My daughters both love dry erase boards (or as we call them, whiteboards). So when I started to redesign their playroom, I knew I wanted to incorporate a large whiteboard area for them to draw on. However, when I started to price them out, I couldn’t believe how expensive they were. There was no way I could get two large boards for under $40, and there was no way I was paying that price.
When I was purchasing peg board for my craft room makeover last year, I saw these pieces of precut boards in the same section called marker board. I pulled one out and saw that it was the same surface as a whiteboard – and a 24×24″ piece was only $4.70!
If you want to create your own marker boards, here’s what you will need:
- 1 piece of marker board (mine was 24″x24″)
- enough trim to frame the board (I used the cheapest MDF casing trim the store had)
- liquid nails
- a mitre saw
- spray paint in your choice of color
I had all of these materials on hand, so I only had to buy the marker board – but the other supplies are very inexpensive as well. (The liquid nails was $4.99 and I used less than half a tube, and 8 feet of trim was $2.50.)
The first step is to cut your boards to size – and here I am doing that. This was actually my first time using a power saw! It’s not as scary as it seems, I wish I did it long ago.
I spray painted my trim before I cut it, and then cut it into pieces that were 26″ along the outside edge. You will need four pieces for each board – I am doing two boards so I have eight cuts.
I used liquid nails to adhere the trim to the board. It’s very easy to use- just squirt it on using a caulking gun. You may want to play around with it first, to see how much the trim should overlap the board. Try to get as little as possible on the inside of the board, and wipe up whatever may squeeze out. It is possible to scrape it off after, but is much easier to wipe off while it’s wet.
If you are left with a gap in the corners like I was (my saw was slightly off), just fill them with caulking and once it’s dry, paint to match. Since I used spray paint, I simply sprayed some on a tray and used a foam brush for touch ups.
Once your touch ups are dry, you’re done. The whole project should only take about 30 minutes of active time – a few days though with the drying time of the paint, liquid nails, and caulking.
Now, let me give you some advice before you begin. IF, and this is a big if because I don’t know who would be silly enough to do this, you spray paint your trim and ask your husband to cut it, but he doesn’t for oh, say, 10 months or so, and your trim warps… save yourself the headache and buy new trim. The trim will pull away from the board, and it will take you many days, and many cans of tomatoes, to flatten it. Even then, it may not be perfect. Don’t be so cheap and spend $3 on new trim boards instead of trying to save the ones that are as curved as a bow. Seriously… that’s my only advice for this project. And I have no idea who would do this… or would use tomatoes as clamps. That’s just crazy, right?
Debilou ~ Mississippi Mama says
I’ve got to make one of these.. I had no idea you could buy that marker board. Thanks for sharing.
Tre says
This is great! I don’t quite trust myself with a saw but I may tackle this in the future.
Jojo DIYnewbie :) says
Hello all.
I bought a melamine board at the hardware store yesterday. It’s $13 for 8 feet by 2 feet. Does marker board have a better surface for Expo markers (dry-erase / whiteboard markers)?
Sarah says
I haven’t used melamine but the marker board works great for dry erase markers.
Betty Bellomy says
Somehow reading about the boards warping before your husband got around to cutting them made me smile and gave me some comfort At one point I noted on a pad when I asked my husband to do, or fix, something for me. I had waited two years for some things! He found the list. It disappeared. Really pretty quick too. I was impressed. He apparently does do some things fast.