How can i screw into concrete

Concrete screws are the only kind of screws that are strong enough to penetrate concrete. They come in different lengths, and it's important to have several sizes on hand. Concrete is a dense material, so you'll need a screw that can penetrate 1 inch 2.

Knowing how to drill the hole is important when you use concrete screws. You have to allow for a little extra depth to your drill hole, because dust accumulates inside. A hammer drill is good for this purpose because you can adjust the depth of the hole so it won't be too shallow or too deep. There are two kinds of screw heads for work with concrete -- hex head or flat head Phillips.

Hex screws are easier to drive in, but they don't look as nice because the caps are raised and they can't be flush to the surface; so your choice depends on the location of the screw. Align the screw and then use constant low-to-medium pressure on the drill when driving in the screw. Never drive the screw in at high speed, which can damage the threads and cause the screw head to break.

Sometimes you can run into problems when putting screws in concrete. If you're having trouble driving the screw in, the hole might not be deep enough or there might be too much dirt inside. If the screw spins with no grip and doesn't tighten, you may have to put a plastic anchor in the hole and drive the screw directly into the anchor.

Sign up for our Newsletter! If you meet an obstruction, stop your drill and remove the blockage from the hole, and insert a masonry nail with the tip touching the block. Stop the drill after the hole is at the correct depth and brush away the accumulated concrete dust outside the hole.

After that, take the drill out of the hole and vacuum or blow out as much dust as possible. If you are not using the right screws or the hole is larger than you expect, you may need to use an anchor. To accommodate the anchor, widen the drill hole. With a hammer, lightly tap in. If you wonder, can you screw into concrete, self-tapping screws tap their own heads, which means they require a pilot hole drilled ahead of a larger hole and possibly an anchor to serve as a guide?

Find the Best Drill Press. With everything in place, you may drive the tapping screw into the material, where the threads of the fasteners will dig in. However, to ensure a secure fit, the screw should be driven at least one inch deep.

When looking how to use masonry screws for fixing materials like concrete block, it used to be extremely difficult and time-consuming, but introducing self-tapping concrete screws has become easier. Self-tapping screws, like concrete screws, require the user to mark a site for the pilot hole, unlike self-drilling screws, which do not require pilot holes due to their drill bit end. Bits are usually smaller than screws because they drill the pilot hole, which must be smaller than the screw itself for the concrete screws to cut their own threads as they are driven in.

Drill a pilot hole, clean it, and then insert the concrete screws. Match the head of the concrete screw to a drill bit and drive it carefully and steadily into the material in question. Purchase a selection of lengths so you have the right screw size handy. Choose a screw length to penetrate 1 inch of concrete past the material you are fixing.

Blue concrete screws come in various lengths, and with some packs, the drill bit tools are included. You can use a carbide-tipped bit in a standard drill for drilling pilot holes in less thick materials like soft brick, yet in most circumstances, hammer drills are recommended.

You can use corded hammer drills or cordless, and you can even hire a hammer drill if it is a one-off task. Concrete screws come in flat head Phillips or hex head varieties. Finally, tighten the nut on your anchor with a ratchet to fix it firmly in place. For tips on how to select alternatives to a wedge anchor, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No. Log in Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers.

Please log in with your username or email to continue. No account yet? Create an account. Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article parts. Things You'll Need. Related Articles. Article Summary. Part 1. Get a hammer drill. Buy or rent a hammer drill at a hardware store or online. A hammer drill is specially designed to drill into harder surfaces like stone and concrete.

Hammer drills have a rotating and pounding motion, which makes it easier to drill into masonry work like concrete. Purchase wedge anchors. You can buy wedge anchors online or at a hardware store. Other anchors can work with concrete and brick but wedge anchors are a good all-around anchor that you can use on light or heavy materials.

Purchase anchors that penetrate into the concrete at least one inch 2. Other anchors include sleeve anchors, strike anchors, hammer drive anchors, drop-in anchors, and machine screw anchors. Buy a titanium or carbide-tipped masonry drill bit. A titanium or carbide-tipped drill bit will penetrate through the hard concrete.

You can purchase a carbide-tipped drill bit online or at a hardware store. Choose a bit that is a slightly smaller diameter than the anchors that you plan on using. Part 2. Wrap a piece of tape.