The Best Adhesive for Ceiling Tiles: Read This Before Installing Ceiling Tiles!

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Popcorn ceilings are becoming out of trend while various modern ceiling designs are available. Removing old ceiling tiles and upgrading them with new styles will enhance your house’s interior look.

Suppose you plan to redesign the home by installing new ceiling tiles, and if budget is a limiting factor, then you can use Styrofoam tiles. These tiles are both inexpensive and easy to install.

According to the type of ceiling tiles, it is crucial to select the right adhesive.

Ceilume Ceiling Tile Adhesive is one of the best adhesives for different types of tiles.

In contrast, this glue is not suitable for Styrofoam tiles.

3M Super 77 Multipurpose Spray Adhesive, Gorilla Glue, and UHU POR Styrofoam Adhesive are some adhesives for styrofoam ceiling tiles.

Continue reading the blog to learn about ceiling tiles and the most suitable adhesive to bond them.

Types of Ceiling Tiles

Types of Ceiling Tiles
Types of Ceiling Tiles

Ceiling tiles are also known as ceiling panels. You can use them to install ceilings or cover the drywall. They provide an aesthetic look to the house and some acoustic benefits.

Imagine you are planning to install ceiling tiles, so knowing what types are available is important. This will help to select the best one. Following are some common types of ceiling tiles.

Acoustic Ceiling Tiles

If you have a noisy room and are looking for an option for acoustic improvement, this ceiling will be a great choice.

Acoustic ceiling tiles will make the room less noisy and insulate the place. You can use the drop ceiling method when installing these ceiling tiles.

Note: For proper acoustic improvement and insulation, it is better to hire a professional.

Tin Ceiling Panels

Tin ceiling panels are an old method of installing ceilings. If you want a historical look, use these ceiling panels.

Tin ceiling tiles are nailed up during installation. These panels are expensive and not suitable for humid environments.

PVC Ceiling Tiles

The ceiling tiles are made of PVC.

They are lightweight, durable, and come in different designs. PVC ceiling tiles maintenance is very easy, and they are also simple to install.

Hence, you can do the installation yourself without the help of a professional.

Cork Ceiling Panels

Cork ceiling tile also provides acoustic benefits and is water-resistant. Compared to fiberglass or plastic tiles, this ceiling panel is costly.

Further, it is better to get the help of a professional during installation.

Styrofoam Ceiling Tiles

These ceiling tiles are made using polystyrene or styrene. You can directly mount the styrofoam tile to the ceiling.

Therefore, you can DIY the installation process. These ceiling tiles are affordable, attractive, and capable of insulating.

The Best Adhesives for Installing Ceiling Tiles

The Best Adhesives for Installing Ceiling Tiles
The Best Adhesives for Installing Ceiling Tiles

Following are some of the best adhesives to adhere to different ceiling tiles.

Ceilume Ceiling Tile Adhesive

This is a high-quality adhesive specially designed for ceiling tile adhesion. Ceilume adhesive has better coverage and produces a strong adhesion.

This adhesive can bond PVC, vinyl, mineral fiber, acoustic, tin, polystyrene, and wood fiber ceiling tiles. You can check the manufacturer’s instructions for further clarification.

Anyway, this adhesive is not suitable for Styrofoam ceiling tiles.

Loctite Power Grab Adhesive

Loctite Power Grab Adhesive
Loctite Power Grab Adhesive

This adhesive is a non-toxic, water-based glue that helps to bond ceiling tiles strongly. You can also use Loctite adhesive on melamine foam and polyurethane.

This adhesive has a low odor and is easy to clean up.

Important: In California, they consider exposure to chemicals like chromium in this adhesive may cause cancer and birth defects.

Best Adhesive for Styrofoam Ceiling Tiles

Best Adhesive for Styrofoam Ceiling Tiles
Best Adhesive for Styrofoam Ceiling Tiles

Knowing the suitable adhesive for bonding this material is essential for working with styrofoam ceiling tiles. Following are a few of the best adhesives for styrofoam ceiling tiles.

3M Super 77 Multipurpose Spray Adhesive

This adhesive helps bond a wide range of lightweight materials. This high-strength adhesive is suitable for different substrates. The dry time of this adhesive is fast compared to many other products.

Hence, this will speed up the Styrofoam ceiling project. The strength of bonding styrofoam is medium, but it will be a good option if you are working with styrofoam ceiling tiles. This spray adhesive dries clear.

Note: 3M Super 77 Multipurpose Spray Adhesive is hard to remove from the skin. Therefore, to avoid getting in contact, it is better to wear protective clothing.

Gorilla Original Gorilla Glue

Gorilla Original Gorilla Glue
Gorilla Original Gorilla Glue

This glue works well with polystyrene materials. The Original Gorilla Glue expands into the styrofoam and produces an extra-strong bond.

As the glue expands, you will only need to apply a small quantity of the adhesive; hence it helps save money. Although this glue takes a long time to dry, it is highly durable.

UHU POR Styrofoam Adhesive

This product is by far the best glue for bonding Styrofoam ceiling tiles. Since you will need a lot of this adhesive to stick the ceiling tile, this will impact the project’s overall cost.

This is a translucent glue and will not show through the ceiling tiles. UHU POR adhesive is an excellent choice for bonding styrofoam ceiling tile as it will not dissolve the styrofoam.

How to Install Glue-Up Ceiling Tiles

How to Install Glue Up Ceiling Tiles
How to Install Glue Up Ceiling Tiles

You can glue the ceiling tiles to a smooth and clean surface using a suitable adhesive. You can follow the instructions below when DIYing the ceiling tile installation project.

Step 1: Clean the Substrate

Ensure to clean the surface using a soft cloth and water. This will prevent dust from sticking to the ceiling tiles.

Step 2: Draw Two Perpendicular, Straight Chalk Lines.

After snapping the perpendicular lines, check whether they are straight using a tape measure.

Step 3: Applying the Adhesive

It is not necessary to apply too much adhesive to the tiles. Instead, using the right amount will be sufficient.

Step 4: Stick the Tiles

Start tiling from the middle of the surface. Now stick the tile carefully on the surface to place it against the chalk lines.

Press it well with your palm. You can repeat the process for the other ceiling tiles. When inserting the corner tiles, you can cut the tiles according to the required measurements.

Step 5: Wipe Excess Adhesive

A soft cloth can easily wipe off the excess adhesive from the surface.

Step 6: Using Self-Adhesive Decorative Strips

Next, you can cover the gaps between the tiles using self-adhesive decorative strips. This will help to obtain the final finish.

If you need help installing the ceiling tile, contact a professional.

Pros and Cons of Installing Ceiling Tiles

Pros and Cons of Installing Ceiling Tiles
Pros and Cons of Installing Ceiling Tiles

There are some pros and cons to installing ceiling tiles.

Pros

  • Increases the value of your house.
  • Provide acoustic benefits (soundproofing).
  • Glue-up ceiling tiles are easy to install.
  • Easy to replace.
  • Improves insulation.
  • Installing ceiling tiles will help to hide wires and conduits.

Cons

  • Using strong adhesives might make the removal process difficult.
  • Sometimes the work might turn out messy when the glue starts dripping. Hence, you can cover the work area using old clothes.

Conclusion

This blog will teach you about ceiling tile adhesive and the installation method. You can use the appropriate glue when sticking them to the ceiling, according to the type of ceiling tile.

Since you cannot use all adhesives on styrofoam ceiling tiles, we have provided some of the best glue for these tiles.

Lastly, you would have also encountered the pros and cons of installing ceiling tiles.

For more interesting facts about the best glue for tiles, check our recent blog on “What Is The Best Pool Tile Adhesive?”.

We hope this article was informative!

FAQs

Can I Use Liquid Nails to Stick Ceiling Tiles?

Yes, Liquid Nails is another excellent adhesive for bonding ceiling tiles.

Why Do My Ceiling Tiles Fall?

AC condensation and leaks in roofs or pipes might cause ceiling tiles to fall.

Using poor adhesive can also be a reason for ceiling tiles to fall.

Will Ceiling Tiles Improve Insulation?

Yes, ceiling tiles will improve insulation. As a result, you save money on house insulation.

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About Charlie D Paige

Charlie is a massive DIY fan, with dozens of DIY projects under his belt - ranging from tiling to electrics, and concrete pads to walls. Charlie loves tinkering, seeing how things works, the outdoors and playing with power tools... so is it any wonder that he's completed so many DIY jobs over the years?

Charlie loves spreading his hard-won DIY experience with the world via this blog.