Wheel stops, parking blocks, or truck stops; it really doesn’t matter what you call them, we offer both installation and supply of wheel stops, no matter what your needs are.
The two main choices include concrete or rubber. There are several alternative choices such as plastic wheel stops or railroad ties, but we don’t recommend them for reasons such as lawsuits and their lack of durability.
Concrete wheel stops are definitely the workhorse of this group, and rightfully so. They are durable, affordable, long lasting, and hard to steal. Once they do become loose they don't typically move a lot, and that’s a good thing. With concrete wheel stops you have several installation methods, including steel rebar pins that are drilled into the asphalt surface, as well as using durable two part epoxy for surfaces that can't or shouldn’t be drilled into (think concrete parking structures).
Concrete wheel stops also have a few cons, including the fact that they are very heavy, so they typically require several people to get them installed. Also, concrete breaks down over time and once it does it can create a hazardous situation.
The next best choice in wheel stops would be rubber wheel stops. Rubber wheel stops come with their own benefits: they are made of recycled rubber and that’s good for the environment; they are lightweight, so they can easily be installed by one person; they don’t chip or break easily, and If they do become loose, they don’t typically create the same sort of hazard that a concrete wheel stop does (think vehicle damage or trip and falls). Another benefit is that they can be purchased in several colors. The cons, however, are that they are more pricey than their concrete cousin and they cannot be repainted.
Wheel stops and parking blocks are placed in vehicle stalls to prevent them from parking on sidewalks or entering into medians or other restricted areas. Our wheel stops have a low-profile and are constructed of 3500 psi concrete that is reinforced with a #4 steel rebar for more strength, meaning less chipping and less potential vehicle damage.
Four foot concrete wheel stops are the most common wheel stop installed in the world. The reason is simple. Cheap, tough, and easy to get. For most parking lot situations this wheel stop is the right choice.
If your parking lot is mostly used for standard vehicle traffic, then choosing a 4 or 6 foot concrete wheel stop is a great choice. But why choose a 6 foot wheel stop over the 4 foot one? The answer comes down to preference and potential savings. A 6 foot concrete wheel stop can be straddled between two stalls and still work effectively at stopping a vehicle. By choosing the 6 foot block, you can effectively cut the number of wheel stops needed on your project by half and that’s not too shabby.
Sometimes a regular sized wheel stop (4-6 foot) is not enough to get the job done; for that we offer industrial-sized concrete truck stops. These wheel stops start at 283 lbs in weight, and go all the way to 560 lbs apiece. These wheel stops can handle the weight of delivery trucks and big rigs, whereas smaller wheel stops will be destroyed pretty quickly and are also great at deterring entry into areas that should not be entered. These wheel stops are so heavy that they need to be installed using a forklift, and require special order and delivery.
Rubber wheel stops are another alternative for consumers to consider. Just like their concrete counterpart, they are a good fit for parking lots and parking structures. Known for being made of recycled rubber, they are durable and lightweight. Manufacturers suggest they can be installed with epoxy or pins, however we have installed many of them and suggest pin over epoxy. Cons include being un-paintable, if they come loose they can be dangerous, and they are much more expensive than concrete wheel stops.
As mentioned above, 6' wheel stops are often used to straddle two stalls, effectively reducing the number of parking blocks needed by about half.
No matter what your wheel stop needs are, Empire can help you to make sound decisions. Rubber or concrete, just give us a call today to discuss your project and get a solution that fits your project's needs and budget.
Please refer to our FAQ and Glossary pages if you see any terms or services that you are unfamiliar with.
