about a foot of space between them. Naturally, make sure that when they’re lowered, drivers have enough room to pull out and drive away.
Keep Things Concrete
Your parking garage or dealership’s concrete floor is undoubtedly tough, but it still pays to be sure that it’s tough enough to handle the added weight and strain put on it by parking lifts. A single installed parking lift requires concrete flooring of no less than four inches of thickness and enough strength to handle 3,500 pounds per square inch (PSI) of pressure. As the weight increases, so must the thickness of the concrete. Also, concrete is the only material that can handle the stress and strain of parking lifts and the vehicles that use them—hand-mixed concrete is no substitute. Be aware and be warned. Concrete is best.
Expert Experience
If you’re putting a two-post or four-post parking lift in your home garage for extra space, most kits are easy to assemble on your own. But for big-league, multi-car projects, you’re going to need an expert. Many experts. You’ll need to work with architects, contractors, and engineers to arrange and set up a mechanical, semi-automated, or fully-automated parking system. Get a good sense of the amount of work and manhours that will go into the project before proceeding.
Still wondering what to consider when purchasing a parking lift? Contact us for more information, to discuss your project’s requirements, and to receive a consultation and quote.