In search of cork board for a narrow wall area

June 18, 2019 8:54 AM

I want to cover an approx 2’x5’ wall area with cork board. It needs to be thick enough to handle push pins, and mounted in a way that won’t screw up the paint on the wall. The space is too narrow for readymade bulletin boards. Has anyone had experience using adhesive cork squares on a wall? I’ve read mixed reviews on these. Other ideas are welcomed. Thanks!
posted by bookmammal to Home & Garden (8 answers total)

Double or triple layer the cork squares and they'll be fine.
posted by DarlingBri at 9:02 AM on June 18, 2019

I've had no problem with adhesive cork squares. I don't even need to double them up, but that's not a bad idea if you have heavier items to tack onto them.

As for mounting them on the wall - a couple packs of those Command strips should do the job.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:18 AM on June 18, 2019

In a similar situation I once bought a right-size picture frame and framed a sheet of cork to fit. It then hung on the wall using a normal picture hanger and worked well as a bulletin board. You could try those Command strips I see advertised, too.

You can often buy very cheap frames (with awful pictures you won't mind ditching) in thrift stores, or you can check your local crafts store.
posted by citygirl at 9:22 AM on June 18, 2019

I would be surprised to learn that it was possible to stick self-adhesive stuff to a wall in a way that guarantees no damage to the painted surface on later removal. Even Command strips occasionally rip chunks out of whatever they're stuck to, and removing self-adhesive cork tiles is likely to be even more fraught.

If that were my wall, I'd back my cork board squares with 5mm Corflute (probably from recycled real estate or political signage) glued onto a wall protection sheet of 6mm MDF, then fix the whole thing in place with wall plugs and screws at the corners. It's a lot easier to fill and patch-paint the small holes left behind by disused wall plugs than it is to repair a large area of paint and possibly underlying drywall surface torn apart by overenthusiastic stickum.
posted by flabdablet at 9:25 AM on June 18, 2019

It’s not cork, but if you want a sheet good that is tack- friendly I’ve used homasote for this quite a bit. It’s easy to cut to shape.
posted by q*ben at 1:17 PM on June 18, 2019

This sounds like a bit much for what you're asking, but in case you might reconsider: Forbo Bulletin Board. It's expensive, but I bought some leftovers on Ebay/Craigslist and it's easily the best bulletin board I've seen. I put it on the wall like flabdablet above.
posted by ouke at 1:48 PM on June 18, 2019

You can find a cheap door mirror in a frame. Double cork the glass with adhesive cork squares. Cut the squares to make it work. Then you just hang it with a picture hanger, and some museum adhesive on the lower corners to keep it in place.
posted by Oyéah at 1:59 PM on June 18, 2019

A complete alternative to cork would be sheet metal. You can then use magnets to put things up, which leave no pinpricks in them. You can go to a local sheet metal shop, get them to cut something that will accept a magnet the right size and crimp the edges for you. Drill a few holes (or have them drill it, spaced to hit studs) and screw it to the wall. Before hanging it, you can use spray paint to paint it any color you want. Or prime it and then paint it the same color as the wall. The only wall damage will be the few small screw holes that are easily patched later on.
posted by beagle at 3:08 PM on June 18, 2019