Are Glass Whiteboards Better than Whiteboard Walls?

When debating the advantages and disadvantages of different types of whiteboards versus whiteboard-coated walls, it’s essential to consider factors like durability, writability, erasability, initial cost, and eco-friendliness. In the case of glass whiteboards versus whiteboard-coated walls, whiteboard walls emerge as superior writing surfaces for use in business offices, classrooms, private homes, and other settings.

I. Durability
Glass Whiteboards Have Durability Issues

Although made of tempered glass, glass whiteboards can break if they fall from a wall due to faulty mounting, natural disasters, or other causes. If this happens, the tempered glass will break into small fragments instead of large shards like regular window glass, but the potential to harm people in the area still exists. Also, scrubbing glass whiteboards too hard to remove stubborn ink stains can result in scratching, thus creating tiny crevices where marker ink collects and hinders effective writing and drawing.

Top-Quality Whiteboard-Coated Walls are Highly Durable

The warranty that comes with each batch of our premium whiteboard coating testifies to the outstanding durability of any surface covered with our product. With proper use and maintenance, whiteboard-coated walls will provide ten-plus years of exceptional service before the need for replacement.

II. Writability
Glass Whiteboards Require Using Special Markers to Get Easy-To-See Results

Due to the highly slippery and reflective nature of glass whiteboards, it’s best to write and draw on them with unique markers known as glass paint markers, which are designed specifically for use on glass windows, glass doors, glass whiteboards, and other glassy surfaces. If you’ve ever tried to write on glass with a regular dry erase marker, you’ve no doubt found it to be unpredictable with regard to the following:
• Its ability to hold ink.
• The consistency of the lines produced.
• Its tendency to smear.
• Its ability to allow for clearly visible writing and drawing.

This is so because, unlike melamine or porcelain steel whiteboards, which easily accept and retain ink from regular dry erase markers, glass whiteboards are by nature slick and highly reflective. So, lines made with traditional marker ink tend to be faint, irregular, and difficult to see from across a room or even a few feet away.

If you use a standard dry erase marker on a glass whiteboard, the ink will often spread out and look messy. In addition, the ink colors won’t appear bold enough after one attempt at writing, so you’ll need to go back and write over your lines to get the depth of color you need. This can be a nuisance during presentations or when you want to jot down memos or other information quickly.

Consequently, writing or drawing done on a glass whiteboard with regular dry erase markers may not adhere well and may be hard to perceive. And if you want your markings to cling to the slippery surface and avoid streaky residues, you’ll have to use the glass as mentioned above board markers, which contain oil-based paint explicitly designed for use on glass.

Also, unlike dry erase marker tips, which have a flat edge, the tips of glass markers are thick and rounded and thus produce thick lines, which may be suitable for creating bold captions or headlines, but not for adding subtle variations into your writing and drawing. So, if you prefer a writing style similar to calligraphy or want to make different-sized lines in your work, the rounded tips of glass board markers won’t do the job.

Whiteboard-Coated Walls Can Be Easily Written On With Standard Dry Erase Markers

Walls or other surfaces covered with premium whiteboard coating can be written and drawn on with regular low-odor dry erase markers to produce bold, clear lines and text. The flat chisel tips on these markers also allow you to produce either thick or thin letters and drawings and to create variations in thickness in a calligraphic style.

III. Erasability
Erasability Can Be An Issue With Glass Whiteboards

To thoroughly erase markings from a glass whiteboard, it’s best to use a special high-quality glass board eraser; otherwise, with any other kind of eraser, you might make minute scratch marks on the surface that will quickly become havens for ink and create dark areas similar to ghosting on other types of boards. In addition, this faint ink residue tends to cake over time, leaving your glass whiteboard in less than pristine condition.

Erasability Is Never A Concern With Premium Whiteboard-Coated Walls

Anything you write or draw on whiteboard-coated walls is always easily erased with a regular microfiber cloth, leaving behind no residue or scratch marks to compromise the resilient and pristine quality of the surface and allowing for easy writing and drawing through many years of continuous use.

IV. The Initial Cost Per Square Foot Varies Greatly

Initial Cost of Glass Whiteboards

The initial cost of glass whiteboards is high, averaging around $19 per square foot. In addition, the largest standard-sized glass board currently available is only 4’ by 8’, so you’re limited in the amount of writing and drawing area you get for this high price. Also, attaching a glass whiteboard to a wall requires considerable time, energy, and labor, including measuring for the location of the mounting devices, drilling holes for the devices, installing the devices, and lifting the board into place, a job that requires at least two people for larger boards. Since this work is challenging and time-consuming, it’s often necessary to hire a professional installer, thus adding to the initial expense.

Initial Cost Of High-Quality Whiteboard Coated Walls

The initial cost to cover a wall with whiteboard coating ranges from $4.50 per square foot for a 50-square-foot area to as little as $2.00 per square foot for a 600-square-foot surface, thus making whiteboard-coated walls $14.50 to $17.00 per square foot cheaper than glass whiteboards, and also resulting in much larger surface areas.

Glass Board Markers Are Also Costly

The prices of most brands of glass board markers are high compared to those for standard dry erase markers. For example, one popular brand of glass markers costs $18.99 plus shipping for a pack of eight.

Low-Odor Dry Erase Markers For Whiteboard-Coated Walls Are Economical

By contrast, an eight-pack of the most commonly used brand of low-odor dry erase markers costs just $7.47 plus shipping. This amounts to a saving of $11.52 over the price of glass board markers, which over time would add up to much lower expenditures for a business, school, organization, or household, thus making low-odor dry-erase markers highly cost-efficient.

V. Environmental Friendliness

Glass Whiteboard Manufacturing Is Highly Polluting

In terms of eco-friendliness, glass whiteboard manufacturing receives low marks due to the intense energy use and high CO2 emissions generated by glass melting, which involves the burning of natural gas or fuel oil to liquefy the raw materials. Sulphur dioxide (SO2) arising from the fuel and/or the melting process contribute to the acidification of our soil, freshwater, and oceans. Also, nitrogen oxides (NOx) created by the high melting temperatures and the breakdown of the raw materials add to acidification and smog. Finally, evaporation from the melting glass releases hazardous particles into the atmosphere.

Glass board markers are also polluting

Being oil-based, the paint in glass board markers emits toxic chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which cause health hazards for users and everyone else. Besides being harmful to humans and animals, these fumes damage the environment by contributing significantly to air pollution.

Low-Odor Dry Erase Marker Ink Is Non-Toxic and Eco-Friendly

The low-odor dry erase markers used on whiteboard-coated walls release no toxic gases into the air and thus avoid potential allergic reactions and other health issues related to glass board paint markers. In addition, low-odor dry erase markers contain a special ink that’s free of the unsafe chemicals used in paint-based glass markers, thus reducing harm to humans, animals, and Earth’s ecosystem.