
Thinking About Resurfacing Your Chalkboards?
Do you have a school full of chalkboards? Or maybe a stack of whiteboards, 5 layers deep, that eventually would reveal a chalkboard if you removed them? And maybe there is asbestos behind your chalkboards because your school was constructed between 1950 and 1969 —a period where asbestos was added to almost every type of building material to boost durability and fire resistance.
If any of this resembles your school, read on.
With Asbestos as the common enemy, we've seen teachers and administrators trying to balance the need to spend money on asbestos abatements, and the need to spend on resources to benefit the learning of their students.
We have a solution.
And we're not here to say we have fixed the entire asbestos problem... but we know we can help in our very specific way.
One quick excerpt from OSHA.gov if interested:
What are the hazards of asbestos?
Asbestos is well recognized as a health hazard and its use is now highly regulated by both OSHA and EPA. Asbestos fibers associated with these health risks are too small to be seen with the naked eye. Breathing asbestos fibers can cause a buildup of scar-like tissue in the lungs called asbestosis and result in loss of lung function that often progresses to disability and death. Asbestos also causes cancer of the lung and other diseases such as mesothelioma of the pleura which is a fatal malignant tumor of the membrane lining the cavity of the lung or stomach. Epidemiologic evidence has increasingly shown that all asbestos fiber types, including the most commonly used form of asbestos, chrysotile, causes mesothelioma in humans.
OSHA , WHO, and the EPA all advise that if asbestos is contained, with no open air exposure, then it's best to leave it alone. And this is where we come in.
"Leaving it alone" means you can not and should not remove, adjust, or drill into any chalkboards that have been mounted onto the walls in a classroom without a professional asbestos abatement, which we've heard ranges from $10,000-$25,000 per classroom. Yikes.
And a quick excerpt from
asbestos.com
"Asbestos is a group of six naturally occurring minerals made up of heat-resistant fibers. It was used in thousands of U.S. consumer products before the dangers of asbestos were known. Asbestos causes mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other cancers. Asbestos is regulated in the U.S., but not banned."
Learn more at https://www.asbestos.com/asbestos/
Again, we're not solving this entire problem,
but imagine spending 1/20th of that on solving this specific problem we're talking about (Resurfacing chalkboards because of asbestos problems), and redirecting that money that would have been spent on this, to future asbestos related issues that could be more urgent (ie. addressing exposed pipes or floor tiles). Unfortunately, asbestos-free pipes and floor tiles are 100% more important than a new incredibly high performing whiteboard, but they are less likely to get the students excited about learning.
So, I come to you with our solution. If you've read this far, it might make sense to simply pick up the phone and call/text us. (617-657-9616).
We resurface/refinish chalkboards with our premium peel and stick whiteboard cover.
Or in simple terms, we resurface chalkboards with our whiteboard film. The product comes on a roll. The product has its own adhesive already on the product, so there is no need for spraying any more chemicals into the classroom. Think Boards are super easy to install. Most of our schools have their facilities team install them, but if you'd prefer, our team can also come to your school and install them for you, for a small additional fee. Think Boards are expected to last over 10 years with "intense daily use" and we warranty any Think Board used for resurfacing for 10 years as well. (We have to say it that way because we cover many surfaces with Think Boards in schools, like desks, tables, and cabinets, but those tend to get more banged up.)
If you'd like to learn How To Resurface A Whiteboard with Think Board, see our install video
(
here)
Why Resurface Your Whiteboards?
- Convert your old boards in under 15 minutes a piece.
- Keep your old and sturdy infrastructure with our high quality finish
- Save on an asbestos abatement if your boards might have asbestos
- Save your old boards from going into the landfill
- Keep your technology healthy by removing chalk dust from the air
- Save your facilities team time and energy. Super easy cleaning.
Why Resurface With Think Board?
- Scratch-Resistant & Sharpie-Proof Finish
- Quick, Easy, and Bubble Free Installation, guaranteed
- Free Replacements for 10 Years if you have any issues
- Think Board works with all dry erase markers and will always be clean
- Permanent markers erase cleanly with rubbing alcohol
- No expo spray cleaner needed. Just water and a cloth!
If you're interested in learning more about how you or your school can get started or more info, here are some links below:
or give us a call! 617-657-9616