Recommended Adhesive Attachment

February 24, 2016

Quick Links

1. Preparing Your Walls for InSoFast	6. Services and Plumbing
2. Layout and Running Bond	7. Windows and Doors
3. Adhesives Attachment	8. Corners
4. Screw Attachment	9. Top of the Wall
5. Cutting and Fitting	10. Electrical Installation
	11. Floor Installation

Important Notice Cold Weather Application Tip:

Preparation

Use above 40°F (4°C). Surfaces must be clean, dry and free of frost, grease, dust and other contaminants. Pre-fit all materials and protect finished surfaces. If using cartridge format, cut nozzle at a 45° angle to desired bead size and puncture inner seal. Be very careful not to allow Loctite® PL® Premium to cure on a finished surface.

Application

Apply adhesive to one surface of the material being bonded. Press the surfaces firmly together. Materials may be repositioned within 45 minutes after applying the adhesive. If bonding two non-porous surfaces (such as foam, metal and fiberglass), add water in the form of a very light or atomized spray from a plant mister bottle to the extruded adhesive. The repositioning time will then be reduced to less than 30 minutes. Use mechanical support for 24 hours while the adhesive cures.

InSoFast panels were designed with simplicity in mind and we would argue that gluing them is not only the easiest method of installation but often the most effective. Third-party testing has shown the adhesive bond strength of our studs to have 108psi of holding power. This means each adhered panel is capable of holding over 5,000lbs!

Testing was conducted using Loctite PL Premium’s 3X Stronger Construction Adhesive, (in Canada it is marketed under the LePage PL Premium brand,) on clean concrete surfaces. It is the only adhesive we have tested. Other formulas and brands may not work as expected.

Important read the adhesive manufacture’s information before proceeding.

Overview / Features / Technical Data / Directions

Application Process

1. Find the Ribs: Make sure you are gluing the ribbed side of the studs.The front side is smooth and will not form a strong mechanical bond with the adhesive.Quick Tip: You can speed up your installation by pre-stacking the panels with rib-side facing up, ready for adhesive.
2. Apply Adhesive: Run a ⅜-in bead of adhesive along all 3 studs.If you are placing the panel on the edge of a wall or in a corner, run a bead directly on the foam at that edge (see: dashed line). This will ensure a solid-backed attachment. Again, it is only necessary at corners and anywhere you cut a panel to fit around openings.
3. Press in Place: Check that your panel is tongue-side up, with the rib-side facing the wall and that any interlocking edges meet. Press firmly against your wall.Don’t be alarmed if it feels a little spongey at first. PL Premium takes about 20 minutes to set and 24 hours to cure. It can form a “liquid shim” spanning gaps of up to ⅜-in and effectively tighten up small irregularities in a wall’s surface.On walls that are subject to peeling or flaking paint, it is important to supplement the installation of InSoFast panels with mechanical fasteners such as Tapcon® screws or Perma‐Grip nails.See: Installation > Screws and Fasteners

Tips

Purchasing Adhesive

PL Premium 3X Box

When purchasing the adhesive for your project, we recommend using the larger 28-fl oz / 828 mL tubes and a caulk gun to match in size. For larger projects, get a higher-quality caulk gun that’ll be easier to operate and give you more control with the flow of adhesive. You’ll thank yourself later. Quality guns usually have a built-in tip cutter and seal puncture tool. Expect to pay about $15.

Calculate the number of tubes necessary for your project (adhesive coverage may vary):

1 large 28-fl oz / 828 mL tube = 6 InSoFast Panels or
1 large 28-fl oz / 828 mL tube = 48-sq ft of wall area

General Safety

Even though the adhesive is odorless, it is important to note its strength and abilities. Always wear disposable gloves and never allow PL Premium to cure on a finished surface.

Adhesive Testing

If you are unsure about the conditions of your walls, we recommend performing an adhesive test. Find a scrap 2×4 measuring at least 6 inches long and run a 3/8-inch bead of adhesive along it. Press the “test block” against the wall with one end resting on the floor to keep it from sliding down. Support it in place if necessary. You’ll need to wait 24-48 hours for the adhesive to cure, but keep in mind that PL Premium takes 14 days to reach it’s full strength.

When the curing time has passed you are ready to test the strength of the bond. Try to pry the test board off the wall. If you can manage to pull it off with your hands, you will need to mechanically fasten the panels to the wall.

See: Installation > Screws and Fasteners

When you begin your InSoFast installation, check to make sure you are using the right amount of glue. Pull back a freshly adhered panel and check for adhesive transfer to the wall. You should see about 1/4-inch wide adhesive transfer to the wall.

Do not install screws or mechanical fasteners until the adhesive has completely cured. (usually about 24hrs)

Why We Recommend Loctite PL Premium 3X or LePage PL Premium

Safe and Reliable

In many cases, construction adhesives are actually a more reliable method of attachment. In particular, Loctite’s 3X Stronger formula is designed to cure 3 times stronger than average solvent-based varieties. A single bead can outperform concrete screws spaced 6 inches apart.

PL Premium is not a solvent-based adhesive. It is compatible with all types of foam and it’s completely odor-free. Additionally, it does not shrink as it cures. This property allows it to act as a predictable “liquid shim” which can span and fill gaps of up to ⅜-in.

Weatherproof

Cured or uncured, interior or exterior, moisture has no negative effect on PL Premium. In fact, it actually uses moisture to cure. The adhesive remains stable in all sorts of extreme freeze/thaw weather conditions.

Unlike traditional screw systems which can rust and wear with moisture, our chosen adhesive has a waterproof bond that is tested and approved to be a more durable alternative. Waterproofing materials like Dry-lok paint serves as an excellent primer that increases bond strength on concrete.

Locks Tight

Like the name of the adhesive manufacturer, Loctite, our engineered patent-pending stud is designed to form a tightly locked bond. When a bead of adhesive is run along the stud’s ribbing it forms hundreds of solid interlocking dovetails, a design renowned for high tensile strength. Adhesive also bypasses the structural stress associated with drilling holes in a wall.

As further assurance, we worked with a third-party independent testing facility to evaluate the power of our engineered stud/adhesive bond. The astounding results concluded the safety factor at over 400 times the weight of standard ½-in drywall. Most structural beam systems are engineered to a safety factor of only 2-3 times their rated loading.

Simple

It’s easy! PL Premium remains re-positionable for up to 20 minutes without disrupting its bond strength. In 24 hours, your project is ready for drywall.

We designed InSoFast Panels with you in mind and PL Premium 3X Stronger was part of our decision process. We want your InSoFast project to be as simple as possible to install, so that you can quickly experience the benefits of an insulated home and/or office.