If you choose the wrong fixings for outdoor bulletin boards, updating your notices becomes more fiddly and damaging than it needs to be. Unsuitable pins, magnets, and hook-and-loop fasteners can all cause your board to deteriorate prematurely.
Choosing suitable display surfaces and fixing methods becomes easier once you’ve established how often you’ll update your outdoor bulletin board and what types of notices you’ll display.
This guide compares the options to help you choose a display surface and fixing method that works for your organisation.
Which fixings work best for outdoor bulletin boards?
Magnets, pins and hook-and-loop fasteners are all ideal for securing notices to outdoor bulletin boards. The best-matched fixing method depends on how frequently you change your notices and what materials you display.
Here’s a quick comparison to help you examine your options:
| Fixing method | Best for | Main consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Magnets | Regularly changed notices, rotas and event posters | Requires a magnetic metal surface |
| Pins | Mixed-size notices, community announcements and long-term displays | Repeated pinning can mark paper and fabric |
| Hook-and-loop | Frequently changed laminated notices and reusable signs | Requires a compatible fabric surface and hook-backed notices |
Some outdoor information boards, such as the Ventus Post Mounted Notice Board, offer a choice of inner panels, allowing you to select a display surface that suits your preferred fixing method when ordering.
Magnetic bulletin boards make frequent updates easier
Magnetic surfaces are particularly useful when notices need replacing several times a week, such as school or leisure centre timetables or workplace staff rotas. These surfaces allow you to reposition announcements without making holes in them, so they are a practical option for many businesses.
As well as timetables and rotas, they’re especially helpful for:
- Frequently updated event information
- Notices that need repositioning to make room for new announcements
- Reusable laminated information sheets
Top tips when choosing magnetic information boards
- Wipe the smooth magnetic surfaces clean from time to time
- Remove magnets occasionally to clear away any dirt trapped between the magnets and the display surface.
- Choose magnets strong enough to hold your paperwork securely. Larger posters may need several magnets to prevent corners curling, and laminated notices are thick.
Hot product: Check out the wall-mounted Nimbus notice board; it’s available with a magnetic metal panel or felt insert!
When are pins the better choice for information boards?
Pin-friendly notice boards are a versatile choice for displaying notices of varying sizes. This is particularly true when updates are occasional rather than daily.
Because drawing pins are familiar to most people, pin-friendly surfaces are practical for community notice boards. Contributors can attach paper notices directly to them without specialist fasteners or preparing their paperwork beforehand.
Let’s have a look at a couple of different types of pin-friendly notice board surfaces:
Natural felt for general-purpose displays
- A traditional notice board finish that works well for posters, announcements and community information.
- Particularly useful where several people contribute notices, as visitors can attach standard paperwork using drawing pins.
- Repeated use on the same area can gradually affect the surface’s appearance.
Tricord for heavier pin use
- A more durable pin-friendly fabric for heavy use.
- Has a cross-stitch texture and is designed to withstand repeated pinning.
- The textured surface helps disguise small pinholes, keeping the display looking tidy over time.
Hot product: The Cyclone Outdoor Wall Mounted Notice Board is available with natural felt or Tricord inserts; choose a display surface that suits how your organisation uses its notice board!
Are hook-and-loop fasteners suitable for outdoor bulletin boards?
Hook-and-loop fasteners are ideal for reusable notices, especially laminated sheets that need to remain presentable and that you don’t want to puncture with pins.
Hook-and-loop fasteners help you remove and reposition notices easily without damaging the display surface with pins. They’re a practical option for visitor information boards, educational displays and community announcements.
Top tips when choosing brushed loop nylon
- Use brushed loop nylon to work with hook-backed fasteners, such as Velcro.
- Attach suitable hook-backed strips or dots to the reverse of your notice, then press it onto the board.
- Use for reusable information that changes location or needs updating.
- Not all fabric-covered notice boards are designed for regular hook-and-loop use. Check the manufacturer’s insert specifications before ordering,
Match the display surface to the people using it
Think about who will update your board, not just what they’ll display. For example, a parish council sharing quarterly meeting minutes has different requirements from a school updating information daily.
Consider these questions before ordering:
- How often will notices change? Magnetic or loop nylon surfaces can make frequent updates easier.
- Will several people contribute? Pin-friendly surfaces are straightforward for occasional users.
- Are notices laminated? Magnets or hook-and-loop fasteners avoid puncturing reusable sheets.
- Will the board contain official and public notices? A double-door design can help separate the two.
Hot product: The Notus double-door wall-mounted notice board can be configured with separate locking arrangements, allowing public access to one section while keeping official information secure.
Get help choosing your outdoor bulletin board with Noticeboards Online
At Noticeboards Online, we understand that for many organisations, choosing a notice board involves multiple considerations and can be overwhelming when selecting the right option on a budget.
Luckily, our team has extensive product knowledge and can advise on display surfaces, configurations and installation options. We’ll help you find a practical solution for your space and budget – just reach out to our friendly team.