Best Ways to Hang Foamboard Prints

You’ve probably just gotten your new foamboard print from your local signage shop or you’re nesting for the new one you just ordered online. Buying a picture is one thing but finding the perfect spot to hang and showcase your new artwork, or picture is another important step. 

So, before you give up on hanging that portrait on the wall, here’s how to 4 awesome ways to showcase you foamboard prints with breaking a sweat.

But first, what is a foamboard? 

Foamboard print have been around since 1957. Foam core, foam board, foamcore board, paper-faced foam are just a few names that foamboards go by, depending on where you stay. Foam boards are typically sturdy and lightweight making it easier to cut with a sharp craft knife or picture framing mat cutter.

Foamboards are used for mounting prints and photographs as well as picture frames. If you’re looking to spruce up your space with “adult-esque” décor, foamboards can be used for interior design because they can be formed into different shapes.

They can also be used for architectural models. 

Three layers make up the sturdy foamboard. An inner layer of polystyrene or polyurethane foam that is covered with an outer facing on both sides of a white clay coated paper, cotton archival paper or common brown kraft paper.

Most people are familiar with foamboards but not necessarily its name, you probably have it hanging on the wall or used it at a science fair or seen it with architecture students or typically use it to make models of buildings and structures. 

Basic characteristics of a foam board 

Foam boards are as firm as cardboards. They are usually between 3mm and 5mm thick, which is about 1/8” and 3/16” respectively. Some heavy duty foamboards, used for special purposes can be as thick as 10mm or 20mm. 

A standard poster board size of a foam board is 22”x 28”, which is generally sold in your local arts and crafts store or supermarket. On the larger side, foamboards can run in bigger sizes of 36”x 48” too, however, these might be harder to find in local supply stores. bigger foamboard sizes can be purchased in most large format printing businesses. 

If you’re on the hunt for oversized foamboards, about 8” x 4” thick, it might take a while to find a local store that has in stock, these type of foamboard are typically specially ordered. One place you’ve probably seen a foamboard is at the movies. Standard movie poster size is typically 27” x 40”, a common choice for the poster print.

Now to the reason why you clicked this link… 

Four easy ways to hang your foamboard print 

Foamboard is one of the best lightweight alternative’s decorators use in place of plywood and literally any other wood. Foamboards are not only lightweight but they do not require any special wall prep, however, hanging foamboards can be quite tricky. But clutch on tight to your beautiful foamboard print because we got you covered. Here are four ways to show-off your new prints. 

1. Standoffs 

Signage fasteners or standoff screws as they are commonly known, are the best ways to show-off a three-dimensional display without using a frame. Standoffs fasten your sign to the wall, with a professional and visually pleasing one-inch gap in between the sign material and the wall. 

Unlike most objects used to attach foamboards to the wall, standoffs become part of the design and presentation of the finished print. These screws are typically round and fit through the drilled holes on the foamboard print. Standoffs are made of aluminium, brass or nylon. 

Brushed, chrome, nickel, and anodized are just some of the many finishes of standoffs available in stores. With standoffs, your awesome prints are projected from the wall for a visually pleasing display, and you won’t have to worry about your print falling off the wall with every bang. 

There are two types of standoffs: a through-grip and an edge grip. To use a through grip style, you’ll need to drill holes into your foamboard print, while an edge grip style can leave dents in your print. 

How to use standoffs 

• Firstly, you’ll need to measure your foamboard sign and mark the wall to know where the screws will be placed 
• Drill pilot holes on the marked spots using a drill bit, the drill bit needs to be smaller than the width of the wall screw.
• Unscrew the cap from the barrel.
• Screw the wall screw through the bottom of the barrel and into the pilot hole
• Line up the holes on your signage with the barrels on the wall
• Finally, screw the caps through the signage and into the barrels to secure the sign. 

2. 3m putty 

Using an adhesive putty solution is the best solution for mounting applications such as artwork, papers, and foamboards. It works on porous and non-porous surfaces alike. This adhesive is reusable. It is quite tacky to the touch but not greasy. 

Although this does not leave holes in your wall, it can stain the wall through long-term use. Putty is known to stick to a variety of wall surfaces, these include painted and bare brick walls, plastic walls, traditional drywall, glass, cement, and metal hanging surfaces. 

One of the cons of using this fixture is that it can be temporary especially because it gets affected by seasonal changes in temperature. Colder temperatures require more of an effort to get it to stick. The best thing about using putty is that it does not cause any damage to your wall. 

How to use a 3m putty

• Place a small amount of putty in your hands and knead 
• Knead the putty until it gets warm 
• Place it on the wall with a bit of pressure. That’s all

3. Double sided adhesive strips

For a semi-permanent, damage-free, stain-free alternative, use double-sided adhesive. This is a clear tape, coated with photo-safe, permanent adhesive on both sides.  Although this solution is not permanent, it holds the picture securely to the wall and can be quite difficult to remove when the need arises.

These tapes are simple to use and rigid but can take off paint from the wall when removed. Simply remove both backings from the strips and either place it on the wall and stick your foamboard or place it on the foamboard and stick it to the wall, and voila! You’re done.

4. Double sided Velcro tape 

Velcro isn’t reserved only for your grade 4 sneakers; they can also be used for hanging awesome foamboard art on the wall. You can buy a whole roll of Velcro and cut it to whichever length you desire. They are sold in varying lengths of six feet to thirty feet. This means that you can customize it to whatever foamboard size you have. 

It holds your print securely to the wall with a strong adhesive to the wall and one to the print. This allows you to take pictures or art off the wall for closer inspection. The sticky ends are incredibly strong and do not cause any damage. 

How to use a Double-sided Velcro tape 

• Cut up the Velcro tape into squares of about an inch in size.
• Attach the one-inch squares to each corner of the print 

Take a look at our affordable foam core prints here!