What is a Whiteboard

A marker board is a name for a glossy surface (usually white in color but is sometimes found in black) for use of dry erase or wet erase non-permanent markings. Whiteboards became popular in the mid-1990s and are now commonly found in schools, hospitals, conference rooms, business offices, and even homes. There are four commonly used materials for the surface: Melamine which is a resin-infused paper used over a substrate like hardboard, particle board or MDF. Melamine board is the least expensive and lowest quality dry erase surface available. Hardcoat laminate is another resin like dry erase surface that is often less porous and highly resistant to staining unlike a typical melamine surface. Painted steel or aluminum surfaces are generally a multiple layer of coatings made up of a base coat in color and a clear coating that is the dry erase component. The paint varies from electron beam cured, UV, or other types of coating systems. These boards generally have good quality dry erase properties and the steel type are magnetic and allow the use of magnets. The best quality surface is porcelain enamel-on-steel. This is a ceramic (glass) fired coating on steel. These are the most durable, longest lasting, least likely to stain or ghost, and highly scratch resistant. Porcelain dry erase boards do not absorb marker ink and are magnetic. Since it is glass, the porcelain surface can be cleaned with any non-abrasive cleaner like Expo whiteboard cleaner, Windex® (or generic glass cleaner), or even isopropyl alcohol for stubborn markings.