Whiteboards, Glassboards or Bulletin Boards? Here’s Your Back to School Guide

 

 

 

Classroom Takeover

Dry erase boards have completely taken over the classroom since becoming popular in the 1990s, mostly because it’s much easier to write on, erase, and clean than that of our dusty chalkboard predecessors. Having much more versatility, whiteboards allow for sticky notes and even a surface for overhead projector displays. If you’re gearing up for a back to school debut, it’s important to know your options so you can know you’re getting the best for your classroom.

Because dry erase boards are so similar, it can be difficult to recognize the differences between the various surface types. However, we want to help share the options that will best suite your classroom. Let’s start with traditional whiteboards:

Melamine/Non-Magnetic boards are some of the most lightweight and affordable surfaces. The plastic material they’re made of can be written on and erased easily. However, it’s important to note that you may need to replace these in your classroom every few years due to any staining, ghosting, or denting from use. Melamine boards are often magnetic due to the steel backing they are usually made with. This makes for a perfect place to showcase student artwork or post notes. At Ghent, our boards are made from an earth-friendly production process using Acrylate instead of Melamine.

Painted Steel is magnetic, easy to clean, and less susceptible to ghosting. These have an acrylic enamel surface that is softer than porcelain enamel, so while it fights staining and ghosting, it could scratch if it comes in contact with an abrasive metal. If you anticipate heavy use, you’ll want to consider a more durable material such as porcelain or glass.

Porcelain (also known as ceramic) are typically more expensive than melamine whiteboards, however they are much more durable and resistant to damage and staining. They’re also magnetic as with painted steel, and because they’re less porous, they aren’t as susceptible to ghosting.

Glassboards are the newest dry erase surface in the industry and have gotten a lot of attention recently. The sleek, clean look is ideal for modern office design or high school and higher ed classroom, its smooth dry erase surface makes it easy to clean, and best of all, it won’t stain or ghost since glass is non-porous by nature. They emphasize form with function, and last much longer than melamine or porcelain, resulting in much more long-term value.

Bulletin boards are typically made of cork, vinyl, or rubber. Some (like ours) are made with “self-healing” capabilities that cause the pinholes to disappear. These are ideal for more tactile communication methods such as storyboarding and interactive workshopping.

For a more comprehensive view of available options from Ghent, feel free to visit our whiteboards page to check out our whiteboard offerings.

Safe and Sound, Just In Time for Class

With the school year right around the corner, we've prepared ourselves to give you exactly what you need, and fast! Our Quick Ship program makes all the difference. By increasing our standard offerings inventory to accommodate demand, we’re able to ship products in as little as 48 hours so you can hit the ground running with a successful school year!

When it comes to shipping glass, a conversation about damage is an important one to have. After conducting extensive research in 2012, we made big changes to the way our products are packaged and shipped. As a result, we’ve held the industry’s lowest numbers in freight damage.

 


Above is an actual photograph of two comparable 4x8 ft. boards. The Ghent packaging is 50% thicker than other manufacturer packaging. This way, you'll have the best chance of getting your products on time, as promised, free from damage, all summer long.

To learn more about whiteboard, glassboard, and bulletin board options, don’t hesitate to visit our products section or contact us and we’ll help you discover a variety of back-to-school options!

 

 

Contact our team today