Multi-Storey Car Park Decking Refurbishment Case Study – Q Park Leeds

Halfway through 2025, the team at UltraSyntec received an enquiry for a car park decking refurbishment project at the Q Park St John’s Centre Multi Story Car Park (MSCP) in Leeds City Centre. Providing 282 parking spaces, this facility is located within the popular St John’s Centre and also serves the busy Merrion Centre, both of which offer a mix of retail services.

Car park decking systems require careful consideration, given their operating conditions and associated challenges. UltraSyntec responded swiftly to the enquiry, collaborating with its manufacturing partner, KDR Resin Systems, to complete a detailed assessment of the requirements. 

A tender was submitted following this assessment, and UltraSyntec was pleased to receive notification that the team had been awarded the contract.

The challenges for car park decking refurbishment

The existing car park decking system had been in situ for some years. The initial assessment had determined that the surface demonstrated significant deterioration, with the existing system peeling up in places. 

This posed a health and safety hazard, combined with the potential for the system to breach, leading to water leakage into the levels below. This could then lead to consequential damage for lockup units situated below the entry/exit ramp and the first level of the multi-story car park itself.

Preparing for installation of the car park decking system

The UltraSyntec team commenced the first stage of works on the first deck of the multi-story car park in late September 2025. Preparation work is critical for every resin flooring installation project.

Before work on the replacement surface could begin, UltraSyntec called in specialists from AGR Surface Preparation to the site. The team removed the existing carpark decking system and captive shotblasted the internal area to provide a mechanical key for fresh resin application, followed by thorough vacuum cleaning.

Installing DekFast WPM 1

With the surface clean, dry, and free of contaminants such as dirt, oil, grease, and coatings, the UltraSyntec team then proceeded to apply the KDR Resin Systems DekFast WPM 1 Car Park decking system.

This system is a Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) system that enables the different layers to be installed quickly, increasing efficiency. It consists of five specially designed layers.

The first layer is a primer to provide the chemical key for fresh resin application, and the second is a waterproofing membrane to ensure the deck is tanked and watertight. This is followed by the installation of a wearing coat with emery stone fully broadcast to provide sufficient grip for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic around the car park, ensuring optimum health and safety standards. The system is finished off with a coloured topcoat, providing the right aesthetic for the environment.

All external repairs to the first deck were completed by the start of October, ensuring the car park could be safely operational through the winter months, including the busy Christmas season for the two retail centres, to optimise footfall.

Phase Two – refurbishing the entry and exit ramps

Once the more inclement weather window had passed and Spring was well underway with reduced weather-related operating risks, the UltraSyntec team returned to the site in late May 2026 to commence the second phase of works on the entry/exit ramps.

This is a busy car park serving popular retail centres, so the preparation works had to be carried out overnight, giving the team a window to complete the entry and exit ramps.

Once again, UltraSyntec called the AGR Surface Preparation team to remove the existing car park decking system and captive shotblast the whole area to provide the required mechanical key. Within this window, UltraSyntec also completed a large repair adjacent to the entry and exit lanes. 

Keeping the car park operational

The operational issues were significant. As the ramp repair works were taking place at the only entry/exit point in the car park, combined with heavy existing roadworks on Merrion Street, this created a significant traffic management challenge to keep the car park open and accessible throughout.

With the help of the Traffic Management Agency, UltraSyntec routed traffic safely around the fenced-off working area via a single lane in and out, holding traffic at either end of the ramp to allow works to continue and ensure safe entry and exit.

Safe and durable decking system for the ramps

The team applied the Dekfast WPM 1 System across the ramps, one quarter at a time. The system ensures excellent elastomeric crack-bridging properties and is specifically developed for the refurbishment of Internal and exposed pre-cast structures, such as fully and partially exposed car park decks, as well as areas located above occupied premises and other critical areas, such as ramps and turning circles.

Other benefits include rapid curing for fast-track installation, UV resistance, advanced mechanical and chemical resistance, and easy maintenance and cleanability. In addition, the textured profile provides excellent slip resistance, and with a wide range of colours available, the system can be designed to suit every aesthetic requirement.   

Conclusion

The UltraSyntec team successfully navigated operational and traffic-management challenges to deliver a new, safe, durable, and aesthetically pleasing Car Park Decking System for the ramps and deck. The main project is now complete, requiring only some small joint repair works due to take place on the upper decks.

The customer is pleased with the new high-performance system, and UltraSyntec would like to thank them for entrusting the team with this exacting project.