When having acoustic wall panels installed, it’s easy to forget about the maintenance they might require in the future. Over time, fabric colors can start to fade when regularly exposed to light. Also, unless acoustic panels are regularly cleaned, they can accumulate dust and dirt. Without regular maintenance, you may need to replace or re-wrap acoustic panels and diffusers at some point.
Now, unless the core of the acoustic panel is damaged, it shouldn’t be necessary to completely replace the panels, they can simply be re-wrapped. Investing in impact resistant fiberglass and edge hardening protects the core of the acoustic panel, so you save money in the long run.
Re-Wrapping Acoustic Panels & Acoustical Wall Diffusers
At Turning Point at Calvary Church, the glue started to bleed through on the existing acoustic panels and acoustic barrel diffusers, causing stains that couldn’t be removed with cleaning. Rather than replacing the panels and diffusers (since there was no core damage), the church opted just to have the 102 panels re-wrapped in acoustically transparent fabric.
The initial acoustical design used both acoustic diffusers and panels in the space to treat the broadband frequencies generated by the church contemporary band. While acoustic panels are very effective at reducing reverb at higher frequencies, they are quite ineffective at low-frequency (bass) sounds. On the other hand, acoustical diffusers are extremely effective at frequencies below 250 Hz, which equate to drums and bass guitars. By combining the two panel types, a balance is created in the church so that neither rings out for too long, creating an unbalanced feel.
Our team took down each panel and diffuser, keeping track of where they had been on the walls, re-wrapped them in acoustically transparent fabric, and re-hung them. All re-wrapping was done on-site. In some cases the client requires our team to transport panels back to our factory for re-wrapping, however the church had the space for our team to do this in the field.
Lengthen Lifetime of Acoustical Diffusers & Panels
Although glue should not bleed through like this on acoustical panels and diffusers, there are some ways to avoid this while also making the appearance of the panels last longer. First, if the color works with the space, choosing dark fabric colors can hide imperfections such as stains from glue, dust and dirt. If dark colors are not an option, regular cleaning with soap and water, or even vacuuming the surface of panels and diffusers can ensure they stay looking clean over time.
Related: Cleaning Acoustic Panels
Also, to avoid any denting in acoustical panels in spaces such as gyms, there’s always the option of edge hardening the fiberglass prior to fabric wrapping or choosing impact resistant fiberglass. Edge hardening is typically standard and included in the cost, while impact resistant fiberglass does come with an additional cost.
