What to Consider When Deciding Between a Whiteboard vs Glassboard?

Does your office have a fax or telex machine? Do you have someone dedicated to answering your telephone, or have you outsourced this aspect of your business? Do you still send round memos written on pieces of paper and distributed to everyone’s in-tray?

Chances are that many of your usual office administrative functions have been automated over the last couple of decades. Internet technology has made everyday activities faster, cheaper, and sleeker.

Despite this, there are still areas that require pen and ink. That requires writing things down, making notes, and sketches to illustrate an idea, a thought, or a process – sparks that are often the start of a money-making project.

Equally, that pen and ink are also essential in the learning and education process. Seeing something written down helps to anchor that theory in the mind. Digging deeper into educational foundations.

Automating everyday activities does not have to mean completely eliminating the traditional tools of teaching and brainstorming. Yet while whiteboards have traditionally had their place in organisations across the UK, they are often the one area that lacks decent thought and investment – yet they are often the one area that sparks brilliance.

Your whiteboard has probably been getting a lot of stick for many years. Multiple uses over a long period of time lead to a build-up of ink on the surface that you can no longer get rid of, making it look used and stained. Because they are relatively cheap to buy and easy to install, over time, they begin to look tired and shabby, with the edges getting battered and bits dropping off. If they are on a mobile stand, they get particularly battered, being pushed around from pillar to post. Traditionally, whiteboards have always been incredibly versatile but not particularly durable.

One question we often hear is what the difference is between a whiteboard and a wipe board. Fundamentally there is no difference – it is simply another way to describe the product.

Functionality includes:

• Can be written on with non-permanent markers and wiped clean afterwards.
• A magnetic surface allows you to attach paper and items to the surface.
• Writing can be removed with a soft, dry cloth.

A glassboard has the exact same functionality, but due to the nature of its toughened safety glass construction, it is smarter, stronger and infinitely more durable and versatile in terms of performance. It is important to keep this in mind when considering whether to make a new investment in a whiteboard vs a glassboard. While price is an important factor, there are other issues that you need to take into account.

There is no denying that glassboards are aesthetically a significant improvement design-wise on whiteboards. It is the robustness of the product that sets it apart from traditional whiteboards. They are manufactured using 25 per cent recycled glass, which has gone through the toughening process to produce toughened safety glass that conforms to all requirements of the European Standard EN12150 Class 1.

This immediately makes them a superior quality product. Beyond this, you need to ask the following questions to assess whether they are a suitable product for your organisation.

• Are they available in different colours?

A whiteboard is just that – white. There is no other variation in its colour. By comparison, glassboards come in a variety of different colours. Not only does Simply Glass supply them in a standard range of RAL colours, but we can also produce bespoke colours to match your unique brand identity. This enables an organisation to elevate its office environment, removing utilitarian and shabby-looking whiteboards and replacing them with smart, sleek glass screens that have been customised to reflect the professionalism of your organisation.

Another reason why colours are so important is that they can have an impact on our thoughts and feelings and influence the way in which we learn and process information. Essentially, a glassboard is the ultimate interactive product, and users get up close and personal.

• Will the surface stain after excessive use?

One of the biggest issues with traditional whiteboards is that after a while, the white surface will show increasing signs of staining, no matter how much alcohol-based cleaner you use to try and get rid of it. The surface of the glass cannot be stained. Even several years later, the surface remains smooth, scratch-free and stain resistant.

• Does it come in a clear option?

Clear glass board options are becoming increasingly popular, providing additional versatility in a business or educational setting. Offering great value for money, the clear glass option is a visually subtle, clean and neat solution to creating a writing wall in any setting.

Understanding the differences between glassboards and whiteboards is akin to choosing between two generations of the same product. While whiteboards are the fax machine of writing surfaces, glassboards offer the latest in terms of design and functionality that will elevate your learning and business environment.

If you are interested in a standard or bespoke glassboard installation, contact Simply Glass and let us know your requirements.