Quick answer: Glassboards outlast traditional whiteboards by years, never ghost or stain, wipe clean with a dry cloth, and look genuinely premium on any wall. If you need a writing surface that holds its performance and appearance over the long term, a glassboard is the upgrade worth making.
No ghosting, no staining: a writing surface that stays pristine
Traditional whiteboards are porous. Dry-wipe ink slowly seeps into the surface coating, leaving faint shadow marks even after a thorough clean. The initial crisp white fades within months of regular use, and no amount of specialist cleaner fully restores it.
Glassboards are non-porous by nature. Ink sits on the surface rather than soaking in, so a dry cloth removes every trace. You can even write on a glassboard with permanent marker and wipe it off cleanly if a change is needed. After years of daily use, the writing surface looks the same as the day it was installed.
Toughened safety glass built to last decades
The glass in a glassboard is not ordinary window glass. It is toughened safety glass, engineered to withstand firm writing pressure without flexing or cracking. A steel or aluminium back-plate adds structural rigidity, and even the pen shelf is made of matching glass so nothing interrupts the clean lines.
The result is a board that handles daily punishment in busy classrooms, meeting rooms, and studios without showing any signs of wear. Where a standard whiteboard surface may need replacing every three to five years, a quality glassboard genuinely lasts the lifetime of the building it is mounted in.
Hygienic in shared environments
The non-porous glass surface does not harbour bacteria or absorb cleaning chemicals. This matters in environments where the same board is touched and written on by many different people, such as schools, healthcare settings, and shared office spaces. A single wipe removes both marker ink and surface contaminants, with no residue left behind in the surface itself.
Unlike fabric-covered pin boards or older whiteboard laminates, glassboards can be cleaned with standard disinfectant without any risk of surface degradation.
Colour, magnetics, and configuration flexibility
The back of the glass is painted, which means you are not limited to white. Our glassboard collection includes six standard colours, blue, green, red, silver, black, and yellow, as well as bespoke options to match a company's brand colours. A coloured glass writing wall creates a confident, considered design statement rather than an afterthought.
Many glassboards also carry a magnetic surface. The Mood Wall accepts strong magnets without any visible fixings, so you can pin reference sheets, imagery, and notepaper directly to the writing surface. The Silk Wall extends the concept further with a fabric-covered, sound-absorbent reverse, turning a single panel into a writing surface and acoustic screen in one.
Where wall space is limited, mobile glassboards provide the same scratch-resistant, non-porous surface on a weighted base that moves where it is needed. Panels can also be installed side by side with seamless joins to create a continuous writing wall across an entire wall face.
Lifetime value: the case for spending more upfront
A standard whiteboard costs less to buy, but the surface degrades. Replacement boards, replacement surface films, and specialist cleaning products all add up. When you factor in the typical lifespan of a glassboard against the replacement cycle of a conventional board, the cost-per-year is often lower for the glass option, and the workspace looks better throughout.
For commercial fit-outs, the appearance and durability of the writing surface also signals something about the organisation. A glassboard in a client-facing meeting room, a school hall, or a reception area presents the space as well-equipped and properly maintained.
Browse our full glassboard range to see sizes, colours, and magnetic options. →
Frequently asked questions
Do glassboards really never ghost?
In normal use, no. Because the glass surface is non-porous, ink does not penetrate it. As long as you are using dry-wipe markers intended for glass or whiteboard surfaces, a dry or lightly damp cloth removes all traces. Permanent marker can also be removed from most glassboard surfaces, though we recommend testing in a corner first.
Are glassboards safe if they break?
Yes. All our glassboards use toughened safety glass. If the glass is ever broken by an exceptional impact, it crumbles into small, blunt fragments rather than sharp shards, in the same way as a car side window. In normal office or classroom use, breakage is extremely unlikely given the strength of the toughened glass.
Can I use any dry-wipe marker on a glassboard?
Standard dry-wipe markers designed for whiteboards work well on glassboards. Ink sits cleanly on the surface and wipes away without residue. We recommend avoiding oil-based markers not intended for writing surfaces, as these may leave a film that requires more effort to remove.
How do glassboard magnets work?
Our magnetic glassboards have a ferrous steel layer behind the glass. Standard office magnets may not be strong enough to hold papers flat, so we recommend neodymium (rare earth) magnets, which grip the surface firmly without scratching. The glass surface itself is not magnetic, so standard fridge magnets typically slide unless the sheet being held is very light.
Are glassboards available in custom sizes?
Yes. Standard sizes run from small desktop panels up to large writing walls, and bespoke sizing is available for fit-outs with specific dimensions. Custom colour matching is also possible. Contact us with your requirements and we can advise on lead times and pricing.
How do I clean a glassboard?
Day-to-day: a dry microfibre cloth is all that is needed. For a periodic deep clean, a small amount of isopropyl alcohol or a glass-specific cleaner on a soft cloth removes any pen residue build-up. Avoid abrasive pads, which can dull the glass surface over time.
Need help choosing the right glassboard? Contact our team with your dimensions and requirements and we will point you to the right option.
