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As a general rule, standard parking bays are 2.4m wide x 4.8m long but this is currently under review by the DVLA as generally cars are now larger. As a guide, you should allow the parking bay m2 measurement x 2.5 to include for road and manoeuvring space. We offer a cost-free service to assess your ideas/requirements for budget purposes. Please refer to our services and contact page. We have assisted many clients in switching grass and lawned areas, brownfield, and wasteland areas on their premises to usable parking areas – which for schools often double up as additional playground areas. Differing grades of construction can be offered to allow for car use, light goods vehicles or heavy goods vehicles if required. Modern tarmacadam and asphalt surfacing materials can provide suitable surface solutions for multiuse offering versatility whilst ensuring the correct finish for your required use.
Great question – for pedestrian traffic tarmac/asphalt surface can be walked on when cooled – normally around 4-6 hours, the lining products used cure within 10-30 minutes. Driving on the surface depends on the type of construction but typically it is the following day, however for HGV traffic, we would recommend a period of 24 hours to allow for sufficient cooling time to gain maximum strength for your finished surface. Specific advice will be given based on project requirements and if your resurfacing requirement requires immediate use we can offer bespoke heavy-duty materials to suit based on agreement with our approved supply chain.
For general H&S items, we will ask for site photos to aid in giving a prompt view on actions needed. Emergency scenarios will be prioritised and assessed for action within 24 hours. We recognise the importance of providing a solution as soon as possible to ensure areas remain safe for your staff, clients and customers or students etc. While we do not specifically offer a reactive maintenance service, for many long-term clients, we are their first call on any surfacing matters as we can often adapt and respond in the same timeframe and manner as a potentially more costly FM alternative. Please feel free to contact by phone or email should you need immediate urgent repairs, and we will always review locality of resources to assist you.
Consideration of environmental needs is essential – we offer a free general on-site assessment of your external areas and will review on site followed by a schedule of ideas and recommendations to ensure you comply with regulations – please refer to our main services page and sustainable options. Our longstanding relationship with our national supply chain enables us to stay fully informed of the development of Sustainable products and therefore pass on this knowledge to our clients. Rio Surfacing are fully committed to reducing the environmental impact of our work which in turn aids clients with their sustainability commitments. We have already taken many steps to improve at both office and site level. We have a Carbon Reduction Plan in place which is reviewed regularly and can now report that all of our tarmac and asphalt installations are available using low temperature manufacturing processes saving energy and supporting clients with their sustainability commitments. Waste management is tightly controlled to minimise its impact and on larger projects a Site Waste Management Plan will be issued at Pre-Start stage.
It must be remembered that the main function of your new surfacing is to provide a useable and hardwearing surface. Traditional tarmac/asphalt surfaces are installed with black bitumen, but we are now able to offer an array of coloured asphalts and coatings which will serve vehicle usage whilst blending in with your surroundings. The right choice of kerbs and other ancillary items to incorporate hard and soft landscaping elements also greatly impacts the appearance of a scheme. For playgrounds and play areas, we have a choice of brightly coloured, child friendly surfaces which provide the perfect solution for little ones – this can be offered in the latest latex enhanced material or soft play material utilising environmentally friendly recycled products.
Your external areas are subject to constant use and sometimes abuse, general wear and tear will be visible on your existing surface layer and regular planned inspections should be factored in to your maintenance regime. Short and long-term options are available and will be offered based on existing conditions and considered future requirements. Our longstanding relationships with our nationwide supply chain enable us to stay fully informed of the development of new and improved products and therefore pass on this knowledge to our clients. Please refer back to our main services page.
Your external areas are subject to constant use and sometimes abuse, general wear and tear will be visible on your existing surface layer and regular planned inspections should be factored in to your maintenance regime. Short and long-term options are available and will be offered based on existing conditions and considered future requirements. Our longstanding relationships with our nationwide supply chain enable us to stay fully informed of the development of new and improved products and therefore pass on this knowledge to our clients. Please refer back to our main services page.
It is common for existing drainage systems to be overlooked yet they provide an essential service to your property/estate. Visual inspection is included in our no cost service followed by advice and recommendation on short- and long-term solutions. Some examples of drainage problems we have solved are contained within our service and case study pages but include an array of options including traditional fixed underground drainage systems, sustainable attenuation systems to reduce and control water removal, permeable surfaces to remove the need for any fixed drainage and ecologically designed systems which work in tandem with your surroundings with consideration for local nature and wildlife.
There are multiple options available to ensure you maintain a safe and secure environment – including all types of fencing, well considered lining designs to manage pedestrian and vehicular flow, effective signage, security – demarcation and anti-ram bollards and bespoke access control systems for authorised site entry only – all options can be considered and offered to protect you, your staff, your premises, and your customers – please provide a basic brief on our contact page and we will arrange to assess your requirements to gain a suitable, robust and safe working system for all.
We can – working with local and national service providers we can offer advice on cost and suitability for your EV needs. We regularly provide trenching and installation services to contractors operating in this busy sector. More recently, Rio Surfacing have completed a suite of EV infrastructure installations across a complete education academy estate and have formed a strong supply chain to meet your EV requirements. Our directly employed teams are experienced and knowledgeable in the best practices in this important area. We can help with your immediate charging requirements and provide environmentally friendly and sustainable systems to meet your long term goals. Please detail your requirements and we will provide workable and efficient solutions.
With all external surfaces – general use and wear and tear can cause damage to your existing infrastructure. Emergency safe solutions are available to keep your site safe and operational. Longer term options can then be reviewed and considered to keep you working safely. Pothole repairs can usually be carried out within days of PO/instruction so please feel free to call with your requirements – even if urgent we will review our logistics to consider if we can make a same or next day visit. We do offer weekend working if this is required and better suits your urgency or access needs or perhaps store/office opening hours etc but would note there is a premium on some out of hours scenarios to enable procurement of resources at the time you need.
We can offer budget options for all of your development considerations. We regularly work on Section 278 works with large and small developers alike – and have access to the design capability to enable us to provide you with a budget figure initially before working alongside you to developing your plans further should you choose to proceed. Please contact us and forward your ideas, sketches or outline plans and we will provide balanced budget options for your new development considerations. Our services and case study pages will provide further details and examples of completed projects.
In recent years, many commercial vehicles have increased in size and weight – we can review your site and provide workable solutions to ensure the correct standard of external fittings and fixtures are considered and installed to remove this concern.We are highly experienced at matching the right product to the current and likely future use of a surface.
We can help – we will attend your new acquisition and develop a thorough plan and strategy to ensure your needs are met. Review of existing areas and suggested requirements are detailed within our service category section – please complete our contact page details with outline information, and we will assist you with your new development ideas. As a guide converting a brownfield area to a 50-space parking area would typically take circa 8 weeks from initial enquiry to planning preparation and submission – construction on site time guide of 6 weeks, while resurfacing and relining a 50-space car park could be delivered within an on-site period of 2 weeks. As part of our stage 1 visit and review we will provide a guide estimate on cost and expected programme for your requirements.
Yes, of course – inspection and audit of your surroundings is essential. We will work with your existing independent surveyor to guide and assist in repairs and maintenance. We also offer a full insurance backed independent service directly to ensure all items are considered and actioned with safety and functionality options offered. We offer fully itemised and detailed quotes which refer back to your survey or our own site audits. On larger sites, these can be sorted into priority areas, enabling you to phase works and spread costs to meet your available and future financial budgets.
From our Birmingham base, we work and travel across all mainland Britain. Often, once initial works are completed, we are then engaged on further sites for the same client around the country on their portfolio of property/estates – recent works delivered for clients include many Local Authorities, NHS Property Services, many specific NHS Trusts, schools & academy trusts, supermarket chains, property management companies etc. Recent successful completed projects have been completed nationwide and a selection can be found on our Projects page.
Rio Surfacing Ltd please. To explain, Rio Surfacing Ltd is best described as our ground-level surfacing business with services as detailed elsewhere on this website. Rio Asphalt & Paving Co Ltd is our sister roofing and waterproofing company. Whilst separate businesses we share an MD, office and yard space, support services and often clients too. Please issue your PO/Instruction in the correct company name – not Rio Group. Rio Group appears in our emails as some employees work across both businesses – however whoever you contact within Rio will be able to direct you to the most appropriate person for your query/enquiry.
Rio Asphalt & Paving Co Ltd are able to offer the most effective solutions to any waterproofing projects including extensive roofing systems, service deck refurbishment, underground car park/storage waterproofing, multi-storey car park surface treatments etc. They are able to carry out roof surveys to any problematic areas and provide a detailed report, specification and budget costs. As a member of the Competent Roofer Scheme and the National Federation of Roofing Contractors, you will be safe in the knowledge that the solutions offered will be competitive, compliant with current building regulations and have been prepared with expert technical guidance focussing on what is best for your project.
Surveys are carried out with our manufacturing partners who, in conjunction with Rio Asphalt & Paving Co Ltd, provide a full guarantee on all materials, installation and design of the roofing system, offering you and your clients total peace of mind. They are also fully accredited with the following industry bodies – Constructionline Gold, CHAS Elite, Safecontractor and ISO 9001.
In general the roofing teams cover a wider Midlands area/Central region – however the Mastic Asphalt specialists work across mainland Britain.
Yes often and when required – we have delivered multiple schemes as Principal Contractor and pride ourselves in being able to demonstrate and deliver as your main principal construction company. Our SafeContractor accreditation is evidence of this, and the type and size of works are represented within our services and case study pages. Specific references available on request to evidence experience and suitability for your project.
Our Building & Internal Refurbishment division, part of Rio Surfacing Ltd, carry out works including:
- Building Fabric Repairs
- Asbestos Survey and Removal
- Window and Door Replacement
- Painting/Decorating
- Replacement Floor Finishes
- Refits of Buildings for a variety of purposes – Hospitality, Retail, Healthcare, Offices, Domestic properties for Commercially owned etc
- Brickwork and other wet trades (plastering, rendering etc)
- Bespoke Carpentry and Joinery
- Boiler Installations and general associated plumbing, A/C Installation & Associated Electrical/M&E Works


