If you want to glue stainless steel to drywall, you can use either of the following three types of adhesives for this job:
- Epoxy resin
- Silicone glue
- Polyurethane glue
These three glue types provide superior bonding strength to glue stainless steel to drywall. Not all dry and cure simultaneously, so if you need the glue to work faster, you can pick the one that does exactly that.
But before you can glue your stainless steel item to drywall, you must prepare both surfaces to ensure a strong and durable bond.
Keep reading to learn more about the three types of glues ideal for this project, how to prepare both surfaces properly, and how to apply the glue.
Gluing Stainless Steel To Drywall: The Best Types of Glue
For the strongest bond you can get when you glue stainless steel to drywall, you have three types of adhesives you can work with:
- Epoxy resin
- Silicone glue
- Polyurethane glue
So let’s have a more detailed look at these adhesives.
Epoxy Resin
Epoxy resin comes in two parts that you will need to mix well before applying it to the surfaces.
The great part about epoxy resin is that it can dry as quickly as 5 – 10 minutes.
Of course, ensure you use a quality brand for the best results.
An example of an epoxy resin that you can use to glue stainless steel to drywall is J-B Weld ClearWeld 5 Minute Epoxy.
Here are the main features of this product:
- The set time is 5 minutes
- Cure time is 1 hour
- Dries clear
- Provides a very strong and durable bond
- Tensile strength of 3900 PSI
J-B Weld epoxy resin comes in a syringe that allows you to easily dispense a 1:1 ratio with precision.
The re-sealable cap prevents the glue from drying out or leaking after use, so you can reuse it multiple times with the effectiveness, quality, and texture unaffected.
Once you have mixed the 1 ratio resin with the 1 ratio hardener well, you are ready to apply it.
Polyurethane Glue
Polyurethane glue is a strong and commonly used adhesive to glue stainless steel to drywall.
A really good and highly recommended polyurethane glue for this job is Loctite’s PL Premium 3x Multi-Purpose Polyurethane construction adhesive.
This glue is engineered specifically for tradesmen as it permanently bonds almost any substrate.
Loctite’s PL Premium 3x Multi-Purpose Polyurethane construction adhesive comes in a foam format. It is non-combustible and has a low odor.
It provides an incredibly strong permanent bond.
Silicone Glue
Silicone glue (not silicone caulking) also provides a superior bonding strength for gluing stainless steel to drywall.
The disadvantage of this adhesive is that it requires more securing while dries and cures.
A known silicone glue often used for this type of project is Sika Sikaflex-221 multi-purpose adhesive.
Here are the main features of this silicone glue:
- Provides a permanent elastic seal
- High adhesive strength
- Non-corrosive
- Can be sanded
- Can be painted
- It is resistant to weather elements
- Resistant to aging
How To Properly Prepare The Drywall And The Stainless Steel Surfaces For Gluing: The Easy-To-Follow Steps
Glue works best and can provide the strongest bond when it can adhere to the material’s surface. If there is dust, grease, debris, or any other stains on the surface, the glue won’t reach the surface the way it needs to form its durable bond.
This will result in a weaker bond that could fail over time.
So before you apply the glue, you must properly clean and prepare both surfaces.
Follow these steps to prepare the stainless steel surface:
- Clean any grease or stains with acetone or rubbing alcohol
- Clean dust, dirt, or debris with warm soapy water
- Use 500 or 700-grit sandpaper to roughen up the surface that will be glued – this will create a much better adhesion for the glue
- Wipe clean the surface
Allow the surface to dry fully before applying glue to it.
Follow these steps to prepare the surface of the drywall:
- Use a clean cloth to wipe the drywall clean, removing dust
How To Glue Stainless Steel To Drywall: The Easy-To-Follow Steps
If you have prepared both surfaces, they are clean and dry; now you are ready for this step.
To glue stainless steel to drywall, follow these steps:
- Apply a layer of glue to the stainless steel surface – spread it evenly (you can use a spatula, stick, clean brush, or other tools depending on the type of glue you are working with)
- Align the stainless steel to the drywall
- Gently but firmly press it onto the drywall
- Use the necessary tools to secure the stainless steel in place until the glue fully cures (minimum 24 hours)
Depending on the type of glue you used, the amount you used, but also the environment you are working in (moisture, temperature, air ventilation) will affect how long it will take for the glue to dry and cure.
Read the manufacturer’s instructions to know how long the glue needs to cure because this will differ not just based on the type of glue you are working with but also on the brand.
But generally, regardless of the type of glue, it requires at least 24 hours to cure fully.
Conclusion
The best adhesive to glue stainless steel to drywall is polyurethane, silicone, and epoxy resin.
Polyurethane and epoxy resin will cure the fastest, but silicone glue usually provides the strongest bond.
You have options to choose from depending on which aspect is most important for your project.
Remember, all these three types of adhesives will provide a superior bonding strength.
