How to Install Wood-Backed Wall Pads: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide
When it comes to protecting walls in gyms, schools, or training centers, wood-backed wall pads are an essential form of athletic padding that adds both safety and durability. Installing them properly ensures they stay secure and provide the intended protection for high-impact sports like wrestling, basketball, martial arts, and more.
In this detailed guide, we'll walk you through the entire installation process to make it as easy and efficient as possible.
Why Install Wood-Backed Wall Pads?
Wood-backed wall pads offer robust protection for your facility’s walls, preventing damage from repeated impacts and creating a safer environment for athletes. Whether you're installing them in a gymnasium, wrestling room, or multipurpose facility, knowing how to properly install them will ensure they remain securely in place and last for years.
Plus, custom wall pads from AK Athletics can be personalized with logos, colors, and graphics, giving your space a professional look.
How to Install Wood-Backed Wall Pads in 3 Steps:
Materials for Installing Wood-Backed Wall Pads:
- Level or laser guide: Ensures even alignment.
- Screws: Use screws appropriate for your wall type (wood studs, masonry, etc.).
- Liquid Nails adhesive (Optional): Adds extra security to keep pads flush against the wall.
- Electric screwdriver: Speeds up the installation process.
- Stud finder: Required for installing into stud walls (not needed for cement, stone, or brick walls).
- Wood-backed wall pads: The padding you're installing.
- Help: A minimum of two people is required for proper installation.
Step 1: Create a Guide Line
For a smooth installation, start by creating a straight guide line. Use a level or laser guide to mark where the top of each wood-backed wall pad will sit. This will ensure all the pads are aligned properly and create a clean, professional look. The height of the line will depend on how high up the wall you’re installing the pads.
Determine the height at which you will install the pads—whether at ground level, just above the baseboard, or another height. Measure from this point up to the height of the pad to find the location of the guide line for the top of the pad. The height of the line will depend on your chosen installation height.
Step 2: Locate the Studs (If Applicable)
If you're installing the pads on a stud wall (drywall or wood), it's crucial to anchor each wall pad into at least one stud for maximum stability. Use a stud finder to locate the studs and mark their positions just above your guide line. For solid walls like cement, stone, or brick, skip this step.
Step 3: Secure the Wall Pads to the Wall
Before attaching the pads, you can apply several small dollops (roughly the size of a quarter) of Liquid Nails adhesive to the back edges and center back of each wall pad. While using Liquid Nails is optional, it can help keep the pads firmly pressed against the wall over time.
Align the top of the wall pad with the guide line you made in Step 1, ensuring it’s straight before securing it with screws. Using an electric screwdriver, drill screws into the 1-inch nailing margins along both the top and bottom edges of the pad. Begin by securing screws into the studs you located in Step 2. For masonry walls, use appropriate screws or anchors.
Each wall pad should have 2-3 screws on the top and bottom nailing margins for even, secure attachment. Continue installing each pad, keeping them close together to avoid gaps. If your pads feature custom graphics or logos, lay them out first to ensure proper alignment before drilling.
Important Note: Liquid Nails are optional however, combined with the screws appropriate for your wall type, provide a strong and reliable attachment, it’s essential to wait at least 24 hours for the Liquid Nails to completely dry before subjecting the pads to heavy use. This waiting period allows the adhesive to cure properly, ensuring maximum durability and safety.
Achieve Professional Results with Proper Installation of Wood-Backed Wall Pads
By following this step-by-step installation guide for wood-backed wall pads, you can ensure your athletic facility is equipped with durable and secure padding that will last. Proper installation not only protects your walls but also enhances the safety of the athletes who use your facility. Whether you're working with a small gym or a large sports center, these athletic padding solutions offer customization options to fit your specific needs.
For more information about our wood-backed wall pads, including custom sizes, colors, and graphic printing options, visit our website or reach out to the AK Athletics team. We’re here to help you create the perfect protective padding solution for your space.
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