Installation question

[Circleville Signs]

I am going to be mounting a 3'x16' 3mm polymetal sign next week. It is an indoor install, and it is going on finished drywall. The issue is that the "studs" are those aluminum struts, and are narrow and not spaced appropriately to anchor to.

My thinking is that I will use a combination of VHB tape and silicone. Is my thinking on track? Should I try something different?

Thanks folks!

 

[J Hill Designs]

I would use drywall anchors, probably the larger 'screw-in' kind

 

[Circleville Signs]

In combination with VHB/Silicone? I don't trust drywall anchors with 24lb sheets of polymetal....lol

 

[J Hill Designs]

but you trust pure adhesive?

24 lbs is not alot over 6/8 mouting locations. approx, what, 5lb per screw?

 

[HulkSmash]

I am going to be mounting a 3'x16' 3mm polymetal sign next week. It is an indoor install, and it is going on finished drywall. The issue is that the "studs" are those aluminum struts, and are narrow and not spaced appropriately to anchor to.

My thinking is that I will use a combination of VHB tape and silicone. Is my thinking on track? Should I try something different?

Thanks folks!

I wouldn't trust vhb, and silicone alone. Use Tapcoms with drywall anchors.

 

[Billct2]

If screws are ok I'd stick with drywall anchors too, especially if the sign may come down someday.

 

[J Hill Designs]

and I'm talking these kind

http://anchorco.com/snapskru.html

(not that brand per-se, just the style)

 

[Gino]

I believe it was this past September, we put up an 8' x 28' dibond sign to an interior wall. It was a plywood wall with a drywall covering it and then painted. We used double-sided tape to temporarily hold it in place, used some 75AM and used a few screws strategically placed to take some of the weight off the silicon. From 5' away, you couldn't see the screws. We used flatheads and countersunk them ever so slightly. Then painted them the same color they were on. It was 100% ink coverage.

Those were 4' x 8's.... yours being 3' x 8'.... I think I'd still try to get a mechanical fastener in there somehow.

 

[Tony McD]

For a blind install...can you use a french cleat to hang the sign on?
You could probably hit the studs with the cleat.

 

[Circleville Signs]

Thanks guys - JHill - much appreciate the link. Will be going that route.

 

[tsgstl]

VHB, Silicone and angle aluminum Chanel (drywall anchored every foot) running the length of the bottom to hold the weight?

That Moze guy seems always have great advice for this sort of thing.

 

[John Butto]

This will hold anything heavy in drywall. E-Z toggle
http://www.easyanchors.com/Products.aspx?product=toggle

 

[divers2deep]

and I'm talking these kind

http://anchorco.com/snapskru.html

(not that brand per-se, just the style)

+1

 

[Marlene]

For a blind install...can you use a french cleat to hang the sign on?
You could probably hit the studs with the cleat.

that's what I wa thinking too.

 

[Circleville Signs]

Problem with a frech cleat is that this needs to mount flush, or pretty damn close to flush to the wall. This is a "Hall of Fame" sports board for the local Christian university.

 

[Moze]

If the customer is ok with seeing a couple of fasteners, I would put a drywall anchor at the corner of each sheet (I'm assuming you're using two sheets), one inch in or so from the edges. I like the green ones from Home Depot. You just hammer them in, no drilling. Each one will support 50lbs. of sheer weight, which is your main concern. One anchor could support the weight of one sheet, but one at each corner will look better aesthetically obviously. I would still use a few small (3" or so) pieces of VHB tape and silicone for good measure and prevent any flexing.

I hate those white screw-in anchors. They break too easily in my opinion.

 

[Circleville Signs]

Thanks Moze!

 

[John Butto]

They make those screw in anchors in metal, and it is best to make a small hole with an awl to start them in with.

 

[Moze]

Agreed, John. The metal are definitely better than the plastic ones.

These are the green ones I use: http://m.homedepot.com/p/E-Z-Ancor-...l-Anchors-and-Screws-25-Pack-25025/202055963/

 

[Letterbox Mike]

Gary, I agree with Moze, but I'd use these beauties:

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-25e...ord=drywall+anchor&storeId=10051#.UTD9E6Xrxeo

I discovered them about a year ago at HD and have been using them everywhere I can, they grip like an anchor but the screw in like a screw, so you don't have to pre-set anchors and hope they line up with the holes. I've been amazed at how much weight the hold. The picture shows a hex head, but I've only seen them with a pan head which looks nicer. But I'd probably do some small pieces of VHB around the perimeter and middle of the sign and then 6-8 of these around each sheet and call it a day, that'll hold this sign no problem.