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If you are planning on installing a garage car lift, you will need to ensure that your garage has a strong and stable concrete foundation.
As these car lifts concentrate a significant amount of weight onto a small number of precise anchor points, you will need to make sure that your concrete flooring is strong enough to safely support this weight, for the long term.
At iMix Concrete, we are one of the UK’s leading concrete specialists, supplying a huge range of concrete types to projects across the country.
In this guide, our expert team have outlined the main types of garage car lifts, and shared their guidance for the general concrete thickness, strength, and preparation method that would be recommended for each.
What are the Main Types of Garage Lifts?
In the UK, most garage car lifts (which are above-ground vehicle lifts) are either: two-post, four-post and scissor lifts.
It is important to note that each of these lifts distributes the weight of the load slightly differently. As a result, the requirements for the concrete will also vary accordingly.
The main differences between these three lift types are as follows:
Two-post lifts
Two-post lifts consist of two vertical columns that have adjustable arms. These then fix to lifting points under the car, and lift it completely off the ground.
As a result, these lifts are widely used for brake work, suspension repairs and tyre changes (where both the tyres and the vehicle need to be suspended completely).
They are held onto a concrete slap using two anchor points, with the posts bolted into the concrete itself.
- Two-post lifts have a standard lift capacity of around 3,600 – 4,500kg (for most domestic models).
Four-post lifts
Four-post lifts consist of four vertical column posts and two base platforms, which are used to support the vehicle (the car is kept on its wheels, rather than being lifted and suspended from its frame). The car is driven onto the platforms, before being raised.
- For domestic models, four-post lifts usually have a lift capacity of around 3,600 – 6,300kg.
Scissor lifts
The name for scissor lifts comes from the fact that they use a scissor mechanism. This sits beneath the vehicle platform, and folds, to raise the car upwards. They have a very wide base frame.
The car then drives on top of where the frame panel(s) sits, and the car is then lifted up when the panel is raised.
Depending on the requirements, scissor lifts can either be surface-mounted or set into the floor.
- Domestic scissor lifts usually have a lift capacity of around 2,700 – 4,000kg.
Concrete Requirements for Different Garage Lifts
The requirements for the concrete will have to be based on three main factors:
- Thickness
- Strength
- Reinforcement requirements
Each garage car lift type also has its own specific requirements:
Two-post lifts – The entire load is transferred through the unit’s two anchor points. As a result, two-post lifts place high stress on the concrete floor in these precise areas. As a result, a thick concrete slab is needed.
Four-post lifts – The unit has larger base plates, and the load is distributed across four posts. Thanks to this more even load, the concrete doesn’t need to be as thick.
Scissor lifts – The weight is also spread across a wide base frame, meaning less stress placed on the slab itself. But, if the scissor lift is recessed, then the concrete may need to be deeper, so that it can sit flush against the floor.
Concrete thickness
The typical requirements for minimum concrete slab thickness are:
- Two-post lift: 100 – 150mm
- Four-post lift: 100 – 110mm
- Scissor lift: 90 – 100mm
But generally, most manufacturers would recommend a thickness of 150mm for the concrete, to ensure dependable long-term stability.
Concrete strength
The higher the concrete’s strength, the lower the risk of the concrete cracking or failure around the lift columns.
Most garage car lifts require the concrete used to be rated at a minimum of 20-25 MPa.
But, for higher-capacity lifts, it is recommended to increase this to 25-30 MPa.
Reinforcement and curing
Reinforcement and curing are also key to ensuring the concrete is strong and durable for the long term.
For garage car lifts, most installers recommend:
- That steel reinforcement is added (e.g. rebar or welded wire mesh)
- A minimum 28-day curing time for the concrete
How much concrete is needed?
To create a concrete slab for a garage car lift, you can calculate the total volume of concrete you need by:
- Measuring the area for the base (length, width and depth, in metres)
- Multiplying the length x width x depth
- This then gives you the amount of concrete needed in cubic metres
For example:
If your concrete pad is 4m × 4m x 0.15m (thickness), then you need:
- 4 × 4 × 0.15 = 2.4 m³ of concrete for the slab.
However, please note that this is a general calculation. We’d always recommend that you speak to your concrete supplier to get a more accurate estimate, and ensure that you have sufficient surplus concrete for your project.
At iMix Concrete we are the trusted concrete supplier of customers across the Essex and the surrounding region. Our team have the knowledge and experience required to support everything from small domestic projects, to major industrial builds.
If you are looking for a trusted, fully qualified supplier to support your upcoming project, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
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