Ultimate Approaches to Attaching Wood to Concrete

Most projects involve the use of more than one type of material, which may require you to know how to attach different materials to each other such as attaching wood to concrete. It may seem that the composition of these two materials would not allow them to be attached to one another, but this is not the case. There are a few different techniques that you can use to attach wood to concrete, each of which will make your project easier to accomplish.

Mortar Nails

One way to attach wood to concrete is to use mortar nails. Mortar nails are the cheapest option for attaching wood to concrete, but there is a trick to get these nails to work. This method is only effective when you are attaching wood to concrete blocks or a concrete black wall.

Step 1 - Select Nails

You need to make certain when using mortar nails that your nails are long enough to penetrate through your wood and at least ½ inch into the concrete.

Step 2 - Apply

The trick to using mortar nails to attach wood to concrete is that you need to properly align each nail so that it is driven directly into the mortar, and not the concrete. You do not want the nail driven into the concrete itself, only into the mortar. Therefore, this application is only going to be successful if you have a concrete block wall and not a solid concrete wall.

Masonry Screws

Another option to attach wood to concrete is by using masonry screws.

Step 1 - Select Screws

You need to be certain that your screw is long enough to penetrate through your wood and at least ½ inch into the concrete.

Step 2 - Predrill Holes

Next, you need to pre-drill holes into the wood and concrete that are smaller than the diameter of the screws you are using. These holes will be a guideline for the screws and allow you to screw them into place.

Step 3 - Apply

After your holes are predrilled, you can attach the wood to the concrete by using the masonry screws.

Concrete Anchor Bolts

Yet another way to attach wood to concrete is by using concrete anchor bolts.

Step 1 - Predrill Holes

Predrill a hole into the wood and concrete that is large enough in diameter for the anchor bolt to fit. You want the depth of the hole to be ¼ inch more than the length of the anchor bolt.

Step 2 - Install Bolt

Align the hole in the wood with the hole in the concrete and insert the anchor bolt through the holes. Use the sledgehammer to tap the anchor bolt into place.

Step 3 - Tighten and Secure Bolt

Once the bolt is in place, you can use your socket wrench to tighten the bolt and activate the bolt locking system. The tightening of the bolt activates it inside the concrete and its locking mechanism will be activated, securing the bolt and attaching the wood to the concrete.

These ultimate approaches to attaching wood to concrete will make your next project a breeze.