If you re shopping for a dry erase board, you re going to have to decide between a porcelain or melamine one. If you re wondering what the difference was, so are a lot of people. It can be puzzling to understand why these products are so different and why porcelain boards are so much more expensive. This article will take a look at the difference between these two surfaces so that when you need to choose one, you ll pick the one that is best for both your needs and your budget.
Melamine
Most of the inexpensive whiteboards have a melamine surface. Melamine is essentially plastic that s backed by pressboard. It has a clear coat surface on which you write. One the benefits of plastic is that it s inexpensive. It s good for occasional use, so if you need a whiteboard you re going to use only once in a while and you re on a budget, a melamine board is a great choice. However, these products need to be cleaned after almost every use otherwise they will become stained and ghosted. These products also scratch easily and none of them are magnetic. Plus, if you use a permanent marker, your board will be permanently stained, so be sure to use dry erase markers only if you select a plastic surface.
Porcelain
As the name suggests, porcelain surfaces are ceramic. They are backed by steel, making them extremely durable as well as magnetic, so your whiteboard can double as a bulletin board which can be very convenient. These products do need to be cleaned, but they re very resistant to staining and ghosting because the ink won t be absorbed by the glass. Thus, if you want a board for the long haul, a ceramic surface is ideal. You can use a porcelain whiteboard everyday and if you take good care of it, it will still look brand new even after you ve been using it for years. However, ceramic boards have one drawback in that they tend to be pretty expensive. But chances are you ll never have to replace it, which can save you money right there.
As for which surface you should choose, it depends on a couple of factors. The first one is your budget. If money is tight, a melamine whiteboard might be a better choice at the moment although if you don t take care of it, you ll need to replace it. Porcelain tends to be a better investment, especially if you ll be using your board a lot. Second, think about how much you plan on using your new whiteboard. For occasional or personal use, a melamine surface will suffice. Otherwise, porcelain is your best bet. Also, if you d like to use your whiteboard to pin up notices, signs, and other documents, porcelain is definitely the way to go simply because melamine isn t magnetic.
Once you ve determined which surface is best for your needs, you re ready to start shopping for your board. Whichever board you choose, make sure you feel comfortable with it. Melamine and porcelain both have their drawbacks and advantages, so choose carefully. If you do so, you ll definitely choose the right whiteboard for your needs.
Author Resource:-
Jeff McRitchie is the designer and Director of Marketing for http://www.mybinding.com .He has written over 500 articles on binding machines,binding covers,binders,laminators,binding supplies,laminating supplies,paper handling equipments,index tabs, and shredders.