by sefali | Oct 4, 2018 | Blog
An empty office wall, by itself, offers very little other than privacy. Well, it can add to the overall aesthetic appeal of your office space if you’re decoratively inclined, but that is all. However, the moment you turn that very wall into a ferromagnetic surface, AKA an office magnetic wall, it becomes a centre for creativity and innovation.
It is hard to judge the true impact of a magnetic wall in an office unless you have one. Nevertheless, from our experience of helping organisations create collaborative workspaces over the years, you can watch a video of our customer sharing their feedback on how it improves their office’s sales management techniques.
How an office magnetic wall benefits the teams
Hanging a small metallic sheet in a cubicle for sticking personal items is quite common. However, what we are considering here is an entire ferromagnetic wall that you can use for a myriad of purposes. Here are the key operational benefits.
1. Capture ideas as they come
Your employees should not have to wait till the morning standup call or for your calendar to clear up, to share an idea. Whether it’s a proposal for a new campaign strategy for social media, thoughts about a new tool someone discovered for better project management or even a cool marketing slogan for an upcoming special event, individuals should have a place to post it for everyone else to see and weigh in.
With an office magnetic wall in the common area, employees can
- Write down their ideas on a piece of paper and stick it on the wall with a magnet
- Print charts, graphs, or other types of documents and stick them to support their ideas
- Post notes without the fear of them falling off or damaging the wall
2. Brew up the “brainstorm”
Having a large surface in the office for your employees to present their ideas is an indirect way of saying, “We encourage innovation and creativity at this workplace, so grab your markers and get doodling.”
You have to take two things into account here:
- People can process and retain visual information better than auditory cues
- A chance address a group encourages individuals to think hard and prepare harder
3. Charge up the healthy competition
We’re not saying that a company should be all about the numbers achieved and the targets cracked. But you cannot deny that a bit of positive reinforcement (on top of the paycheque) helps your employees focus better.
An employee’s photo stuck with a high-quality neodymium magnet on an office magnetic wall alongside a few words of appreciation can go a long way in re-energising a staff member at the end of a hard work week.
4. Track the performance of different teams
Technology allows you to monitor the performance of all teams from one integrated dashboard using advanced enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools. Even with all its accuracy and convenience, a digital report on a computer screen cannot beat the impact of KPIs on pieces of paper stuck on a public wall with magnets.
Every win becomes worth celebrating and every loss triggers a rush of new ideas that lead to further brainstorming. It’s a cycle of human collaboration that you cannot just replicate with an application.
A small magnetic board helps you stick KPIs for one week for one team. A whole wall dedicated to the very purpose of tracking KPIs would hold key data for all teams for the whole month or longer, depending on the kind of company you’re running.
5. Redefine presentations with an office magnetic wall you can write and project upon
Imagine your team is working on a prototype for a software application. You are making something beautiful but it’s hard to explain to the stakeholders at the current stage. While certain features are ready to use, you will need additional visual aids to explain the others.
Now, fortunately, there’s a wall in the office that you can write on, stick magnets to, and project upon.
- So, you set up a projector so that it can show the current design of the app on that office magnetic wall
- You can write on it while projecting to emphasise certain points
- You can use printed pieces of paper as additional visual components – say, a button or a drop-down menu that hasn’t been designed yet – and stick them on the wall.
This is possible with an office magnetic wall that blends three functionalities – magnetism, projection, and writability.
What’s the best way to turn a common office wall into a writable magnetic surface?
There are three ways of turning a regular wall into an office magnetic wall.
Magnetic Paint
You can turn any wall into a magnetic surface by applying magnetic paint on it. An office wall with good quality magnetic paint on it allows you to stick up to 4 sheets of A4 paper with one good magnet. By applying magnetic whiteboard paint, you can turn a wall into a magnetic as well as writable surface. It’ll let you maximise the usable area of the wall. The application of the magnetic paint involves a few simple steps. Here’s a video to guide you through the process.
Magnetic Plaster
You can enhance the magnetic capacity of the wall manifold by applying magnetic plaster to it. You can affix paintings, clocks, or even a television screen to such a wall if you have large enough magnets.
Magnetic Whiteboard Wallpaper
For a large wall free of obstructions such as switchboards, a magnetic wallpaper is the most effective choice. It’s very easy to apply a wallpaper. Make sure the surface is smooth; apply two coats of adhesive; stick the wallpaper on it, and you’ve got yourself a brand new office magnetic wall. If you are ready to spend a little more, you can have a magnetic projector screen whiteboard wallpaper with three mutually inclusive functionalities. Here’s a video to guide you through the process.
Interesting things you can do with a magnetic wall
- You can paint a magnetic wall with any colour without compromising its magnetic properties
- You can apply digital wall print or wallpaper over it
- You can turn a magnetic office wall into a clear whiteboard by overcoating it with clear whiteboard paint
We also have Super Magnetic Paint, which contains over 60% magnetite and can hold up to 5 pages.
Explore the possibilities with Smarter Surfaces
Unsure how to proceed with creating a magnetic wall in your office? Here is what you do:
- Book a free consultation video call with the product advisors at Smarter Surfaces
- Share a photo or a video of your wall and we will share ideas to help you make the most out of it
- Get personalized guidance from experts in education and office usage of magnetic surfaces through chat, email, phone, and video calls.
We’ll help you find the right product for your needs and direct you on the safest and fastest route to creating an office magnetic wall. Don’t let that accent wall sit idle, turn it into a watering hole for ideas and innovations today. Get in touch now.
by sefali | Sep 26, 2018 | Blog
Projector Paint or Screens? Finding the Perfect Fit for Your Needs
In today’s post we have provided a comparison of traditional projector screens with Smart Projector Paint in terms of sizing, application, appearance and cost, to allow you to make an educated decision when creating your projector surface.
Sizing
- A Projector Screen: The largest projector screen currently available is 525 cm in height and 700 cm in width.
- Smart Projector Paint: The paint can cover a wall of any size. This means that the options for your projection surface are unlimited.
Application/Installation
- Projection Screens: It is often necessary to hire a professional to install your screen, as the mounting process involves several steps and can be difficult and time consuming for people who have never tried it before.
- Smart Projector Paint: This paint can be applied by anyone. All you have to do is apply two coats of the paint to a primed surface and then wait for it to dry. Not only is this an easier solution, but it is also more cost-effective. We have easy DIY application-guides and video on all our projection products. Which will give you installation understanding how to apply our product without any hassle.
Appearance
- Projector Screens: Can be bulky and unsightly and are usually surrounded by heavy border frames and metal mounts. Although there are some retractable screens available, these are generally expensive to install and usually involve drilling within your ceiling.
- Smart Projector Paint: Allows you to transform any smooth paintable surface into a high-performance projector screen. It does not involve any drilling and is indistinguishable when not in use as it looks just like a standard white wall paint, meaning it will not detract from the aesthetic of the room.
Projector Screen Paints by Smarter surfaces
Projector screen paint offers versatility, ease of application, and cost-effectiveness, while projector screens provide superior quality, customization options, and a dedicated projection experience. The choice between projector paint and projector screens ultimately depends on your specific needs, budget, and preferences for your projection setup.
We have multiple projection solutions, each for different uses. We offer white projections, black-gray colored projection paints, special purpose projection paints, and projection wallpapers.
If you are looking for an efficient product surface, we can help you choose the best product for you. Call us for a video free consultation.
by sefali | Sep 17, 2018 | Blog
Bringing a magnetic wall into your office or classroom can be really beneficial. It can aid project planning, meetings and lessons. You may have heard this before. However, various brands of magnetic paint claim varying performance levels. In this post, we will precisely detail the strength of Smart Magnetic Paint.
Strength of Magnetic Paint – How Strong Is Magnetic Paint?
With Smart Magnetic Paint you can create a magnetic surface in any size you choose.
But how strong is it really? – Smart Magnetic Paint has a magnetite content of 55%. This means it has a medium magnetic strength.
If you are looking a product with high magnetic strength, we recommend Smart Magnetic Plaster, which has a magnetite content of 75%.
What Can I Hold Up With Magnetic Paint?
So now you know how strong this paint is. But how much can you really hold up with it? The first thing you need to know is, what magnets to use. With Smart Magnetic Paint you can’t use regular fridge magnets. These will not be effective on Smart Magnetic Paint.
Instead, you need to use neodymium magnets or rare earth magnets.
So how much do these magnets hold up? With Smart Neo-magnets you will be able to hold up a 4 sheets when using Smart Magnetic Paint. This is very effective for meetings and regular office work.
Here in this video, you can visually understand how strong Magnetic Paint is:
How Can I Use Magnetic Paint?
So, now you know how strong Smart Magnetic Paint is, how can you use it? With this smart paint, you can transform entire rooms into magnetic surfaces.A magnetic wall is a great tool for meetings, project planning and brainstorming.
Do you want to add writable functionality to your magnetic wall? No problem, check out our magnetic whiteboard paint.
5 Creative Uses for Your Office Magnetic Wall
- Create a giant magnetic noticeboard
- Track projects and project progression against timelines and / or actions
- Keep track of important documents by sticking them up on the wall
- Share important figures with your whole team
- Keep track of monthly targets
5 Innovative Ways to Use Your Classroom Magnetic Wall for Better Learning
- Stick drawings, designs and even equations on the wall with magnets e.g. skeletons for biology, atoms for chemistry, quotes for english lessons, maps for geography. They sky is the limit !
- Create learning walls for students to update with their own work
- Display students’ work.
- Recognise – and share – award winning projectors or performers.
- Create an updates wall in your staff room for teachers to use
Still unsure about a magnetic product? Book a free video call with us and we’d be happy to help answer your questions.
by sefali | Aug 20, 2018 | Blog
For anyone using a product with whiteboard functionality – ghosting can be a potential problem. People go to great lengths to keep their whiteboards free of ghosting and struggle through trying to find what will work, what won’t work and what could potentially damage their whiteboard surface.
What is Whiteboard Ghosting?
Ghosting is when the surface of a whiteboard/ whiteboard wall won’t fully erase, leaving behind stains and stray marks which can make your whiteboard look dirty or make it hard to read.
What Causes Whiteboard Ghosting?
Ghosting can occur for a number of reasons some of which you can read below. It should be noted that traditional whiteboards usually have a limited life span in which you can avoid any ghosting.
- Using low quality, cheap whiteboards
- Repeated heavy use of whiteboards
- Leaving marks on a whiteboard for extended periods
- Erasing markers while they are still wet
- Some types of whiteboards are more susceptible than others to ghosting
How to Avoid Whiteboard Ghosting?
- Use high quality markers and cleaning sprays
- Clean with Smart Sponge
- Replace your choice of eraser when it gets dirty
- Use a pro cleaner every so often – note not suitable for daily usage
One solution to avoiding ghosting altogether is abandoning traditional whiteboards and instead coating your wall with a high quality whiteboard paint: Smart Whiteboard Paint.
Smart Whiteboard Paint and Whiteboard Ghosting
Smart Whiteboard Paint is a high quality whiteboard paint which does not ghost. It has no harsh or cheap chemicals. It abides by all regulations of EU standards and is a low VOC product. These factors help it prevent factors such as poor erasability.
However ghosting can also be a repercussion of how you apply or maintain a product, so below are some tips for maintaining your Smart Whiteboard Wall.
Make sure that your whiteboard paint has been correctly installed, following the application guide provided, to help ensure no ghosting will occur.
- Do not stretch the paint: Smart Whiteboard Paint is sold by the area the customer is looking to cover, not litres. Using the paint on a larger area than the tin allows can have negative effects on the product’s erasability.
- For the first month of use, while the paint is still curing do not leave markers on the wall over night. This will give the product time to cure.
- Do not use Permanent Ink Remover on a daily basis as it can damage the surface. This product is for stubborn stains and you should thus use it irregularly.
- Do not use alcohol to clean the surface as continued use of alcohol on SWP may deteriorate the integrity of your surface and reduce the performance.
Smarter Surfaces also have a range of high quality dry erase wallcoverings available which are guaranteed ghosting-free.
The whiteboard accessories you use are very important in keeping your whiteboard surface in good condition. To save you the hassle of having to search through the number of brands of markers available, you can check out the markers we sell on our website which are high quality so are ideal to be used with whiteboard paint.
In conclusion, your whiteboard surfaces does need some care to maintain a pristine finish but by following the steps above, you should be fine!
Have you any questions regarding our products? Get in touch now.
by sefali | Aug 17, 2018 | Blog
Whiteboard Wallpapers have a definitive advantage over wall-mounted whiteboards. They give you an entire wall for writing, collaborating, and sharing ideas. Some other key advantages of whiteboard wallpapers are:
- It doesn’t stick out from the wall or consume extra space
- Can fit on walls of any size or shape , can be cut around powerpoints or wall fixtures
- It’s easy to install and can be applied to any smooth surface
However, not all writable wallpapers are created equal. You have to bear certain things in mind in order to find the best whiteboard wallpaper for your specific needs. This post will help you identify the best whiteboard wallpaper by exploring the key features.
What constitutes the best whiteboard wallpaper?
The best whiteboard wallpaper needs to have a combination of functional and characteristic features that yield maximum performance without compromising safety. We’ll categorically explore such features and help you make a well-informed decision while purchasing a whiteboard wallpaper.
Functionalities to look for in the best whiteboard wallpaper
The basic functionality of a whiteboard wallpaper is its dry-erase nature. That means you should be able to write on it with dry-erase markers and wipe it clean with microfibre eraser cloths.
- Durability, it must stand up to daily use in an office or classroom
- There should be no staining or ghosting
- Dry-erase markers should run smoothly on the surface
- It should retain its performance for a long period of time.
- You should be able to write seamlessly over the joining edges
Functionalities of a whiteboard wallpaper beyond the basics
The ability to attract magnets is a great addition to the functionality of a whiteboard wallpaper. Imagine how cool a wall would be if you could write on it and stick printed charts, and images with magnets.
- It helps you be more imaginative,
- Allows you to create a better and more well-rounded impression during a presentation,
- And the whiteboard wall can double as a bulletin/achievement board.
You can stick the sales targets, write down a team’s goals for a week, and stick an image of the best performer of the week on the same wall.
This lets you create a wall that you can use for writing as well as for projecting images and videos with a projector. The best part is that you can do both simultaneously.
Project your presentation while writing on and around it. Just imagine the possibilities there in an office as well as in a classroom.
- In a classroom, you could project questions on the wall along with visual cues and ask pupils to write the answers on the same wall.
- In an office, you could use this feature to enhance the creativity of your presentation.
Here is something that ties all the functionalities into one product that can completely transform an average interactive space into a hub of collaboration and creativity. With a wallpaper that turns your wall into a magnetic, writable, projectable surface, you are only limited by your imagination.
The whiteboard wallpaper range by Smarter Surfaces brings you all these functionalities bundled with application kits, DIY guides, and free video consultation.
Safety of the best whiteboard wallpaper
If you are about to install whiteboard wallpaper in an office or a classroom, the safety of the product is to be taken very seriously. You need to choose non-toxic, fire-resistant, environmentally friendly products with all the necessary certifications.
Here’s a checklist to help you choose the safest whiteboard wallpaper
- It is PFOA and PFOS free
- It is certified for fire resistance particularly important if used in an office or classroom. A Class fire certification is best. The best whiteboard wallpapers will come with certification for this.
- Easy to clean
Conveniences to look for while buying whiteboard wallpaper
- It should be easy to install
Apply the adhesive, stick the wallpaper to it and cut through the middle of where the wallpaper overlaps, and you are done. If it is not that simple, maybe you need a different product.
- The wallpaper should come with an installation kit
You need a wallpaper spatula, a pair of gloves to apply the wallpaper and a piece of microfibre cloth to wipe it clean. Look for a brand that sends these along with the wallpaper.
- A detailed application guide
While installing wallpaper is a simple task that you can perform without professional help, there are techniques that make the job easier and the result better.
A step-by-step application guide helps you do everything right. An application video just makes things even easier. Look for brands that can offer you these conveniences.
If you are investing in a whiteboard wallpaper you should be able to use it to its fullest for a long period of time. Smarter Surfaces whiteboard wallpapers come with a 10-year performance guarantee. So, that is something to beat when you are looking at different brands.
A quick recap of the main things to look for in the best whiteboard wallpaper
- A smooth odourless writing surface with almost unnoticeable edges
- Durability will it stand up to commercial use
- Fire safety and environmentally friendly certificates
- Application kit and guides
- Additional features like ferromagnetism and projectability can be sought after
- Product guarantee and easy-to-avail customer support
If you are planning to refurbish your classrooms with new whiteboard walls or remodel your office space to make it more collaborative and fun by installing whiteboard wallpapers, we can offer our guidance through free video consultation. You can send us pictures and videos of your wall and we will guide you to the best whiteboard wallpaper for your needs.
