Should You Glue or Screw Acoustic Wall Panels?
Updated
Screw acoustic wall panels up with clips unless the panel is lightweight foam you'll never move. Clips lift right off and leave a few 3/16 in. anchor holes to fill. Glue is for keeps: Auralex says removing a panel stuck with its adhesives "will require mechanical methods (sanding or scraping) which will damage the product and most wall surfaces" (Auralex adhesives spec sheet (opens in a new tab)).
| Panel | Glue | Screws |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric panel with a wood frame | Not recommended by GIK Acoustics (opens in a new tab) | Z-clips or sawtooth hangers |
| Rigid fiberglass board | Only as extra hold on clips | Impaling clips |
| Foam | The usual method | T-pins or a backing board |
Glue makes sense for foam on a wall you own, when you don't want any hardware showing. Auralex says new drywall has to be primed and painted first, and Tubetak takes 24 hours to cure (Tubetak Pro guide (opens in a new tab)). In a rental, count on patching and repainting when you move out.
Watch out: Put adhesive on clips and they're permanent too. ATS recommends construction adhesive on impaling-clip spikes for large or heavy panels, then warns those panels "cannot be removed without damage to the panel and/or wall surfaces" (ATS impaling clip instructions (opens in a new tab)).
You'll find the steps for each clip type in how to install acoustic wall panels. For what panels can and can't do once they're up, see the soundproof panels guide and the soundproof panels FAQ.