Concrete is mostly used for every home nowadays. They are strong, sturdy, and durable, that is why they are a popular choice for every household. But because of the strength and sturdiness of the concrete, it is relatively hard to penetrate, making some things hard to do, like installing fasteners upon these walls.
To help you with that, here are some tips for drilling concrete and installing screws:
Buy a variety of screw lengths
Buying a wide range of screw lengths is always recommended so that you’ll have more chance of getting the correct screw size. Select a screw that can easily penetrate one inch into the wall. To do this, measure the material’s thickness and then add one inch to it. For hard and dense materials, like stone and concrete, an inch screw embedment will work just fine. But if you want to opt for maximum strength, a screw embedment of 1 and ¾ inches will give the best support.
Use a hammer drill
In some less sturdy materials like soft bricks, you can easily drill holes using a carbide-tipped bit in a regular drill. But in most cases, you will need a hammer drill. Hammer drills are known for their power to drill holes, even the toughest of materials.
Drill with a firm hand and maintain steady pressure
A good technique is always important when it comes to driving concrete screws. If you don’t maintain your pressure, even a slight downward force can halt the bit and slip off the head, especially if you are using Phillips head screws. For best results, maintain your pressure on the screw and run the drill at slow speed and gradually increasing it to medium speed.
Make sure to drill the hole deep enough
When you drill a hole for your screws, you want it to be stable as much as possible. That is why you need to drill the hole deep enough for your screws for the maximum anchor. Holes for concrete screws usually should be at least ¼ inches deeper than the depth of the screw penetration to allow a little bit room for dust accumulation from the drilling process. But this process is not that easy, as judging the depth of the hole from the outside is not that easy. What you need to do is to drill bit by bit and put the screw inside to try it out. If the hole is too shallow, the screw will not go in completely. If the screw fits perfectly, penetrate the hole a little more to get that extra space allowance.
Choose 3/16-inch screws for most light to medium tasks
Home centers and hardware shops often stock concrete screws in two different diameters: 3/16 inches and ¼ inches. The 3/16-inch diameter screws are popularly used for installing furring strips, screwing down walls and concrete floors, and even attaching hardware to block or brick. The 3/16-inch screws are often seen as the better choice, as it demands smaller holes, and it is relatively cheaper. But if you are having trouble with it snapping off because the concrete is too hard, it is time to switch to 1/4-inch screws.