5 Safety Tips For Using Concrete Fasteners
Back in the days, fastening wood or metal to concrete was ineffective as homeowners had to employ improper nailing solutions, like wood plugs or hardened nails. Nowadays, as concrete became the most widely used material in the world, you have plenty of fastening solutions at your disposal to account for both small DIYs and big, heavy-duty projects. Unlike other fastening applications, binding to concrete is tricky as you could easily hurt yourself or damage the wall or the materials that you want to connect. Following are some tips that guarantee a safe and secure fastening to concrete.
- Make sure to use the correct fasteners for the job
As previously mentioned, these days you have several solution for fastening wood or metal to concrete, ranging from standard concrete nails to screws, anchors and adhesives. Take note that each fastening solution addresses certain types of projects:
- Concrete nails are best used for light-duty projects
- Screws work best for fastening doors and windows
- Anchors are recommended for heavy-duty projects
- Adhesives are typically used to add extra strength to projects involving anchors and screws
Therefore, it is advisable to read the description of the product and purchase the right fastener for the project at hand.
- The proper way to drill holes in concrete walls
In order to make sure you will securely attach an item to concrete, you need to know its exact size and drill a hole with the exact diameter of the fastener. This is important because drilling a larger hole usually compromises the holding strength of the fastener. As far as the depth of the hole is concerned, it is highly recommended to respect the manufacturer’s indications. In case they aren’t available, then the rule dictates drilling a hole half an inch deeper than the length of the fastener.
- Know the difference between indoor and outdoor fasteners
The main difference between fasteners used for indoor and outdoor applications comes from the materials they are made of. In general, fasteners made of stainless steel are ideal for outdoor projects as they are resilient to rust and can take a bit of wear and tear. On the other hand, zinc fasteners are best used in indoor applications due to the smoother appearance of the tip.
In case you need to fasten a door or a window into a concrete wall, then take note that the installation will require additional preparations. To be more precise, you need to make sure the hole is clear of debris and you will need to apply an epoxy solution to fill in two thirds of the hole. Unlike concrete nails, screws and anchor require the epoxy cure to gain the extra holding strength.
- Wear protection equipment
Even though it might seem fun for a DIY fan, working with power tools and concrete fasteners could easily lead to accidents. Consequentially, it is highly advisable that you wear protection equipment – at least a pair of working gloves and goggles – before starting the project. Take note that power tools are not toys and hence, you should never point them towards any part of your body or at someone else when in use.
About the Author
Started my career in the fastener world in 1969 at, Parker Kalon Corp. a NJ based screw manufacturer located in Clifton, NJ working in inventory control, scheduling secondary production and concluding there in purchasing. In 1971 I accepted a sales position at Star Stainless Screw Co., Totowa, NJ working in inside sales and later as an outside salesman, having a successful career at Star I had the desire with a friend to start our own fastener distribution company in 1980 named: Divspec, Kenilworth, NJ. This was a successful adventure but ended in 1985 with me starting Melfast in August 1985 and have stayed competitive and successful to date. Melfast serves the OEM market with approximately 400 accounts nationally.
