Built in 1966, St George’s Car Park in Preston is typical of many open plan multi storey car parks with a vulnerability to water, airborne contaminants and the constant use of vehicles.
In need of a major refurbishment including waterproofing, concrete repairs and surface finishes, a range of market leading solutions from global building product manufacturer Sika were chosen.
Located between the two main shopping streets of Fishergate and Friargate, St George’s Shopping Centre is a focal point of the city centre. With more than 400 cars using its parking facility every day, owner Aviva Investors was looking to maximise income by refurbishing and upgrading the 15,000m2 car park to provide a more stylish, safer and welcoming atmosphere for the shoppers and to ensure it is the car park of choice in the city centre.
Specialist contractor IRL was appointed to repair the car park’s aged concrete structure and apply a new waterproof and decorative decking system on all six levels of the car park. Highly experienced in the application of Sika products, the company didn’t hesitate in recommending their use on St George’s Car Park. Sika’s market leading reliability was essential on a project where the work was carried out one level at a time when the centre was closed in order to minimise disruption to traders and shoppers.
With remedial work required to the structure‘s concrete plinths around all perimeter steelwork, IRL used Sika Rapid Repair Mortar due to its fast application process, excellent adhesion and long term performance. Offering high early strength, this one component fast setting cementitious repair mortar exceeds the BS EN1504 regulations for concrete repair and protection and is ideal for use on vertical and horizontal concrete surfaces.
Before applying the waterproofing and surface finishes to the car park decking, IRL cleaned and prepared the surfaces using a vacuum shot blasting operation. This removes the laitance (small particles of weak concrete) and contaminants from the surface of the concrete.
The car park needed to use several systems to meet the different needs of each level with each area having to be durable and resistant to chemicals and abrasion. The external top decking also had to have superb crack bridging properties to accommodate freeze-thawing and the dynamic movement which is associated with steel frame structures and exposure to UV.
The Sikafloor decking systems are ideal for a wide range of car park applications, offering excellent mechanical, chemical and water resistance, providing a further level of protection to the decking at St George’s. Available in various colours, a seal coat was used to mark out car parking spaces and pedestrian walkways on the external decks to provide safety for users and greater functionality. This proven system conforms to German OS11a standard for car park membranes.
The Sikafloor system provides a fantastic, hard-wearing surface finish. It is part of Sika’s Ecoline range of resin based flooring products. Produced from next generation low allergy resin, reducing the risk of applicator sensitivity, they are CE marked for performance. Available in tins and economically and ecologically advantageous drums, these can help to reduce the amount of packaging required which results in less waste on site.
With more than forty years of experience in the sector, Sika’s wide portfolio of proven solutions for both new build and the refurbishment of car park structures enables specifiers to find the right product for any application. When you require the correct waterproofing membranes for a basement, an ideal waterproofing decking system, or need to install the perfect joint sealants or repair and protect your concrete or steel structure, Sika is your trusted partner.
As well as its market leading range of products, Sika also provides a comprehensive car park survey service. As part of this, Sika's technical team will visit the site and produce a visual site report that highlights the immediate issues as well as the need for more in-depth testing. Whatever the cause of the structural deterioration, Sika will identify the product or treatment needed.
Now complete and in daily use, the six-storey car park welcomes shoppers to St George’s with a reliable, durable and high performance surface, all thanks to a comprehensive selection of market leading products from Sika.
