Mounting Acoustic Panels from the Ceiling

[ronboster]

I just started to address acoustic treatments for the ceiling. I had some primacoustic nimbus panels on order. They use a slipknot wires, which looked terrific for mounting ceiling panels.

https://www.primacoustic.com/hardware/slipnot/

I also ordered some from Amazon to use on a different acoustic panel. What I found was with my low basement ceilings, the slipknot system required about 4-5 inches of headroom between the ceiling and the connection to the panel. This meant for my set up the panel was just too low for my liking.

So, I came up with another solution. I found this "velcro" type material from 3M. It's called 3M Dual Lock. When they say lock, they aren't kidding

https://www.amazon.com/3M-Dual-Lock-...114671&sr=8-15

When you pressed the two strips together you hear a clicking sound. Let me say they are locked in place. You don't have to worry about this product wearing out like velcro.

The adhesive is also very strong. But, to insure the product stay glued to the ceiling and panel...I mounted the 3M product to light plywood (cutting the plywood into 12x4 strips. I then used wood screws to mount the plywood/3M product to the joist in the ceiling and the panels (in two places). I also let the adhesive bond to the plywood for 3 days before mounting. When using the wood screws, I would secure them on the edges of the 3M strips, so the screws would help secure the 3m product to the plywood as well (as the adhesive).

Using painters tape to mark where I wanted to place the panels on the ceiling (and tape to the center of each end of the panel (as a guide)...my son and I would place the panel using the tape as guide and apply a little pressure to each area of the panel where the 3M locking strips were located...and click we'd lock the panel to the ceiling. Each 2 inch thick panel is about 3 1/4 inches from the ceiling to the bottom of the panel.

This is not a perfect solution, since ideally you'd want an air gap between the ceiling and the panel. But, as we all know, there are compromises when completing a project.

[slimdude]

Sounds like you've got your work cutout for you.

[ronboster]

Originally Posted by slimdude

Sounds like you've got your work cutout for you.

It worked out pretty well. The panels are in place and look great. I enlisted my son to hold one end in place while I locked in the other end to the ceiling. Using painters tape as a guide both on the ceiling and designation of the center on the panels helped.

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by ronboster

It worked out pretty well. The panels are in place and look great. I enlisted my son to hold one end in place while I locked in the other end to the ceiling. Using painters tape as a guide both on the ceiling and designation of the center on the panels helped.

That's good, glad it worked out.

[ronboster]

Here are some pictures of the mounted ceiling panels:

[RodChester]

The theater is looking good. I need to get some acoustic treatment on my ceiling as well.

[roar]

The company that hung my panels from the ceiling used this product...

https://rotofast.com/snap-on-anchor/

They worked well and were quick to install. Theatre looks great @ronboster!

[ronboster]

Originally Posted by roar

The company that hung my panels from the ceiling used this product...

https://rotofast.com/snap-on-anchor/

They worked well and were quick to install. Theatre looks great @ronboster!

I've seen those, but never watched the video's before. They are pretty slick systems.

The panels I purchased were from Acoustimac, which has a plywood backing on the back (vs exposed acoustical material). So, I would have needed to remove the plywood to use the rotofast plugs.

https://www.acoustimac.com/

Otherwise, the rotofast system would be a great way to install the panels. I'll need to bookmark that site for future reference.

[PaulBlu52]

At work we use these special foam tiles with a really high fire resistance. I fit out shops and offices. They have an adhesive backing which is mega strong and I'm pretty sure you could glue a crate of beers to it and lift it by the tile with no problems. If anyone's curious these tiles and the sheets are what we use for shop fitting. They're also jet black which look a lot nicer than the grey stuff in my opinion.

[ronboster]

I found another way to secure panels to the ceiling.

I hot glued magnets to the back of the panel. I then secured large washers with drywall screws to the ceiling aligned with the magnets. So far the panel is secured to the ceiling

[superpacman]

Originally Posted by ronboster

I found another way to secure panels to the ceiling.

I hot glued magnets to the back of the panel. I then secured large washers with drywall screws to the ceiling aligned with the magnets. So far the panel is secured to the ceiling

Cool idea..
They do sell magnets with a center hole to be screwed into whatever.

I wonder how strong the magnets have to be.

[ronboster]

Originally Posted by superpacman

Cool idea..
They do sell magnets with a center hole to be screwed into whatever.

I wonder how strong the magnets have to be.

In my case, the magnets are connected to the panel with hot glue. There are magnets that have a center hole that can be screwed to the backing of the panel (assuming the panel has something to secure a screw).

As far as magnets, I used Neodymium magnets. The size, quaintly and placement will make a difference (of course based on size and weight). They talk about pull factor of a magnet. Also, read the reviews of what others have experienced relative to weight limits.

[ronboster]

Well, I should have waited a month before posting my mounting idea.

The panels are just 5 pounds, but after about 24 hours three of the magnets (hot glued) came off the panel (still stuck to the washers screwed into the ceiling. The 4th magnet stayed secured to the back of the panel. The panel came off the ceiling (I had blankets and pillows on the floor where it landed).

So test #2. I'm using construction adhesive on 4 magnets (2nd panel) and adding more hot glue (than I used the first time) on the first panel. AND, I let all of the adhesive/glue cure for 24 hours. So 2 panels with two different adhesives as a test.

Here's an another idea: Use pot magnets (there is a hole you can screw the magnet into the back of the panel or ceiling. The washers are much larger than the magnet, so using an adhesive on the washer to attach to the panel (larger surface=more adhesive) would be a better alternative.

[ronboster]

Day 2 of the test:

The panel using construction adhesive to secure the magnets to the panels kept the acoustic panel in place. The hot glue panel fell with two of the magnets coming off the panel.

So I'm trying what I think is the best solution. Screwing magnet pots (hole) with a dry wall screw into the ceiling. I used construction adhesive to secure the large washer to the panel (more surface to spread the glue on). I let the adhesive cure for 24 hours. I felt a much stronger connection between these panels and the panels with the magnets glued to them.

Here are the magnets I'm using:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09VD6QQ8Q...roduct_details

The adhesive (which a company rep recommended for this particular job):

https://www.lowes.com/pd/LOCTITE-Pl-...Fl-Oz/50449426

You can use any steel washer.

I'll report back any positive or negative results....but I think I found the right solution. Certainly, this would work to hang panels on the wall.



Update: 7 days and the panels are still attached to the ceiling....so no issues.