Introduction: How to Install Govee Glide Hexa Pro Light Panels to Textured and Painted Drywall
I just bought some Govee Glide Hexa Pro Light Panels and as they state in the install guide (and as other reviewers have stated), the double-sided adhesive is recommended for smooth walls, otherwise they won't stick and therefore, will fall off.
Well, most of us with relatively new homes have rough, textured, painted drywall covered in rather porous flat paint. I knew they wouldn't stay up for long, but I gave it a shot anyway. Sure enough, less than 24 hours later, they started to fall off the wall.
That's when I started brainstorming and soon came up with a solution using tools and materials I already had lying around the house and garage.
Supplies
Here's everything I used to get the job done.
- Thin wood paneling. (I used a scrap piece approx. 60x40cm in size for my layout)
- Jigsaw or any other fine tooth saw
- Hot glue gun with extra glue sticks
- Measuring tape
- Painters tape
- Sharpie pen
- Level
- Stud finder
- Drill driver
- 1/8 drill bit
- 3 drywall screws 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" long
Step 1: Layout Your Patten
Remove the double-sided adhesive the comes with each panel.
Layout your panels in the pattern you want.
Then flip over each panel since we only need to be concerned with the circular mounts in the center of each panel.
Measure and cut a rectangular piece of wood paneling large enough to cover all the mounts. For mine, it was 60x40cm. (Yes, even though I am in the USA, I used metric which is MUCH easier than imperial.)
Step 2: Center Hex Panels Onto Wood Paneling
Mark the center by drawing a line both horizontally and vertically. This will help you line up and center the panels on the wood paneling.
Step 3: Start Gluing!
Using a hot glue gun, install the panels onto the board like you would normally using the Layout and Calibration function in the Device Settings part of the Govee Home app.
I used about 1/2 tsp. hot glue per panel.
Allow at least 10 minutes for the glue to cool and set.
Step 4: Trace Pattern and Remove Panels
Use a Sharpie to trace around your pattern so you can see where the panels are after they are removed.
Next, gently pry each panel off the board. The circular mounts should stay attached to the board as shown.
Step 5: Cut Panel to Fit Your Pattern
Using a jigsaw or similar tool, cut away excess wood.
Be careful as to not cut or damage the circular mounts. The closer you can cut to them, the better. Otherwise the wood paneling might be visible when viewing the installed lights from an extreme angle.
Step 6: Measure Wall and Test Fit
Using a measuring tape, find the center of the wall where you want to mount it.
Now find the nearest wall studs using a wall stud finder and mark them. Remember that in the USA, many homes have studs 16" apart.
Center the board on the wall and then tape it up to get an idea of how high/low it is. Adjust as necessary.
When you are happy with the location, mark at least two spots where the screws will go -- preferably into the wall studs.
Remove the board from the wall and then drill 1/8" pilot holes for each screw.
Step 7: Level and Install Paneling
I used 3 screws total -- one in each stud and one between them directly into the dryall since the right stud was on the very edge of the paneling.
After screwing the left screw in most of the way, I used a level to make sure the whole thing was level, then I installed the right screw followed by the middle one. Then I finished screwing in the left screw.
Step 8: Reinstall the Hex Light Panels
Reinstall the light panels once again using the Govee Home app as your guide. Each panel will pop right into each circular mount.
Step 9: Admire Your Work!
The light panels aren't going anywhere now - even in a major earthquake (don't quote me on that!).
Pleasant Side Effect Discovered:
After reinstalling, I realized that since the panels now stick out more from the wall, they not only command more of your attention because they pop out more, but the outer permiter glow is thicker because it goes further out. Nice!
