How to Install & Mount Acoustic Panels on Different Surfaces

Sound panel treatments generate a more functional and user-friendly space by lowering background noise and generating greater clarity to original sound. A family of wall or ceiling mounted acoustic panels — placed in nice, even site lines evenly spread throughout a room — will effectively capture unwelcome echoes in a space and deliver premium sound quality.

The bulk of most commercial soundproofing applications will use a set of cloth wrapped compressed fiberglass boards that will ship to the job site with a corresponding set of mounting clips. These installation clips come in a variety of options dependent on the surface the panels are to be applied to.

How to Mount Acoustic Panels on Concrete & Brick Surfaces

For concrete and brick walls, metal clip systems are shipped with your order and anchored to the backsides of the sound panels, with a mating wall bar to be anchored mechanically to the surface. The treatment requires precision on pilot holes, but it is the only option for brick and block wall surfaces.

How to Mount Acoustic Panels on Drywall Surfaces

For drywall surfaces, the treatment gets easier. Anchoring sound panels to drywall surfaces involves a clever clip system called Rotofast that ships with your sound panel order. These clips are easily screwed into the backside of each panel, which in turn is pressed to the drywall surface to “mark” where the mating portion of the clip is to anchor to the drywall. At that point, the panel simply surface mounts flush to the drywall surface.

Hanging Panels from a Ceiling

Some people opt to “float” their sound panels like a cloud. These cloud mount options are popular for ceilings that have pipes and obstructions on the ceiling, preventing a flush mount direct to the surface. Cloud mount options allow the sound panels to decoratively “float” out over the room in nice, even site lines. The panels can be suspended as high or low as you like, with attention being paid to lighting, sprinkler heads, ventilation and other obstructions. Clips will be epoxied to the backside of your sound panels prior to shipment. Simply thread your own wire through the clips and free hang them from your ceiling or the tops of the bar joists.

Easy Adhesive Mounting

For clients opting for the easiest installation method, and who have no need for portability of their panels, construction adhesive can be used in conjunction with a set of impaling clips shipped with your order. These clips have teeth on them. Simply screw them into the wall with the teeth facing outwards, apply adhesive to the backside of the panel, and press the panel into place. The teeth of the clips will penetrate the backside of the panel while the adhesive drives.

Mounting Acoustic Foam

For those clients who opt for acoustic foam, the installation involves nothing more than silicone adhesive being applied to the back of the panel and then placing the panel against the surface.

Consult with a Sound Expert

Regardless of your installation technique, the key to remember for triggering the intended sound values is to ensure that you are not under treating your space. Care must be given to analyzing the room based on its dimensions. Work with your sound consultant to ensure the correct product and mounting method is selected and also that the right amount of product is shipped to your project site. Once those details are all aligned correctly, you have the freedom to spread the sound panel treatment out within your room as you wish.

For more information on how to install acoustic panels, visit NetWell Noise Control online.