Whiteboard Buyer’s Guide 2021
- 8 Apr 2021
Materials and Sizes
The key components of a good office layout are not something that most office staff have had to worry about before lockdown came in, but with so many of us working from home it has become an essential skill at all levels. After all, your productivity at this delicate time really hinges on your ability to create an appropriate, usable working environment. Red17 is the best place for businesses in the UK to buy whiteboards. Thanks to the popularity of the whiteboard, this tool is now available in a number of varieties.
A small whiteboard is one of the best places for you to get all of your ideas out before organising them into a formal strategy. Hopefully, by the end of the article, you’ll have an idea of what makes us so enthusiastic about this display tool!
Some whiteboards make use of unique design features and attractive materials, while others incorporate technological elements. If you wanted to, you could even construct a whiteboard that goes round corners. Modular boards from Red17 are available plain, marked for handwriting, gridded, 50mm lined or printed with music staves. Today’s whiteboards come in a range of sizes, mediums and finishes, with materials including porcelain, glass and melamine.
It carries with it the message that whatever work is being done on the board, you are taking it seriously. But with such a range on offer, it can sometimes be more difficult than initially anticipated to choose the best whiteboard for your business.
Although the whiteboard was invented back in the 1960s, this vital piece of equipment has only really reached peak commercial popularity in the last couple of decades. If you buy the right one, your whiteboard could last you a decade. This board is the perfect tool for boardroom battles, career-changing presentations, creative brainstorming sessions and tutor teaching. They can also be used to write reminders, decorate a space, create rough timetables or brainstorm.
That’s why today, we want to give you everything you need to buy the perfect whiteboard for your home office, studio or school.
The Best Whiteboard for Your Classroom
With so many different options available, it’s not always easy to choose a whiteboard for your classroom. Red17 has a whole host of products to suit your needs, whether you’re planning to use your new whiteboard to give a talk, write notes or encourage collaborative learning.
Top uses for magnetic whiteboards
A magnetic whiteboard can often offer an even wider range of uses in the office, classroom or home than a standard whiteboard. Some of the most popular and creative uses of the magnetic whiteboard have been explored in another of our articles.
Read more: Top Uses for Magnetic Whiteboards
Best Whiteboards for Academic and Business Use
Whiteboards bring with them the advantage of the dry-wipe marker, which is available in a range of colours and thicknesses. The whiteboard’s glossy, clean and white surface is a vital place for many businesses and educational institutions to display information like diagrams, notes and graphs. There’s no reason not to make sure your home office is fully equipped – it’s looking like you’re going to be using it for another while.
The trick behind working from home is that you need to make yourself comfortable enough to feel at ease, while maintaining healthy work hygiene. Identify the best working space in your house, measure it and find yourself a suitable desk that appeals to you. Of course, this isn’t to say that you aren’t allowed to go near your desk with activities other than work – many of us don’t have enough space to make that sort of work-only zone in our homes.
Any spare nook will do, whether that’s the loft, an insulated shed, garage or large landing. It’s worth making sure all of the tools you need are present, including your combination board, glass whiteboard and printed organiser. Organisational tools like these are an important motivating force for those currently working at home, especially if this is the first time they have had to manage their own workflow. If you aren’t careful, your brain will try to sleep when you’re meant to be working, and fixate on work when you’re trying to get to sleep.
Many companies have found that they have experienced no real negative impact on their productivity as a result of allowing staff to work from home – provided they have access to the right home office supplies like whiteboards, computers and office chairs. This means the hard job for 2021 isn’t to try and find a way to bring staff back into our offices, but to choose the perfect home office supplies in the perfect price ranges, materials and designs to keep our staff working to the best of their abilities.
Navigating the vast range of choices available in the world of whiteboards can be a challenge if you don’t know what to look for. The selection may be a lot wider than you had previously realised, but choosing between different whiteboards doesn’t need to be confusing with the right information!
Why Buy a Whiteboard?
The whiteboard is your best friend when it comes to problem solving, creativity and communication, whether you’re using it to collaborate with colleagues, engage with students or mind-map your most innovative ideas. Communicating messages effectively can become much easier with a whiteboard to hand, and they’re also instrumental in allowing individuals and groups to capture thoughts and relay action plans. So if you feel like the breadth of whiteboard options you have to choose from is excessive, think again: with such a wide variety of applications, what can you expect?
Likely to become a permanent fixture for many years, whiteboards of all sizes can have a long life span when treated appropriately. To make sure this happens, you need to choose an appropriate board, and you can do this by following the tips below.
So how do you identify the best possible version of this must-have tool?
Read more: Choosing the Perfect Whiteboard
Which type of whiteboard surface should I get?
The whiteboard’s surface is one of the most important factors to consider when making your selection. Different circumstances call for different qualities and while all whiteboards look understandably white, performance can vary. Our guide below details how different surfaces fare with things like ink removal and staining.
When you need to display drawings, facts, figures and statistics, the surface of your whiteboard plays a major role.
Glass Whiteboards
The best whiteboards for resistance to ghosting, easy cleaning and durability are our high-quality glass whiteboards. They have great longevity, with the unique qualities of glass making it the best whiteboard surface for performance. Glass whiteboards are perfect for expanding explanations and sharing ideas, and are often found in academic institutes, classrooms and other educational settings as well as corporate studios and offices.
Mobile Glass Revolving Whiteboard
Making the whiteboard more versatile by introducing mechanical improvements like wheels and revolving sections has really expanded the product’s area of use. With magnetic, mobile and revolving capabilities, the Mobile Glass Revolving Whiteboard is the most stylish and practical glass board on the market. The Mobile Glass Revolving Whiteboard from Red17 is convenient to move around as required, as it is fitted with a stand on wheels. The stylish design of glass whiteboards means that many of our customers use them in customer-facing environments like receptions and meeting rooms.
A stunning addition to any modern office, these boards offer superior styling opportunities including frameless whiteboard design and varied colour options. Our glass whiteboards are also fully magnetic, and can be used as a sleeker alternative to cork notice boards. For these reasons and many more, a glass whiteboard needs to be at the top of your list for whiteboard consideration. If you’re opting for a full-sized whiteboard, it’s worth keeping in mind just how much of your wall this board will dominate and choosing something that will improve the overall appearance of the place – like a glass whiteboard.
Vitreous Enamel Steel Whiteboards
Schools and corporate meeting rooms whose boards are used frequently will often benefit from a vitreous enamel steel (VES) whiteboard. These are made by applying an enamel coating to a strong and flat magnetic steel core. Red17’s VES whiteboards are made with quality materials to provide an easy-to clean, ultra-smooth and durable surface. The perfect choice for everyday use, these boards are extremely resistant to ghosting when maintained with a suitable cleaning regime.
VES is widely accepted as being one of the best dry wipe surfaces available.
Ultra Smooth steel whiteboards
Ultra Smooth boards are made from a strong steel base with a uniquely smooth white coating, providing a board that is easy to clean and long-lasting. These whiteboards are fully magnetic, and their coating prevents ink particles from becoming stuck to the surface or penetrating the board’s outer layer. When compared to more basic models, the Red17 Ultra Smooth Whiteboard is a much more durable and practical surface with increased erasability and reduced chances of dents, ink stains, pen marks and scratches.
The Ultra Smooth Magnetic Whiteboard offers many of the same benefits as VES and glass whiteboards for a lower price.
Standard Whiteboards
If you don’t need to be able to use magnets and won’t be using your board that often, the affordability of a standard, non-magnetic whiteboard is hard to beat. These boards may need to be replaced sooner than other whiteboard surfaces would and can show traces of ghosting when not properly cared for, but they’re the perfect option for occasional use.
Flat wall displays like whiteboards and notice boards will come in handy no matter where you set up your workspace. Boards like the Eco-Friendly Whiteboard from Red17 are cost-effective and can promote environmental responsibility and a green lifestyle in your business.
How to Clean a Whiteboard
If you want your whiteboard to stay white, you’ll need to clean it regularly. Failing to maintain your board properly can result in a dull grey board appearance as well as ghosting, ink stains and smears. Your whiteboard will require more or less cleaning depending on your whiteboard surface and levels of use. Your board will retain its fresh, white and bright out-of-the-box appearance for longer and with less cleaning and maintenance if you invest in the best surface available.
A range of cleaning products are available to help you keep your board in the best condition possible. Red17’s cleaners are designed to clean whiteboards without damaging their surfaces, and include erasers, wipes, sprays and cloths. And always remember the basics:
- Wait for your ink to dry before attempting to erase it.
- If your board surface is very dirty, use a cleaning spray and a clean cloth.
- Use high-quality dry erase markers on your board and be sure to keep all permanent markers out of reach.
- Never use a dirty eraser.
It’s simple: the more often you use your whiteboard, the more often you’ll need to clean it. Investing in a professional grade eraser is the best way to make sure you always have an appropriate tool on hand and won’t have to resort to tissues or old dusters. Proper erasers are less likely to stain or damage your whiteboard, saving you time and money in the long run. The Whiteboard Professional Eraser from Red17 comes with 10 peel-off faces, so that you can use a new, clean surface with every use. We also have spray cleaners, wet wipes and dry wipes.
What Is Ghosting?
If a board becomes dull, grey or dirty, sometimes a pen or eraser will remove a portion of dirt and leave a whiter area behind. This is called ghosting. It’s not the end of the world, but it looks a bit messy and can be avoided by opting for a harder, more durable whiteboard surface. The best surface option for those who wish to avoid ghosting is glass. This is because the hard, smooth surface makes it harder for marker ink to penetrate and stain the board, as it would on porous surfaces like melamine.
If you follow the instructions above on selecting and cleaning whiteboard surfaces, you can avoid ghosting and keep your board looking as good as new. This is the case whether you’re using a mini whiteboard, mobile whiteboard or standard framed whiteboard.
Ghosting and Staining: Key Culprits
- Using a dirty eraser or cloth which smears more ink across the surface.
- Allowing ink to penetrate the board surface by leaving it on longer than necessary.
- Stripping the board’s protective layers by using industrial whiteboard cleaners.
- Using whiteboards with low-quality surfaces
- Repeated heavy use of whiteboards.
- Poor quality dry wipe markers.
- Failing to wait for the ink to dry before cleaning.
- Failing to clean the whiteboard properly between uses
Read more: The Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Your Office Whiteboard
Size
What Size Should My Whiteboard Be?
Now that you’ve selected your whiteboard surface and learned how to take care of it, it’s time to think about how large or small you want your whiteboard to be. Red17’s whiteboards come in a vast range of sizes, from A4 right up to 2000mm x 1200mm. You can even buy multiple frameless boards to create a custom whiteboard that covers your entire wall. Many who are trying to make this decision will struggle because they can’t visualise the size of a board based on the numbers in a description.
But it doesn’t have to be so difficult!
Handheld Whiteboards
Handheld A3 and A4 Whiteboards
A handheld A3/A4 whiteboard functions just like a full-sized whiteboard but, as the name suggests, is much smaller. Red17 customers love our Handheld A3 and A4 Whiteboards for a whole host of different reasons. They’re perfect for taking notes and illustrating points in workplace meetings, but can also be used to encourage student participation in class. Also called “Laptop Whiteboards”, they create an atmosphere for hands-on application of concepts and practices learned in workshops and classes.
Their design compliments the other tools and materials in a classroom or office, and their portable size encourages users to make use of the entire board. They fit handily in a satchel or suitcase and are available in two sizes, coming in convenient six packs so everyone gets a go. The handy size of the handheld whiteboard means that users can switch easily between the two sides of the board, with one side a blank standard whiteboard and the other marked with grid-lines.
Large Whiteboards
On the far end of the sizing spectrum, many shared workplaces and open areas will opt for a whiteboard in a large or giant size. Our large boards are often used in group settings as a collaborative space and can come in sizes up to 2m x 1.2m. If your business needs to develop and imagine new solutions and systems, a large whiteboard is the right model for you.
Large whiteboards bring with them a sense of quality and practicality, turning any room into a more functional space.
Small Whiteboards
After our handheld boards, our smallest whiteboards measure 45cm x 60cm. These smaller boards are used by many members for to-do lists, reminders and phone numbers. They don’t take up much space and are the perfect memo board. They’re also useful in educational settings to form breakaway groups for students when working on separate tasks and projects. The main selling factor of small boards like these is their easy portability.
In the office, small boards can be used to leave reminders and post messages for colleagues, and it’s a great idea for everyone to keep one at their desk.
Mobile Whiteboards
Any conference venue, classroom or multi-use room can benefit from a mobile whiteboard. These boards can easily be wheeled from room to room, while their integrated lockable castors keep them steady while in use. Mobile whiteboards are ideal for businesses that can’t afford to invest in separate whiteboards for each room, as they can go anywhere they are needed. Many of these boards are also magnetic, and have a built-in shelf for pens and erasers so that these tools are always easy to find.
The mobile nature of these boards doubles the writing space that you get with each board, as you can write on both sides.
Flipchart Easels
The final popular whiteboard size is the flipchart easel with integrated whiteboard surface. If you want to create a more permanent record of your thoughts, plans and ideas, combining your whiteboard easel with a flipchart pad will allow you to do this. This makes it perfect for training sessions and recurring classes. Many customers use their boards to display seating arrangements, time-sensitive notices and agendas as they are portable and easy to store.
Read more: Best Whiteboards for Academic and Business Use
Style and Accessories
Having read this article so far, you’ll already know all about the different materials and sizes you have to choose from when selecting your new whiteboard. In this article, we’re going to round off your whiteboard knowledge with a little more about the designs and extras on the market.
A whiteboard can’t be closed or switched off. As we’ve said before, a good whiteboard will last you a long time, so it’s worth putting the time in now to make sure you buy the right one for you. That’s why today, we want to give you everything you need to buy the perfect whiteboard and accessories for your home office, studio or school.
How Could Your IT Department Benefit from a New Whiteboard?
Does your company’s IT department need a boost? Whiteboards can come in handy in so many different situations, and optimising the work output of a department is just one of them.
Although the whiteboard was invented back in the 1960s, this vital piece of equipment has only really reached peak commercial popularity in the last couple of decades. The number of whiteboard designs available has really boomed in recent years, so it’s worth making the most of that great range!
Read more: How Could Your IT Department Benefit from a New Whiteboard?
Setting Up a Wall-Mounted Whiteboard
The benefits of a good mounting system are not to be underestimated, whether you’ll be mounting your own board or hiring assistance. If you want to avoid being stuck with a misaligned, wobbly or slanting board, mounting a large whiteboard (especially one with corner holes) is often a job for two people. Above all else, you should make sure you read any and all instructions that come with your new whiteboard, as these are the key to proper preparation, use and care.
A whiteboard used and mounted correctly is hard to beat.
Magnetic or Non-Magnetic?
Before making your final choice, it’s a good idea to check the specifications of the board you’re considering to see if it’s magnetic.
Most of the boards available today are magnetic, but non-magnetic boards are still available. Magnetic whiteboards have a range of benefits, including the potential for use as a notice board. Magnets, pens and other tools can all be stuck to the board using magnetic accessories. Even our glass whiteboards are magnetic, providing a sleeker alternative to the classic felt notice board.
Does My Home Office Need a Whiteboard?
The right whiteboard will provide a quick and easy way for you to lay out all of your ideas and track your thought processes as you work through a project. This vital invention plays a key role in home offices, staff rooms and classrooms all across the country. Tracking down the perfect whiteboard will require an investment of both time and money, but the impact it will have on your happiness and productivity will make it more than worth the effort in the long run.
Whether your perfect workspace makes use of a printed whiteboard organiser, combination whiteboard and notice board or sleek glass whiteboard, it’s worth making sure all of the tools you need are present. Every year, more people are able to consider home offices as a viable working option, and this is thanks in no small part to the ready availability of all of these tools. Office furniture like computer chairs, whiteboards and laptops are more affordable and accessible than ever before.
This year, the task of setting up a remote-working system with video call systems like Microsoft Teams and Zoom has moved to the top of everyone’s to-do list. But it’s important not to get carried away with the new tech at the expense of the classic staples.
Whether you’re illustrating your points as you speak to staff and colleagues or hashing out a new idea by yourself, a good whiteboard is an essential piece of equipment which no home office, workspace or staff room is complete without. We guarantee that whatever your specific needs, we can meet them with the right whiteboard style, material and size.
Top uses for magnetic whiteboards
A magnetic whiteboard can open its user up to a range of possibilities above and beyond those of the already versatile standard whiteboard. For this reason, we’ve broken down some of the most popular and successful uses of this tool in another article dedicated to the subject. Magnetic whiteboards can come in handy in any setting, but their ability to accept colourful magnets is often especially useful in an educational setting. This capability brings with it additional interactive elements which young students will simply adore.
You can read about some of the best uses of this tool in our article, Top Uses for Magnetic Whiteboards.
Whiteboard Design: Colours and Frames
Whether your board needs to be particularly stylish or aesthetically pleasing will be determined by its placement. For example, a classroom whiteboard for a school will be vastly different from the type of whiteboard you’ll use in a warehouse, which will be different again from the type of whiteboard you’ll place in an office’s client-facing meeting room. The meeting rooms, high-class firms and conference venues of today no longer need to settle for the basic functional options that are used in more hands-on settings – there are plenty of modern, attractive styles to choose from.
The best whiteboard for your business is out there – you just need to sort through the different options available to find it!
Frameless Whiteboards
If you want a premium board whose aesthetic suits your modern office, a glass whiteboard with an elegant and frameless design is hard to beat. From tutoring to boardroom battles, career-changing presentations to rough work, this board can take on any task and look gorgeous while doing so. Designed to encourage free thinking, these frameless designs make the board appear as though it is floating, accentuating the sense of space in any room.
Frameless whiteboards are also available in other materials, and can complement the design of any space. Frameless whiteboards like Red17’s Printed Modular Whiteboard (currently available at a special price of £62.00) are great for school classrooms, conference rooms and homes as they mount flush side by side, allowing you to build a whiteboard of any size or shape. Ready to hang and supplied with all the wall fixings you need, they’re suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
If you want something a little more specialised than a plain board, modular boards from Red17 are available plain, marked for handwriting, gridded, 50mm lined or printed with music staves. Whether you’re buying for a large office space, home office or classroom, the different designs and tools available will ensure that the perfect setup is achievable without too great an expenditure.
Coloured Edge Whiteboards
If you want something a little different but don’t want to go for glass or fully frameless, a Coloured Edge Whiteboard can give your space a sleek modern look with a stylish colour accent. The low-profile edging on these boards is just 2mm wide, and white edging is available if you want to opt for a seamless look. This maximises the writing space offered by the whiteboard while providing a unique, minimalist design.
What Whiteboard Frames Are Available?
As well as frameless glass and modular whiteboard, Red17 offers aluminium, recycled wood effect and powder-coated shield design frames. Each of these frame types has its own benefits and is suited to a different type of space. Aluminium frames are very durable, making them ideal for boards that will be used frequently in a hands-on space like a classroom. Shield design frames are similarly hard-wearing, but their enhanced appearance and deluxe design means they’re also suited to customer- and public-facing spaces. Finally, eco-friendly wood-effect frames are made from recycled materials, making them the perfect choice for an eco-conscious business or organisation.
What Colours Can a Board Be?
Red17’s Glass Whiteboards are currently available in black, blue, grey, light blue, lime green, orange, red, violet, yellow and, of course, white. These attractive boards are magnetic and very easy to clean.
Whiteboard Accessories: Bonus Tools and Materials
If you want to use your whiteboard in the most effective ways possible, there are a few whiteboard extras you may benefit from.
With standard office design changing even from one year to the next, the range of tools and accessories that comes with every piece of equipment you own is always evolving, and whiteboards are no different. With the right accessories, a whiteboard can be used to share information among the workforce of any business or group.
Markers and Pens
Available in a variety of colours and sizes, whiteboard owners can choose their perfect pen from a massive range of options. Special glass board markers are available to provide stronger colour on glass boards, but the standard whiteboard marker can be used on any dry wipe surface you may have. Red17’s Dry and Wet-Wipe Glass Pens are available in vibrant, fade-resistant colours including white, red, yellow, pink, green and orange. As with standard dry-wipe markers, it is advised that you allow the ink to dry fully before erasing to avoid staining and ghosting.
One added benefit of our glass pens is that they can also be used on traditional blackboards as a cleaner, neater alternative to chalk. Once you’re finished with your work, you can easily remove your writing from the board with a damp cloth. You can keep all of your pens safe and accounted-for using the Red17 Whiteboard Pen Holder, which can be attached to magnetic boards using magnetic strips or non-magnetic boards with simple adhesive strips – both of which are included with the pen holder on purchase.
Whiteboard Magnets
Magnets can be used to pin plans and notes to your magnetic whiteboard when you’re working on a project, and will add a splash of colour to your board. If you want to make sure your documents are attached to your board securely, you may benefit from Super Strength Magnets, which are designed to firmly attach to a surface that is not particularly magnetic. If you want to make your own custom magnets, you can do so with our Magnetic A4 Coloured Sheets by simply cutting them into any shape you like.
Whiteboard Gridding Tape
If you want to create semi-permanent grids on your whiteboard, gridding tape is a great way to create your own giant spreadsheet, and is available in both magnetic and adhesive options. When it comes to planning shift patterns or making a chart, it’s hard to beat.
Red17’s Magnetic Whiteboard Tape is an aesthetically pleasing option, available in a variety of colours including white, black, red, blue, green and yellow. Fully magnetic, the tape can be used on a variety of surfaces other than steel whiteboards, including filing cabinets, fridges and any other magnet-accepting surface in your space.
Magnets for Glass Whiteboards
Magnetic glass whiteboards are made from a strong type of safety glass, and the thickness of this glass can impact the strength of the magnets you’ll need. Glass whiteboards won’t always accept standard office and fridge magnets, as the magnets need to exert enough force to connect to the steel through a layer of glass, rather than the layer of paint used on most whiteboards. Special magnets are available at no great cost which will work on your glass whiteboard – including the Super Strength Magnets discussed above.
Despite their size and attractive appearance, our high-powered neodymium magnets are super-strong and will hold your materials firmly to your glass whiteboard. And while their hold is strong, they’re still easy to remove when their job is done, thanks to the ridged design on their edges.
We hope you’ve found this guide helpful and now feel ready to kit out your space with all the boards and accessories you may need.
Read more: 6 Reasons why your Home Office needs a Whiteboard
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