Why DIY Glass Whiteboards can be Dangerous
Whiteboards are a great tool for office meetings, teaching sessions and even to have around the home. You can take notes, leave messages and brainstorm for hours on a whiteboard. The best part is that you’re reducing your waste by eliminating the need for hundreds of pages of paper, and you can easily clean and reuse a whiteboard at any time. One of the newest trends is the glass whiteboard, which is even more eco-friendly than the traditional whiteboard, and it doesn’t streak or stain the way a normal whiteboard does. While glass has become the ideal material for whiteboards, throwing a regular piece of glass up on a wall just won’t cut it. Sharp edges, poor installation and unprofessional back painting can turn your DIY glassboard into a nightmare.
Here are a couple reasons why you might want to reconsider making your own glass whiteboard:
Using Regular Glass – Professionally made glassboards are made of tempered glass, which is up to ten times as strong as regular glass. This material is nearly shatter proof, and if the glass does break, it breaks into thousands of tiny, pebble-like shards, to prevent any serious injuries.
Sharp Edges and Corners – Not only can regular glass break into dangerous pieces, but the sharp edges can easily cut your fingers when grabbing for markers or an eraser. If you are absolutely insistent on making your own glass whiteboard, we highly recommend using a tempered glass that has sanded edges or rounded corners for safety reasons.
Back Painting without a Professional – Back painting glass may seem like a simple task, but to keep a clean and professional look, you need a professional paint job. While it may look like a quick coat or two of white paint or a spray paint job, back painting a whiteboard is generally a multi-step process that’s best handled by professionals.
Installing it Yourself – Professional glassboards come ready to install, with pre-drilled holes and wall mounting devices. A professional glass marker board typically comes with a template to help you make marks on the wall that perfectly align with the holes in the board, so all you need is a drill, two people and about 10 minutes of your time. Mounting a regular piece of glass to the wall is quite a different story. While we do not recommend making your own glassboard, if you do plan on installing one yourself, make sure you can pull on the board without any movement, since some wall mounts may not be able to hold the weight for long.
About Clarus Glassboards: Clarus is the leading manufacturer and innovator of glass whiteboards and glass visual display products. For more information about clear dry erase boards and our other glass architectural systems, please call 888-813-7414 or visit www.clarusglassboards.com.
