We’ve all gotten towards the end of the last score sheet left in the box. It was the last sheet of our favorite roll n’ write game. About to run out with no way of playing ever again. Panic ensues…can I make copies, buy more sheets…or laminate to have them forever!
Laminating your last few pages of game pad can be a great idea and is actually really easy to do. It provides a protective sheet that can in theory last forever as long as it is taken care of properly. Here is everything you need to know about laminating board game sheets.
Alternative Options
First let’s consider all the options before we permanently laminating.
- Protective Page Covers
- Write On Cover
- Laminate (click to continue to Laminate)
Protective Page Covers
Protective Page Covers are generally for papers going into a three ringed binder. With protective page covers, you can simply slide each game sheet into a cover. Store all your roll n’ writes in one place!
Benefits
- Cheap ($10 for 100 sheets)
- Interchangeable
- Store in Binder Storage (Amazon Basic Binder $2.50)
Cons
- Not as Durable
- Not exact fit
- Game sheets can shift inside
- Covers can bulge when writing
Write on Cover
Another option, that’s similar to using Protective Page Covers, is using “Write on Covers” or Dry Erase Pockets. Simply place the game sheet into the cover that you want to use at the time and write on the cover. These pockets are interchangeable not not a permanent fixture like laminating would be. Write on Covers are also more durable then using Protective Page Covers.
Benefits
- Interchangeably
- Durable
Cons
- Game Sheets can shift inside
Reasons to Laminate
Out all the options I chose to laminate my game sheets and here’s why:
- Durability and Protection. Laminating score and/or game sheets is like putting sleeves on cards. It will protect it from spills, getting wrinkles, and more.
- No Replacement Costs or Hassle. Once everything is laminated that is no need to worry about replacing score cards and/or game sheets. They should last a very long time.
- Premium Component Feel. This is an easy way to deluxe-ify a roll n’ write game. Along with laminating, we recommend chucking those included pencils and cheap markers for premium markers. Check out our post “Best Markers for Laminated Board Game Sheets”.
Types of Laminate
There are many types of laminate to choose from including Matte, Gloss, Soft-Touch, Nylon Lay Flat. When considering which type to get our biggest decision is based on the ability to frequently write and erase without left over residue over long periods of time. Glossy should be easier to clean however it will be harder to write on as the surface is too smooth for the ink to grab onto. While Matte might be easier for writing it may not always clean as well.
Do-it-Yourself or at a Shop
Do-it-yourself or a shop lamination could be completely up to you and if you plan on doing a lot of lamination in your future. However, the upfront costs will be a bit higher. The benefit of doing it at a shop is they can do it quickly and make precise cuts while also rounding the corners. Doing this correctly at home might take a few runs to learn proper technique. We opted for using a shop and brought in all our needed sheets at one time. Be careful to properly prepare everything you need before going.
If you dare do it yourself here are some things you’ll need:
- Lamination Machine (See Price)
- Lamination sheets (See Price)
- Straight Paper Cutter (See Price)
- Corner Cutter (See Price)
Preparing Your Game Sheets for Lamination
- Player Count – Check the player count on the box and make sure you have enough sheets for the maximum number of players.
- Are the Sheets Randomized? If the sheets are randomized in some way try to make sure you laminate every possible version. Often the asymmetrical pages will repeat at some point.
- Buy the Right Kind of Markers – The wrong kind of marker will damage your laminated sheets and/or give a bad gameplay experience, luckily, we have some great recommendations in our post on “Best Markers for Laminated Board Game Sheets”.
- Box Six – One problem I had after returning home from the lamination shop was the edges of the laminate stuck out too far for one of our games making it impossible for the pages to fit back into the box. It might be a good idea to bring any boxes that have a tighter fit or ask staff to cut closer to the edges.
Now that your game sheets are all laminated its time to grab some markers and play some games!
