Clothboards

Clothboards are rigid or semi-rigid panels produced by attaching fabric to a lightweight core to create a smooth, fabric-faced surface. They are used where a durable, customizable substrate is needed for writing, display, or decorative purposes.

Construction typically involves a core material such as paperboard, wood fiberboard, or foam, onto which a fabric layer—cotton, polyester, or blends— is laminated with an adhesive or resin. The assembly is pressed and cured to form a flat panel, then trimmed and finished with edges and back coatings to improve rigidity and handling.

Common applications include bulletin and display boards, fabric-covered signage, decorative wall panels, book covers, and stage or prop materials. Variants include fabric-covered foam boards for light display, felt-backed panels for sound absorption, and reinforced clothboards designed for higher durability.

Clothboards have roots in the demand for lightweight, inexpensive, and easily produced panels in education, retail, and theater. Their fabric surface offers a ready substrate for coatings, ink, or stitching, while the fabric face can be cleaned or replaced in some designs.

Care and limitations: clothboards are generally sensitive to moisture and may show wear on the fabric surface over time. Cleaning typically involves dry or gently damp cloths; strong solvents and excessive water should be avoided to preserve adhesion. Environmentally, some products reuse textile waste in the fabric layer or core, but disposal depends on binder and fabric composition.

See also: bulletin board, corkboard, fabric-backed panel, acoustical panel.