Several News blog

Commercial and institutional facilities built between 1980 and 2010 contain large inventories of framed whiteboards that are aging but structurally sound. Retrofit board systems that mount directly over existing boards are increasingly selected over full replacement for 3 measurable reasons: lower cost, faster installation, and superior surface performance.

What Is the Cost Case for Retrofit Over Full Replacement?

Full whiteboard replacement involves removing the existing board, patching and refinishing the wall behind it, and installing new hardware. In multi-room renovation projects, the labor and wall repair cost compounds significantly.

In university renovation projects where rooms cannot be taken out of service for extended periods, the disruption cost of full replacement often exceeds the material cost differential between the two approaches. The wall repair alone, which is eliminated entirely by a retrofit specification, represents 30 to 45% of full replacement project cost in masonry construction.

How Is a Retrofit Board Installed?

Retrofit board systems mount directly over the face of the existing framed board without removing the original unit from the wall. The installation process requires no wall repair and involves 4 steps:

• Measure existing board exterior frame dimensions for width and height
• Select retrofit board in matching size from the available range (3 to 12 feet wide, 2 to 5 feet tall)
• Drill counter-sunk mounting holes through the retrofit board into the existing frame
• Secure with provided fasteners, completing installation in 30 minutes or less per board

How Does the Ceramic Steel Surface Compare to Legacy Whiteboard Materials?

Ceramic steel surfaces fired at kiln temperatures create a glass-ceramic bond that outperforms legacy whiteboard materials on 3 key dimensions:

• Erasability: resists ghosting and staining indefinitely under normal commercial use
• Surface life: 50 or more years versus 5 to 10 years for melamine and 15 to 20 years for standard porcelain enamel
• Durability: resists surface degradation from incompatible cleaning chemicals that cause premature failure on legacy surfaces

Facilities managers responsible for phased renovation budgets are increasingly specifying retrofit whiteboard boards as a surface upgrade that delivers ceramic steel writing performance at a fraction of the full replacement budget.

What Sizing Information Is Needed to Order Retrofit Boards?

Retrofit boards are sized by 2 measurements taken from the existing framed board:

• Height: measure from the top of the existing board to the top of the existing chalk or marker tray
• Width: measure from the outside left edge of the frame to the outside right edge of the frame.