How To: Installing Concrete and Masonry Anchors

At the turn of the last century, the homeowner didn’t have many fastener choices for concrete and other types of masonry. The common solution was to use a hardened nail, or drill a hole, insert a wood plug, and put a screw in the center. Now we find ourselves with more solutions than the typical homeowner needs. In this article, we’ll show you some concrete fasteners options and how they don’t stand up to new Screw-It-Again masonry anchor. ​

​Method #1 - Screw It Again Masonry Anchor

The easiest and most secure way of creating strong threads in concrete and other types of masonry is the Screw It Again masonry anchor! The Screw It Again masonry anchor can create threads in concrete in 4 easy steps which takes just a couple minutes. The Screw-It-Again masonry anchor is the fastest way to create screw threads in concrete, cinder blocks, brick, and tile. In an independent test by a 3rd party, Screw It Again masonry anchor showed it can withstand a pull force of close to 170 pounds beating out its most popular competitor. This makes it the most secure and strongest solution on the market! Below are the 4 easy steps to create threads in concrete and other types of masonry.

Step 1: Match three to four  anchor sections to fit screw size.  Reference table is also included on the back of the package.

Step 2:  Screw anchor into existing hole.

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Step 3: Clip/saw off the top of the  anchor.

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Step 4:  Insert screw into anchor and tighten it securely.
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Method #2 - Small Plastic Anchors

This is the most common fastener you will find for concrete, brick, and tile. They are inexpensive but if installed incorrectly, it will leave you with an even bigger problem. These fasteners expand when a screw it inserted but if you accidentally dill their pilot hole too large, then the anchor won’t hold enough weight or at all. Even when installed properly, they usually only hold 20 lbs , should only be used for light objects, and don’t hold properly when pulled outward. ​

Method #3 - Hammer Set Anchors

The best feature of hammer-set anchors is that they’re quick to install and you don’t have nuts and washers to fuss with. You just drill the hole to the right depth and hammer it into the wall. The main problem with these types of anchors is the hammering part. This anchors tend to be made of metal and when hammered into a concrete wall, they usually crack the concrete or tile and now their hold has been weakened. Also after these anchors are hammered in, there is no easy way of removing them. So if they loosen over time, the only way of replacing it is to drill out the anchor and insert a new one. ​

Method #4 - Sleeve Anchors

This type of anchor is a screw with inside either a plastic or metal tube with a slit down both sides. This is another type of expanding anchor that when you tighten the screw, it pulls the back portion of the sleeve toward the front which forces the middle to push out and embed itself in the material. They create a very tight hold and can withstand a lot of weight but once again, if installed incorrectly they can cause a lot of problems. If you overtighten the screw, the fastener will break or break the concrete around the hole you drilled. If this fastener fails, you’ll need to drill another hole a few inches away and try again.
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There are a lot of other solutions you can try when you need to secure something to a masonry wall. As with most repairs, it's best to start with the easiest solution first and move to the more elaborate and time consuming options like chemically anchoring a bolt. One of the most frustrating experiences in any home improvement project is figuring out how to properly anchor or hang something on a concrete wall. Until now, it has been challenging as there never was a "one-size-fits-all" solution to the problem until Screw It Again. Screw It Again masonry anchors are available online in our store or through local hardware stores like True Value, Ace Hardware, and Do It Best Hardware.