Do you want to replace that outdated popcorn texture ceiling, or are you looking for a way to refresh your home by redoing your ceiling inexpensively? Either way, styrofoam ceiling tiles are probably the best option you can go for.
They are available in a plethora of designs, are easy to get and install. But how can we actually glue those ceiling tiles, and what adhesive should we use to do so?
We will answer those questions with the help of our list of the 4 best glue for styrofoam ceiling tiles and our informative guide. In this article, we will present you with our recommended models along with a guide that will help you understand how we chose those models.
Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Glue For Styrofoam Ceiling Tiles – Reviews
We started our research with over 30 different glue models, and we ended up with just 4 that passed our meticulous tests. Those 4 are the best glue models for styrofoam ceiling tiles you can find. They don’t melt the material, are easy to apply, and hold their bond great. You can’t go wrong with any of them!
Our Pick
Loctite PL 300 Styrofoam Construction Adhesive
Size: 10 Ounce
Setting Time: 15 to 20 Minutes
Viscosity: High
The Loctite PL 300 is the winner of our little list of the best adhesives for styrofoam ceiling tiles. It is generally one of the most recommended adhesives for this purpose, and in our opinion, has the best price to performance ratio of all styrofoam ceiling adhesives.
The most important property of styrofoam glue is that it doesn’t dissolve polystyrene, and this is precisely what Loctite had in mind when they designed this adhesive. It won’t damage the fragile styrofoam ceiling tiles like other adhesives.
While the absence of the solvents in this glue is important, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it will bond the styrofoam well. PVA glue also doesn’t dissolve the styrofoam ceiling tiles but doesn’t hold them for too long.
Loctite again got this right and made this adhesive stronger than the styrofoam itself. You will likely break the ceiling tile before the bond breaks.
This means that the bonds made with this glue will be long-lasting and that you won’t have to worry about the tiles falling from the ceiling ruining your work.
Another common issue with styrofoam adhesives is that while they bond the styrofoam well and don’t melt it, they ruin its color and show through the material. This can totally ruin the looks of your ceiling and leave you with unexpected results.
The problem we just described doesn’t happen with this adhesive as it’s specially formulated to not alter the color of the styrofoam. It will leave you with a clean and professional-looking result.
The Loctite PL 300 comes in a cartridge, so you will need to use a caulk gun to apply it. For this application, a standard caulk gun will do. The setting time for this glue is 15 to 20 minutes which is very quick for styrofoam bonding.
What we like the most about this glue is its incredible price to performance ratio. It will bond the styrofoam ceiling tiles very well and won’t cost you a fortune. There are some slightly better-performing models out there, but none can match the price of this Loctite PL 300!
UHU POR Styrofoam Adhesive
Drying Color: Clear
Setting Time: 10 to 20 Minutes
Viscosity: Medium
The UHU POR styrofoam adhesive is by far the best glue for styrofoam ceiling tiles in terms of quality that we reviewed. What makes it go to the runner-up position is its price.
Considering that you would need a lot of styrofoam adhesive to glue the tiles to an average-sized ceiling, this glue can get quite expensive. Still, we had to include it in our list because of its unmatched performance.
This is a German-made glue that is very popular in Europe but started becoming more and more sought-after in the US because of its incredible performance on styrofoam.
What’s so special about this adhesive then, you might ask. Well, for starters, it has an unmatchable setting time compared to other styrofoam glue models.
For a ceiling tile application, this glue can dry in only 10 minutes! It will make you finish your project as much as 2 times faster than with the other adhesives!
Apart from its lightning-fast setting time, this glue offers incredible holding power. The styrofoam ceiling tiles will be inseparable from the ceiling after around 10 minutes. The bonds made with this glue will last for years because of its massive strength, and it is more likely that the styrofoam tiles will fail before the bond does.
The enormous strength of this adhesive doesn’t sacrifice the looks of your ceiling tiles, as this glue won’t show through the tiles. It has a specific make-up that allows it to bond the styrofoam tiles while not dissolving the material.
To ensure the maximum tidiness of your ceiling, this glue dries clear and won’t be noticeable even if you forget to remove some. This is a unique feature that allows you to get a bit sloppy and finish your project faster while not sacrificing the looks.
As we previously mentioned, performance-wise, this is by far the best glue for styrofoam ceiling tiles you can buy, but the expenses can ramp up pretty easily. If you don’t mind spending quite a bit more than you would with the Loctite PL 300 and want only the best results, go for it.
Gorilla Original Waterproof Polyurethane Glue
Size: 4 Ounce
Setting Time: 1 to 2 Hours
Viscosity: Medium
Another great choice for bonding styrofoam ceiling tiles is the Original Gorilla Glue. This is a polyurethane glue that works very well with polystyrene materials.
It might surprise you how well polyurethane adhesives work on styrofoam ceiling tiles. The strength of the bond is as good as that of Loctite PL 300 and almost on par with the UHU POR.
The special formulation of this glue makes it foam up, which makes it expand into the styrofoam ceiling tiles and makes the bond extra strong. Since the glue expands, little goes a long way, which saves you money and time needed to happy the adhesive.
Expansion of the glue also helps even out the dissimilar surfaces, which is great for leveling the old popcorn textured ceiling with the new styrofoam ceiling tiles. The result is a symmetrical and professional-looking ceiling.
This glue doesn’t alter the color nor melts the styrofoam ceiling tiles, which is what we want. The bonds made with this glue are long-lasting and won’t ruin the looks or quality of the styrofoam ceiling tiles.
The cost to performance ratio of this glue is excellent. You only need very little of this glue to bond the tiles to the ceiling. You can spend as much as 3 times less glue to bond the same amount of styrofoam ceiling tiles as with some of the other models.
The main disadvantage of this glue is its drying time. It’s the slowest drying glue on our list and can take anywhere from 1 to 2 hours to set. Gorilla recommends dampening the ceiling slightly for quicker and better adhesion.
While 60 and possibly 120 minutes might seem long, the bond you will end up with will be solid and will last a long time. The low amount of glue needed to bond the tiles and high performance with styrofoam make this adhesive a worthwhile purchase.
3M Super 77 Multipurpose Permanent Spray Adhesive
Drying Color: Clear
Setting Time: 15 seconds
Viscosity: Low
The last glue on our list is the 3M Super 77, which is the stay adhesive for the styrofoam ceiling tiles. It has unique properties and advantages compared to most of the other models on the market.
One of those advantages is the lightning-fast drying time. This glue will set in just 15 seconds which is faster than most super glue models! That is indeed fast!
Drying time that is this low will help you significantly speed up your styrofoam ceiling project and will make you finish it in no time!
Another reason to go for this glue is the ease of use. It’s really a child’s play applying this adhesive as all you have to do is spray it onto the ceiling tile, and that’s it! You don’t need to use an applicator or waste time spreading the adhesive.
The strength of the bond on styrofoam is medium. It is a bit lower than the other models on our list and can sometimes produce unexpected results. Still, for gluing ceiling tiles, this adhesive performs excellent most of the time. We didn’t have any problem with it for this application.
What we really like about this adhesive is that it doesn’t melt or dissolve the styrofoam, which is the case with most other spray adhesives. It is clear drying and won’t alter the color of the styrofoam ceiling tiles.
The main drawback of this glue is the high price tag and fast consumption. You can go through one aerosol can fairly quickly and not to a whole lot of work. Still, if you prefer the easy application and super quick drying time, this adhesive can be a worthwhile purchase.
Another thing worth mentioning is that this spray adhesive is hard to remove from skin, clothing, and other materials. To prevent accidents, use protective equipment for yourself, and make sure to use a protective foil for other objects that are in the vicinity.
Glue For Styrofoam Ceiling Tiles – Guide
Styrofoam ceiling tiles are made of polystyrene, which a material notoriously difficult to bond. It has unique properties and requires a specific type of adhesive to bond it.
Additionally, glue for smaller styrofoam projects might not be efficient for a bigger project like ceiling tile renovation.
In this section of the article, we will go through the types of glue and the features you should look at in the adhesive for styrofoam.
Type Of Glue
Using the right type of glue is essential for proper styrofoam adhesion. If you go with an adhesive that is not adequate, you are risking weak bonds and damage to the styrofoam ceiling.
The adhesive used for styrofoam ceiling can’t contain any solvents since it can easily melt the fragile tiles. The adhesive you intend to use has to explicitly say that it’s compatible with foam and won’t dissolve it. Another way to find out is to read about the previous experiences with styrofoam and a certain adhesive.
There are adhesives like PVA glue that won’t damage the styrofoam but are usually not strong enough to hold it for too long. That’s why you need to pay attention that the adhesive is solvent-free but has the strength of the bond higher than the styrofoam.
Some styrofoam adhesives tend to show through and ruin the color of the styrofoam ceiling. That’s why you should preferably pick clear drying glue for styrofoam or glue that people reported doesn’t cause discoloration.
Affordability
One of the main issues with styrofoam adhesives is their affordability. Some models work great with styrofoam but can get very expensive if you’re having large projects like styrofoam ceiling tile installation.
It’s important to find a product that has a great price to performance ratio so that you can finish your project successfully without spending a fortune.
For larger styrofoam projects like this one, we recommend going for cartridge styrofoam glue like Loctite PL 300. It has the best price and performance per pound ratio of all the adhesives we tested.
- Size: 10 Ounce
- Setting Time: 15 to 20 minutes
- Viscosity: High
Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Tip For Successful Styrofoam Ceiling Tile Bonding
One of the essential tips for bonding styrofoam is to always test the adhesive before you do any real bonding. It takes practice to get the right amount of glue that needs to be applied. The more you do it, the better you will be at applying the glue.
The problem most people have is getting the balance between too much and too little of the glue. If you don’t apply enough glue, the adhesion will be weak.
On the other hand, if you apply too much of it, you can melt the foam and end up destroying your ceiling tiles.
We always recommend getting a few more tiles than planned if this is your first time installing the styrofoam ceiling tiles. Try it out a few times, and you’ll get more confident when you get to the real installation.
Wrap Up
That about covers it for everything you need to know about the best glue for styrofoam ceiling tiles.
Make sure to go for reputable brands like Loctite, M3, or Gorilla, and always pick solvent-free adhesives.
All of the models we recommended are safe for styrofoam and will create long-lasting bonds. You can’t go wrong with any of them!
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