best drywall adhesive

Best Drywall Adhesive To Hang Drywall (2022 Review)

While most drywall professionals attach panels with screws, some use adhesive to speed up the process and eliminate the number of fasteners.

Drywall adhesive also comes in handy for corner beads, filling in voids, and preventing saggy ceiling panels.

If you’re interested in using adhesive, don’t just grab anything, though. You need to use the right product. 

Here are the best drywall adhesives on the market.

Best Drywall Adhesive

  1. Liquid Nails Heavy Duty Construction Adhesive  (Top Choice for ALL Common Construction Materials)
  2. Loctite PL Max Construction Adhesive (All Materials)
  3. Liquid Nails Drywall Adhesive DWP-24 (Best for Wood, Galvanized Steel, and Foam)

Types of Drywall Adhesive

While you might think you can grab any drywall adhesive for your project, this isn’t true.

Drywall adhesive is different from regular adhesive because it resists extreme temperature fluctuations and humidity. It also won’t break down with age.

Drywall adhesives come in a range of products like:

  • Heavy-duty construction adhesive (suitable for all materials)
  • Drywall panel adhesive for wood
  • Drywall construction adhesive for masonry
  • Corner bead adhesive
  • Drywall adhesive for metal

While most adhesives will come in a tube that works with a caulk gun, some panel adhesives come in powder form that you’ll need to mix with water before applying.

The Benefits of Using Drywall Adhesive

There are many benefits to using drywall adhesive. Here are some of the most common:

Reduce the number of drywall screws and achieve a firmer hold – Using drywall panel adhesive to attach your sheetrock can help you achieve a firmer grip and reduce the number of fasteners you need. 

(Tip: Never glue where joints meet, or you’ll end up with seeping glue at your seams. Instead, only use it on the “field” or middle sections.)

Fill in voids – If you have a gap in one of your studs, you can fill it with adhesive for a stronger hold.

Prevent saggy ceilings – Drywall ceiling panels are prone to sagging. You can eliminate this by using adhesive before attaching your panel to the joists.

Attach corner beads – Some corner beads require you to use adhesive to attach them.

How to Use Drywall Adhesive on Your Walls

If you want to use drywall adhesive on your walls, the steps are straightforward. 

Start by making sure the drywall and studs are clean and completely dry. Then, follow these steps.

Prepare Your Adhesive

Load your adhesive in a caulk gun.

Prepare your adhesive by cutting the tip at a 45-degree angle, far enough down for ½ inch of glue to come out. (If there’s a foil seal, you’ll need to puncture it.)

Cut Your Drywall to Size 

Now cut your drywall to size and mark which studs it will be going over.

Put Glue on the Stud (But Not Where Your Edges Will Hit)

Apply glue to  ⅔ of the stud, avoiding the edges. Do not put glue on the studs where the edges of your drywall will hit.

If you do, you’ll end up with a mess when the glue squeezes out of the seams.

Attach Your Drywall

You can now attach your drywall. Press the drywall into the glue. Adjust as necessary.

Finally, screw down your edges as normal. The middle studs where you applied drywall adhesive won’t require as many fasteners.

Best Drywall Adhesive Reviews

1. Liquid Nails Heavy Duty Construction Adhesive (Top Choice)

Liquid Nails Heavy Duty Construction Adhesive

If you’re looking for an adhesive that will secure your drywall panels, regardless of the building materials you’re attaching them to, you can’t go wrong with Liquid Nails Heavy Duty Construction Adhesive.

This adhesive is strong, weather-resistant, and water-resistant. So, no matter the temperature or humidity fluctuations your home goes through, it will hold up.

This product has a ten-minute working time, so only glue one panel at a time so the adhesive doesn’t dry before you can position it.

Pros:

  • Bonds drywall to all materials
  • Weather and water-resistant
  • Ten minute working time
  • Excellent hold

Cons:

  • None

Buy The Liquid Nails Heavy Duty Construction Adhesive On Amazon


2. Loctite PL Max Construction Adhesive (All Materials)

Loctite PL Max Construction Adhesive

The Loctite PL Max construction adhesive is similar to Liquid Nails construction adhesive. It bonds to all common construction materials, offers a great hold, and is all-purpose.

This glue works so well it even bonds to frozen lumber. It’s weather-resistant, repositionable, and fully cures within 24 hours.

The Loctite PL Max gives you a 15-20 minute working time. So again, only work with one panel at a time, so the drywall glue doesn’t dry before you get to it.

Pros:

  • Bonds drywall to all materials
  • Weather-resistant
  • 15-20 minute working time
  • Excellent hold

Cons:

  • None

Buy The Loctite PL Max Construction Adhesive On Amazon


3. Liquid Nails Drywall Adhesive DWP-24 (Best for Wood, Galvanized Steel, and Foam)

Liquid Nails Drywall Adhesive DWP-24

Liquid Nails Drywall Adhesive is a unique drywall formulation that bonds to wood, galvanized steel, and foam. 

It can help you reduce your fasteners by up to 50%. In addition, it offers a strong-hold, is moisture-resistant, prevents nail pops, and is VOC compliant.

Of course, the downside is this adhesive doesn’t bond to as many surfaces as the others and is only for interior drywall. Still, if you’re only gluing to wooden studs, that’s not an issue.

Pros:

  • Fast grab adhesive
  • Moisture resistant
  • Excellent hold
  • Buffers sound

Cons:

  • It doesn’t bond to as many surfaces as the other options

Buy The Liquid Nails Drywall Adhesive DWP-24 On Amazon


Final Thoughts

Drywall adhesive will help you drastically lower the number of fasteners you need and speed up your DIY drywall installation. While there are plenty of suitable options, make sure whatever you choose is humidity resistant.

And remember, only use adhesive on the field of your drywall panel. If you use it on the edges, you’ll end up with a seeping mess.