Buying Bumper Blocks? Should You Go for Concrete or Rubber?

Bumper blocks are an excellent way to improve parking lot safety by providing the visual cues and resistance that most drivers need to park safely and stop on their own. That said, when it comes to buyer parking bumper, should you go with rubber or concrete bumper blocks?

In this blog, we will explain the purpose of a bumper block, compare rubber and concrete bumper blocks, and give you our recommendation.

What is a Bumper Block?

Even the most seasoned drivers can make parking blunders now and then. When parking, a driver may underestimate the size of a parking space or get a little distracted. In some cases, this problem can result in property damage when a car collides with another parked vehicle or a nearby structure, such as a sign or lamp post.

Although you cannot eliminate all occurrences of distracted parking in a parking space, you can avoid property damage and improve pedestrian safety by strategically bumper blocks.

Bumper blocks (also known as wheel stops, parking blocks, or curb stops) are long, raised blocks that help alert drivers when nearing the edge of a parking space. This protects neighboring structures, landscaping features, parked cars, and pedestrians against damage caused by the vehicle. The bumper has a long lifespan and remarkable durability to hold up to vehicular traffic wheel impacts.

This still leaves the question of whether to go with concrete or a rubber bumper block. Let’s look at the strengths and drawbacks that each option brings to the table to help answer that question.

Concrete Bumper Blocks or Rubber Bumper Blocks?

Concrete bumper blocks are ideal for just about all types of installations.

Because of its durability and low cost, concrete is the traditional material of choice for parking lot construction. A concrete parking block can last for decades, depending on the weather conditions and the level of upkeep.

Concrete bumper blocks are pretty heavy, though—the smallest options weigh more than 100 pounds, and the largest options weigh more than 500 pounds. This means that they necessitate the involvement of a few people to be installed.

However, concrete’s heavyweight also means that concrete blocks are more likely to stay put should they become too loose, making them less likely to be stolen off your parking space. Both concrete and rubber wheel stops are manufactured from recycled materials, so they score well on this aspect.

Though recycled rubber bumper blocks are less susceptible to chipping or cracking, repair options are very limited, and the inability to repaint them means that once your rubber bumper blocks begin to show signs of wear, there is nothing you can do.

On the other hand, concrete can be repaired, repainted, and refinished to look as good as new. This means that concrete will look better overall, and it can stay that way for a LONG time.

Rubber is only recommended in amazingly low-traffic areas or for private residences. Outside of these situations—which include most commercial uses—concrete’s resilience and longevity are unrivaled. This is especially true given that concrete is the less expensive option.

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Commonwealth Paving, 136 Outerloop, Louisville, Kentucky 40214
Phone: 502-459-7283, Fax: 502-456-2678

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