QA

How To Use Tapcon Concrete Screws

Installation Steps: Drill a hole in the base material with a hammer drill and a correctly sized carbide drill bit for the diameter concrete screw you are using. Clean out the hole of all debris. Insert the pointed end of the Tapcon® concrete screw through the fixture and into the hole in the base material.

Do I need a hammer drill for Tapcon screws?

Before a Tapcon masonry screw can be installed, a hole must be drilled into the masonry. Use a hammer drill to ensure that the hole has the proper tolerance. The hammer motion breaks up the masonry material and the rotation removes the dust from the hole.

Can you screw directly into concrete?

Can you screw directly into concrete? Concrete screws are a quick and convenient way to fasten to concrete. The best thing about these screws is that you can screw directly into concrete without any need for hammering or an anchor or shield to install. All you have to do is drill a hole and drive in the screw.

How deep should Tapcon screws go into concrete?

The depth of the hole that a Tapcon® concrete screw will be installed into is critical. The hole must be drilled 1/4” deeper than the screw will penetrate. This extra space at the bottom of the hole allows for an area for the dust created during the tapping process to fall without impacting installation.

Why are Tapcon screws blue?

Tapcon’s unmatched performance in concrete, block and brick applications make them an excellent alternative to expansion anchors, plugs and lag shields. Blue corrosion resistant coating enables them to withstand the harshest conditions.

Why do Tapcons break?

The depth of the hole for a Tapcon® should be a minimum of 1/2″ deeper into the base material than the screw will penetrate. If the Tapcon® screw bottoms out in the hole before it is fully inserted and too much torque is applied, the Tapcon® may break or shear off.

How long should Tapcon screws be?

The proper length could be either the 2-3/4″ or the 3-1/4″ length concrete screw. The 3-1/4″ screw would be right at maximum embedment and depending on the abrasiveness of the base material, may be too long.

Do I need to drill a pilot hole for concrete screws?

Unlike self-drilling screws which do not need pilot holes due to their drill bit end, self-tapping screws like concrete screws do require the user to mark a spot for the pilot hole. Match the head of the concrete screw to a drill bit and slowly drive it into the material in question, maintaining a steady pressure.

How much weight can a 1/4 Tapcon hold?

Technical Specifications for Tapcon Concrete Screws Size Minimum Embedment Shear (lbs.) 3/16” 1” 400 1/4” 1” 620.

Are Tapcon screws any good?

They are also a very unique (and of course proprietary) product that allows for extremely fast and reliable anchoring of materials to masonry products. If you drill the hole correctly – deep enough and with the correct diameter bit – these fasteners will simply work every time.

What size Tapcon do I need?

The Tapcon® screw requires the correct diameter of hole to be drilled for the diameter of the Tapcon® screw being installed. The 1/4” requires a 3/16” hole, and the 3/16” requires a 5/32” hole to be drilled into the base material.

How much weight will a Tapcon screw hold?

*A safety factor of 4:1 or 25% of ultimate pullout/shear value is generally accepted as a safe working load. 340 lbs.

Do you have to use Tapcon drill bit?

Standards. Any carbide tipped masonry bit that is manufactured to meet ANSI standard B212-15-1994 can be used for drilling holes in masonry that Tapcon masonry anchors are installed in. If the installation toolkit is being used then the special Tapcon bit must be used.

Who owns Tapcon?

RED HEAD® > Products > Screw Anchors > Tapcon.

Are Tapcons strong?

Stainless Steel Tapcons are reliable, strong, and have outstanding corrosion resistance. These screws are ideal for using to attach fixtures and lumbers to all types of masonry bases, including concrete, brick, and block.

What are white Tapcon screws used for?

White Ultrashield Tapcon concrete screw anchors are perfect for hurricane protection and any exterior projects that need a white color match including shutters, door and window frames, screened enclosures, and many other applications that require anchoring into masonry.

How do I keep my Tapcons from breaking?

The correct setting for driving a tapcon concrete screw without breaking or shearing off is determined by using the lightest setting and then moving up until the tapcon concrete screw is set tight against the fixture being fastened. It is very important that the tapcon is not over torqued.

Are Tapcon screws better than anchors?

Wedge anchors are pretty reliable & easy to install, if you stay well above the manufacturers’ edge distances. Tapcons are also easy to install & reliable. If the hole size is right, I doubt that you will overdrive many because the shaft will fail before the threads will strip.

How long should concrete cure before using Tapcon screws?

A full cure takes 28 days if you go by how long they prevented us from driving over a new road surface on a small local bridge. I don’t know how that relates to driving Tapcons. 10-13-2017, 10:37 AM (This post was last modified: 10-13-2017, 12:23 PM by brianwelch.)Oct 13, 2017.

How long should a brick Tapcon be?

A 3/16” tapcon into brick needs a 5/32” hole and a 1/4” tapcon into brick needs a 3/16” hole. It is critically important that an ANSI standard bit is used in order to ensure proper hole tolerance between hole size and tapcon diameter.

How much weight can a concrete anchor hold?

Anchor Types Overview Masonry and concrete anchor types are considered light-duty, medium-duty or heavy-duty, based on how much weight they can support. Light-duty anchors are good for wall hangings that weigh up to 50 pounds. Medium-duty anchors are good for wall hangings that weigh up to 200 pounds.