Whiteboard - Surface Materials

Surface Materials

There are four types of materials commonly used for whiteboard surfaces:

Melamine

A resin-infused paper which is typically used over a substrate that can range from particle board to MDF (medium density fiberboard). Melamine boards range in quality primarily due to the amount of resin deposited on the base material. Some melamine boards will remain clean (no ghosting) for a long time and others will fail prematurely. Generally these least expensive type of whiteboard are most commonly found in use in non-institutional applications. They are available in any office supply stores. It is not possible to quantify how well this type of board will perform due to the wide range of quality. The major brands are generally a good bargain, but institutional (schools, hospitals) and heavily used commercial applications are not a good application for melamine boards

Painted steel or aluminum

Painted steel and aluminum dry erase also have a wide range of quality. Painted surfaces tend to be smoother, which leads to better methods of erasing. The painted surface is generally a multiple layer of coatings made up of a base coat in color (most commonly white) and a clear performance coating that is the dry erase component. Paint varies from electron beam cured coatings to UV and other coating systems. Good commercial grade painted steel or aluminum has excellent dry erase properties and many will be able to have permanent marker cleaned from the surface. Any coated surface is susceptible to scratching. Painted steel surfaces are magnetic and allow the use of magnets. Painted aluminum surfaces are rarely used as a base for whiteboards as they are not magnetic and are more expensive than steel. Painted steel whiteboards are most commonly used for custom printed whiteboards. These products are used as tracking boards, patient information boards and tournament and training boards.

Hardcoat laminate

Every laminate manufacturer makes a dry erase board or laminate. Here again the performance varies over a wide range depending on the amount of resin used in the manufacturer. Basically this category primarily uses melamine as its dry erase performance coat and therefore falls into the melamine universe. Depending on the manufacturer (and the price) these laminate often are less porous and highly resistant to staining. Less common than other whiteboard surfaces, because they usually are used in combination with something else (a cabinet, doors or table tops for example). (this statement applies to Porcelain steel which is the only lifetime warranty available on the market)

Porcelain, enamel-on-steel

Ceramic (glass) fired onto a steel surface in a kiln. They are the most durable surfaces and most carry a lifetime warranty. They are very common in high traffic industrial settings. Highly scratch-resistant, although materials harder than glass (like diamond) can scratch them. They do not absorb dry erase or permanent marker ink. They allow the use of magnets. Since it is glass, the porcelain surface can be cleaned with any non-abrasive cleaner, which must then be rinsed off with water to prevent smearing. Permanent marker can be removed by writing over it with a dry-erase marker and erasing it. Some porcelain surfaces provide LEED credit in new construction.

PET, Polyethylene terephthalate-on-steel

It is sold with the trade mark of PowerPet. PET coated onto a steel surface. They allow easy and smooth writing and erasing without ghost and stain. They allow the use of magnets. They can be cleaned with water.