There are several factors that architects and designers need to consider when selecting or specifying a product for their projects.

We know it can be frustrating finding the right product for your design space as well as a company that aligns with your values.

Finding the right car stacker is about getting two things right:

1. Knowing what will be best for your space in terms of measurements, budget and maximum space;

2. Determining the level of ongoing care it will get in terms of considerations such as what’s included in its maintenance and how often is the product maintained.

This may sound complicated but it’s actually easy when you ask the right questions.

1. Product determines maintenance

We’ve seen our fair share of dodgy maintenance companies around town and we want you to avoid that headache. Once you determine what kind of product you’ll be using for your space, the next step is to find out what its maintenance will look like.

We like to think of it as W.W.W:

What is included in maintenance? For example, if you have a fully automatic system, is it just mechanical and/or programme maintenance that is performed?

Who is responsible for maintenance? Is it the company who installed the product, or will they use a third party?

When will maintenance occur? Since this has a bearing on how well the product will run, ask how often the maintenance will be done.

2. Think about the end user

Unfortunately, the actual people using the system are overlooked during the decision making. These are the people who, when they need their car the most, may find that the system is out of order.

Before you choose a car stacker, ask yourself: If I was the user of this parking system, would I be happy with this product? Think about how that system will look and be accessed once installed. Ask questions like how much space does a user have to get into their vehicle or how long do they have to wait for it.

This paves the way for a deeper understanding of car stackers. It helps you determine the questions to ask of the supplier from an end user perspective.

We have worked with a multitude of products from automatic parking systems to simple car lifts and our clients range from large developers to humble builders and owners corporations. But our most valued client is the person who utilises our product every day.

3. Standard may not always be best

Putting aside what is most popular or what is often used allows you to truly think about what your space needs.

A number of car stackers are sold from an ‘off-the-shelf’ product perspective. Instead of designing the product to suit the space, suppliers sell the same type of product - mostly out of comfort. So the obvious question to ask here is:

Do I want a custom designed car stacker or do I go with standard?

Let’s discuss custom design. It truly can be a work of art. It allows maximum space to be obtained from a design. Clients are actually surprised about how much space can be achieved from a custom product as against a standard version. From our perspective, custom design is more like the gift that keeps on giving.

What does standard design look like? It’s usually the most sold model among all parking systems. In Australia, these are semi-automatic puzzle parking systems. But why are they the most popular systems?

It’s really all about one thing – the expertise of the engineer creating shop drawings. The reality is these puzzle parking systems are pretty good; however, some engineers don’t always achieve the maximum space from a design.

For example, we had a client utilise our consulting services for a design where they were originally quoted 41 spaces and 3 levels underground by a competitor company. Our consultant was actually able to give the client two options in the same space: 45 spaces (with a similar design as originally quoted), and 48 spaces in a different design.

By creating a custom design, the client was able to integrate more space than what was originally planned, giving them more options for the final build.

We’re all about creating space even where there is none, but creating more than what is anticipated is so much fun.

Architecture & Design Team

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