Best way to hang acoustic panels from sheetrock ceiling?

[Chuck Elliot]

Jul 5, 2014 12:51:23 GMT -5 Boomzilla said:

The light has dawned! I've decided on a feasible method.

I planned to use industrial, self-adhesive velcro, but the fabric covers on the ATS boxes are wrapped & stapled to the back of the wooden panel. If I attached the velcro to the fabric, it might not stick; if I attached the velcro to the wooden back of the panel, the thickness of the stapled fabric might prevent the velcro surfaces from making contact.

Solution? I'll stick the velcro to the fabric on the back of the panels, then I'll use an industrial staple-gun to staple the velcro to the wood, through the fabric. This will make the velcro surface the outermost surface of the panel, and it can then stick to the associated velcro surface, which will be adhered to the ceiling. Should there be any question about how well the velcro will stick to the ceiling, I'll staple those strips in place also.

Done! Minimum fuss, solid connection, removable if needed!

I used 2" Velcro to mount my rear panels to the wall. Their weight is supported at the bottom by a t-brace I built to also anchor my cd shelves to the wall too.

I would not apply Velcro to the fabric.

I also ran into the issue of the fabric thickness interfering with a good Velcro seal. I went to Home-Depot and got some 2" by 1/4" by 36" strips. I mounted them to the back of the panels and then the Velcro to the strips.

I too worry that unless you cover the entire back of the panels with Velcro, it won't be strong enough.

[Boomzilla]

The "industrial" velcro is much stouter stuff. The panels are light. With the velcro stapled every few inches through the fabric to the wood, I'm confident that it'll hold. I predict that two 1.5" wide x 36" long strips will hold a panel with room to spare.

[klinemj]

How are you securing the velcro to the ceiling?

Mark

[Boomzilla]

I'll try the adhesive surface direct to paint. Then I'll try peeling it off at one end. If it peels easily, then I'll either use staples or power screws to secure it every 1.5 to 2 inches. A few staples or screws wouldn't suffice, but if I use lots, the velcro will stay in place. The velcro I'm using has a rating of about 5x the weight of the panels, so the velcro-to-velcro surface isn't the weak point. Since I'm stapling the velcro to the plywood of the panels, I wouldn't expect that to be the weak point either. Getting the velcro to stick to the painted ceiling will be the most challenging part of the plan.

[DYohn]

I would never trust Velcro glued to the ceiling to keep anything from falling onto my head. Bolt them up there. Plus, if you hang them from wires the air gap that will be left between the back of the panel and the ceiling will serve as an additional bass trap.

[Chuck Elliot]

Jul 6, 2014 11:32:18 GMT -5 DYohn said:

I would never trust Velcro glued to the ceiling to keep anything from falling onto my head. Bolt them up there. Plus, if you hang them from wires the air gap that will be left between the back of the panel and the ceiling will serve as an additional bass trap.

I agree totally!

I too am going to add ceiling panels at some point, but I intend to drill out the panel frame edges so a screw can pass through the frame and go into toggle bolts in the ceiling.

I probably will build them myself.

[Boomzilla]

WAF prevents air gaps between the ceiling and the panels - period. I agree that it would make a more durable connection, but the industrial velcro I'm using is 2" wide x 36" long (two per panel) and is supposed to be strong enough to stick a person to a wall.

My experiences with this velcro lead me to believe that it will be more than sufficient to this task.

[DYohn]

WAF? She wouldn't even see the gap I'm talking about, but sure, go for it. I hope you don't have one come crashing down - a sure way to destroy whatever WAF let you put them up there in the first place.

[hemster]

Velcro may be strong but on a painted surface it may not last.

Why not use bolts into the ceiling for peace of mind? Otherwise Boomzillawife may give you a piece of her mind!     

[garbulky]

I never thought about the paint which may be a concern but the velcro he has is indeed ridiculously strong.

[klinemj]

Here you go...use bolts and fashion "skirts" to hide the gaps.

[hemster]

U-shaped metal brackets can hold the panel in place. Just mount the brackets and slide the panel in. One of the prongs would be flush to the ceiling.
These brackets can be painted to suit.

[Boomzilla]

Gents, the more I contemplate the "velcro only" solution, the less I like it. If the velcro were fastened on a vertical wall, I have absolutely no doubt that the velcro alone would be sufficient. However, with the velcro on a ceiling surface, with the axis of thrust trying to directly separate the two strips, I'm less confident of its efficacy.

Therefore, I'm thinking that some 90 degree brackets could be fastened to the edges of the panels and then fastened to the ceiling with toggle bolts. This is a bulletproof mounting, and absolutely won't fail. In fact, I can slit the fabric covers at the points where the brackets must attach, and run the brackets under the burlap. The only thing showing from the side of the panel will be the screw-heads. The ceiling mount will he concealed underneath the panel.

Cheers - Boom

[aud]

Jul 6, 2014 17:17:34 GMT -5 Boomzilla said:

Gents, the more I contemplate the "velcro only" solution, the less I like it. If the velcro were fastened on a vertical wall, I have absolutely no doubt that the velcro alone would be sufficient. However, with the velcro on a ceiling surface, with the axis of thrust trying to directly separate the two strips, I'm less confident of its efficacy.

Therefore, I'm thinking that some 90 degree brackets could be fastened to the edges of the panels and then fastened to the ceiling with toggle bolts. This is a bulletproof mounting, and absolutely won't fail. In fact, I can slit the fabric covers at the points where the brackets must attach, and run the brackets under the burlap. The only thing showing from the side of the panel will be the screw-heads. The ceiling mount will he concealed underneath the panel.

Cheers - Boom

Thank goodness the toggle bolts won the debate! No more potential for a boom to boomzilla's wife.

[Chuck Elliot]

Jul 6, 2014 14:54:39 GMT -5 hemster said:

U-shaped metal brackets can hold the panel in place. Just mount the brackets and slide the panel in. One of the prongs would be flush to the ceiling.
These brackets can be painted to suit.

I like this idea a lot! There's a lot more freedom in mounting the brackets than aligning holes in the panels or hanging from eyelets.

[DYohn]

The simplest way that I've used is using picture hanging wire stretched acriss the back and then hang the panels from the wire with toggle bolts or hooks in the ceiling.

This


and these


or these

[monkumonku]

Jul 6, 2014 19:52:37 GMT -5 DYohn said:

The simplest way that I've used is using picture hanging wire stretched acriss the back and then hang the panels from the wire with toggle bolts or hooks in the ceiling.

This


and these


or these

That's the SIMPLEST and EASIEST solution that will actually work without having to worry about something falling on your head. Now stop asking questions and just do it.

[jeffsanswers]

Hey Boom  Please try to find your ceiling rafters and hang your fasteners from there.They are usually 16 inches apart, sometimes 24 inches. Then  you know it's never coming down. If positioning is a problem you can always fasten some wood up there and attach your panels to that.There is always a way to make it look good. Dont forget to place them at the first order reflections.Think bank shots off the ceiling to the tweeter or mid.

[boscobear]

The velcro can be real strong when used in long strips. You can buy the velcro in rolls, and cut the strips the size of the panels The velcro strips can be held to the sheet rock with dry wall screws. Since no one will be hanging on the acoustic panels, why not just use long drywall screws. You can get different colors, or a dab of paint on the screw head, the same color as the panel, will make them invisible. Use a plastic fender washer, so no pull throw can occur. If people start staring at your ceiling panels, you may need a new TV to make them look straight ahead.

[corgidog59]

I used eye hooks (with plastic anchors)adn S hooks for the panel I hung from my ceiling. I would advise against velcro or anything sticky because when it it time to remove it, you will surely pull off the paint and or a layer or two of the paper/cardboard that covers the sheetrock/drywall.