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by bsenftner 2006 days ago
Been doping this for over 20 years: purchase the raw material used for cheap shower walls. It is the same material used to make whiteboards. 20 years ago a "shower wall panel" was the size of an entire wall, 4 x 8 feet, for about $11. I just checked Home Depot, they are only $27 now. I just drill/screw them right to the wall. Best thing ever. I have several rooms with doodle walls.
2 comments

A couple of startups I've worked at over the years did this. Couple of observations:

The coating doesn't seem to be quite as thick. Perhaps a few coats of whiteboard conditioner before starting and at intervals would help.

If you don't put a faux border on it, then you get whiteboard ink dust on the walls and it looks kind of trashy. I speculate that your best bet would be to get a bunch of trim with a rabbet in the back, bolt the bottom piece to the wall, have someone hold the board in place while you bolt the top part on to keep it from shifting. Hide a couple of screws through the boards along the sides to make sure it doesn't buckle on you.

I have 4 of these, for about 9 yrs now. Doesn't look trashy, nor do I have ink dust on the wall. Didn't bolt either. Used the velcro glue thingy.
Do you have a link? Tried searching but found many options, but none that fits your description. Thanks!
Well, I found it instantly this morning to quote the price, and just now blew my entire lunchtime trying t find it again.

Anytime I've bought them in the past, I just walked into a Home Depot and asked for "shower board, marker board, the cheap laminated particle wood". There are typically a few types, more like a board, so I ask for the flimsy ones used for cheap showers, and they take me to a stack of them in the lumber area. They are very thin, like an eighth of an inch. You'll need a vehicle larger than a sedan, BTW, this are BIG. But you can also have them cut for you, often no charge.

Lowes calls it "smooth white wall panel"