7 Considerations When Completing Your Asphalt or Concrete Parking Lot Design

7 Considerations for Your Asphalt or Concrete Parking Lot Design

Starting construction on a new asphalt or concrete parking lot? Here are the essentials of parking lot design to consider.

Keyword(s): parking lot design

Badly designed parking lots not only bother people, but they're inefficient and can actually be a safety hazard. Issues like small spaces and strange layouts are stressful obstacles that can be avoided.

This guide explains 7 things you need to consider when creating your parking lot design.

1. Pavement Thickness

Note what types of vehicles will be coming into the parking lot. Will they be mainly 6-wheelers or regular cars and SUVs?

The heavier the weight on the parking lot from day to day, the deeper the asphalt has to go. The quality of the ground soil also plays a part in lot depth.

2. Parking Lot Size

Consider the appropriate dimensions of the parking lot. You can figure out the size of the lot, and the number of aisles and spaces, by counting up the total capacity of the building. This works well for hotels and restaurants.

Sometimes there will be a required minimum size based on the square footage of the building.

Divide the lot into aisles. Take into account the size of the largest vehicle that will go through the lot. If you choose a one-way aisle, your calculations should give this vehicle enough space. The number should be about doubled for a two-way aisle.

3. Parking Space Layout

A vital part of a good parking lot is having a wide space to park. The standard parking space size is 9x19 feet.

You should have a variety if there are different types of vehicles coming to the lot. A grocery store can have a tiny Smart car, a large truck, and anything in between. The lot should have a mix of smaller and larger spaces.

Make them even wider if people need to load things into their vehicle. It's a good idea to have longer spaces if you operate a hardware store.

Calculate the minimum number of spaces you need or can fit. Don't compromise the appropriate dimensions to squeeze in more. Angling spaces at 45 degrees will allow you to cut the width of aisles and add more spaces.

4. Extra Space and Accessibility

Mark down any other zones that will be in the parking lot such as a drop-off zone or a drive-thru lane. You'll also need handicap parking. Ramps, walkways, and curbs will take up some space as well.

5. Control the Flow

Traffic signs direct drivers, and keep everyone in the parking lot safe. Basic signs include stop signs, handicap parking signs, speed limit signs, and pedestrian crossing signs. Both drivers and pedestrians should be able to see these markers.

Use bright, visible paint that's long-lasting for painted markings. You need space striping, proper arrows in aisles, handicap markers, and pedestrian zones.

Concrete barriers at the front end of spaces will keep vehicles at a safe distance from one another. A similar curb can also be added around the whole parking lot for a visible perimeter.

6. Keep it Safe

Every parking lot needs proper lighting to avoid nighttime accidents and always keep the lot operational. There shouldn't be too much light, however, or this will cause a glare and hinder driving.

Add more light in areas with heavy traffic, such as exits and entrances. Keep the lights facing downward.

Ramps are needed for elevated sidewalks and handicap spaces.
To allow for proper drainage, the pavement should be sloped at least 2 percent. This will prevent water from building up at the lot's corners.

7. Practical Beauty

Now that you have the basic design of your parking lot, it needs some color to mask all that gray.

Trees and bushes can act as a barrier to shield the lot from outside buildings and homes. They, along with flowers, can also be planted in the lot. Consider creating a flower bed by attaching concrete barriers or transforming the curb around the lot's perimeter.

Crucial Considerations for Parking Lot Design

The design has to be thoughtful and precise. If the dimensions of one item is off, the layout will end up disproportional in places. You'll have annoyed people driving through an inefficient, and possibly dangerous, environment.

Using this guide will keep you on track to a great parking lot design.

Make sure to check out our asphalt and paving services. Don't hesitate to contact us with questions or requests.