Truck stop or truck flop - 7 simple ways to update your truck stop washrooms
It doesn't matter what else you have on offer at your truck stop, whether that’s a petrol station, food court, restaurant, shop or even a gym. It all means nothing without proper facilities and truck stop washrooms for the lorry drivers to use.
Drivers deserve the right to access safe, clean bathroom facilities and showers (along with adequate parking for their lorries). That way they can rest and refuel before getting back on the road feeling alert.
But if your truck stop bathrooms are not up to scratch, you might find that drivers are actively avoiding your stop. This could leave them feeling tired and unprepared on the road, not to mention it can impact your business, costing you valued customers.
The good news is, with a few simple changes you can update your lorry park facilities and create an inviting and welcoming environment for all drivers.
Here’s how.
1. Add a lick of paint
Let's start with the simplest solution to updating your truck stop bathrooms. By simply adding a lick of paint you can instantly refresh and transform these spaces.
We recommend that you choose lighter colours on the walls to help make the room feel brighter, this could be particularly important in smaller spaces. But this really is a simple and budget-friendly way to make your truck stop washrooms look better and appeal to more lorry drivers.
2. Accessorise your bathrooms
Another easy and affordable way to update your truck stop washrooms is by accessorising your bathrooms and shower facilities.
This could be something as simple as adding plants or flowers (even fake ones if you're worried about their survival), putting some artwork on the walls or ensuring adequate hooks and hangers for users.
This can be even more important if you have truck stop showers as guests don't want their items getting wet.
Whatever you choose to do, adding a few accessories can add a pop of colour and style to your washrooms and this can be a really cost-effective way to give them a boost.
3. Install full-height toilet cubicles
Something that is becoming increasingly popular is full-height toilet cubicles. These cubicles run from the floor to the ceiling and offer a completely private and safe space for all users. This can provide extra comfort to lorry drivers.
On top of that, the style can also create a very attractive and dramatic finish in your truck stop bathrooms, helping to reflect your brand and provide stylish facilities.
4. Ditch the tiles
Tiles might look great but the gaps in between and the grout can quickly become discoloured and dirty. This is particularly true in high-traffic areas like truck stop washrooms.
So when it comes to your toilets, why not ditch the old updated tiles and replace these with laminate wall panelling instead?
This panelling is far more hygienic and it’s non-porous so it doesn't hold onto moisture or bacteria.
It is also low maintenance, durable and a more environmentally friendly option. Not to mention you can get several different styles to help you choose the look and finish you want for your truck stop toilets.
5. Introduce touch-free technology
One major way to modernise your facilities and make these spaces safer and more hygienic is to introduce touch-free technology wherever possible.
In your truck stop washrooms this might include sensor taps or flushes, automatic hand dryers and even touch-free door locks.
By introducing touch-free technology like this, you can reduce the buildup of germs and bacteria on your taps, toilets, locks and other surfaces. This can play an important role in keeping all users safe and well.
Plus, cleaner toilets without the build-up of visible grime and dirt are always preferable to users.
6. Hide unsightly and unhygienic pipework
Another way to make your truck stop bathrooms more hygienic is to hide any unsightly pipework that could potentially build up with moisture and bacteria. One way to do this is with integral panel systems (IPS).
This can instantly make the room feel sleeker and cleaner, with the added bonus that introducing this into your toilets can hide away pipework which can ruin your design and aesthetics.
This technique can be used around toilets, sinks, showers and any other plumbing and pipework that you may want to hide.
7. Modernise your shower units
Finally, is there anything worse than trying to shower and feel clean in a dirty cubicle or underneath a weak, drippy shower head?
Having somewhere to wash can be crucial for drivers who want to get out of their lorries, shower and feel fresh and ready to get back on the road. And poor showers can really damage their experience at your truck stop facilities.
So don't just focus all your efforts on the toilets at your lorry park. Make sure that you modernise your shower units, updating the cubicles where required and changing dirty, drippy shower heads that might be having a negative impact on users.
You can also use panelling and laminate to hide pipework and replace tiles as we've discussed above. Creating a clean and comfortable showering experience for all.