You don’t want to have to fasten surfaces twice. It is essential to have the best concrete anchors.
Many DIYers are familiar enough with how to fasten things to wood, plaster, or drywall. There are many tools that can do the job for different materials. Concrete, in addition to bricks and cement, needs a special type of fastener called concrete anchor.
They come in many different sizes and strengths but all accomplish the same basic task.
Most people require an anchor to be inserted into a hole already drilled. Then, the anchor is expanded until it creates enough friction to hold the weight and stay in place. A hammer drill is the best tool to drill concrete holes. While a standard drill may work in brick that is harder, it will most likely damage your bits. If you are planning on working with cement, brick, and concrete, a hammer drill will save you the headache.
This is our top choice for concrete anchors on the market. It will help you in your purchasing process. Let’s take a closer look.
Concrete is not always the first material homeowners will encounter when starting a project. However, concrete is one of the most widely used base materials in the world. It is strong, versatile, and easy to make. Concrete anchors can be used to expand your possibilities for projects at home or professionally.
Many of the anchors below are available in multiple sizes and lengths. While we have chosen to list the most common sizes, there are many others. You may find a product that you like, but is not the right size.
Best Hammer-Set Anchor
ITW Brands Red Head 35200 25PK 1/4 Hammer Anchor
This hammer set anchoralso known by a metal hit anchor or hammer drive anchor is a great choice for concrete fasteners who need to attach something light to moderate weight.
Red Head 1/4 Hammer Anchors are available in two lengths, 3 cm and 5. These anchors provide a bit more support. The diameter of the Red Head 1/4 Hammer Anchors is 1/10 cm, as the name suggests.
They are made up of a zinc-plated steel expander pin and a zinc-die cast expansion body. These anchors are versatile and can be used in concrete, cement block, brick, and other materials.
Use them to attach electrical boxes, conduit clips, shelf brackets and towel bars, garage brackets, plywood, and just about anything else that weighs up to 23 kg.
ITW Red Head is a brand that you will see several times in this buying guide. It should not be surprising that ITW Red Head is a leading manufacturer of concrete anchoring systems.
Things We Like:
- Zinc die-cast expander body and zinc plated Steel Expander Drive Pin
- Concrete, block and brick works
- Useful for attaching conduit clips, electrical boxes, roof flashing, plywood, and lumber
- Indoor and outdoor use
Things We Don’t Like:
- Overhead application not permitted
Best Machine Screw Anchor
CONFAST 1/10cm (Inside/Screw 1/10cm Diameter) Machine Screw Anchor With 1 Setting Tool (100 Pieces)
These anchors are great for outdoor projects that involve concrete, cement block, or brick, as they are extra resistant to rust. The anchors are made from antimonial lead, and the cone is made from zamac alloy. Both of these materials are extremely resistant to rust.
An inch hole is required for this anchor to be installed in the base material. Its diameter and length are one inch. To be secure, the anchor must be fully embedded in concrete. Like all machine screws, the Confast machine screw requires a setting tool to be installed.
This is included in the price, fortunately! You need to ensure that it can support its weight and is not displaced from any edges.
Things We Like:
- Rust-resistant
- Ideal for humid and outdoor climates
- Concrete, cement block or brick works
- Highly durable lead and alloy structure
Things We Don’t Like:
- Setup tool required
Best Concrete Screws:
Ansen Tools AN-133 Diamond Tip Hex Head Concrete Screw Anchor 3/41 Cm X 1 1/10 Cm. 100 Pieces With Drill Bit
Concrete screws are unique among all the other types of screws in this buying guide. They don’t require expansion to hold them in place. Instead, concrete screws are drilled into holes slightly smaller than their circumference and used their sharp edges to dig into concrete.
These anchors are not strong enough to withstand heavy loads but they can be used for many common projects that require cement anchors.
They are made of high-grade carbon steel, and have an Envirocoat coating that resists corrosion for long-term durability. Even when used with hard materials, the diamond tip provides precise precision.
Ansen Tools Concrete Screw anchors are extremely affordable. They also come with the drilling bit required for installation. This is a great deal!
Things We Like:
- Carbon steel
- The corrosion resistance of Envirocoat plating is assured
- Extra-hard materials can be penetrated by diamond tip
- ICC Listed to Quality Assurance
- Design of hi-lo self-tapping thread
Things We Don’t Like:
- For extreme durability or tough loads
Best Medium-Duty Sleeve Anchor #1
The Hillman Group 370828 Hex Head Sleeve Anker, 3/8 X8 Cm, 20-Pack
These anchors aren’t the strongest on the market but they can support quite a lot of weight. They can hold up to 175kg in 4000 psi concrete or 154kg in C-9 block and 223kg in brick. Their sleeves make it easy to install, provided you have properly drilled the holes using a hammer drill.
To ensure that the anchor can expand, make sure the holes are equal in size to the anchor. These can be used to attach handrails, window frames and partitions to concrete or brick.
Things We Like:
- Expanding type anchors are used to fix fixture in a variety base materials
- Made of Zinc/Steel
- It can hold up to 175kg in concrete at 4000 psi, 154kg in C-9 blocks, and 223kg in brick.
Things We Don’t Like:
- Pre-drilling is required, which can prove painful
Best Wedge Anchor
Simpson Strong Tie STB2-50334
These anchors are extremely strong and can withstand the most severe conditions.
Strong Bolt Wedge Anchors can perform in cracked concrete just as well as uncracked. This is due to their innovative technology which allows the anchors to expand further if cracks develop near the anchor location.
They have been tested to withstand the worst conditions like static loading, seismic activity, and have been classified as a Category 1 Anchor, the highest possible anchor category for performance. Californians should also consider the Simpson Strong Tie anchors.
Things We Like:
- Anchor diameter equals hole diameter
- Available in 7 different styles
- Zinc-plated carbon steel
- 4,037 kg load capacity
- Pre-assembled for quicker, simpler installations
- Can be attached through an object
Things We Don’t Like:
- Consider the strength of this option.
- For smaller uses, it may not be practical
Types Of Concrete Anchors
The use of concrete anchors can expand your potential projects at home or professionally.
Many of the anchors below are available in multiple sizes and lengths. While we have chosen to list the most common sizes, there are many others. You may find a product that you like, but is not the right size.
There are many types of concrete anchors. Each one has a different price point, strength, and fastening mechanism. These are the most popular:
Hammer Set Anchors
These anchors are also known as hammer drive anchors or metal hit anchors. They can be used to support a lower level anchor. These anchors can be used to fasten concrete, brick, or blocks and they are resistant to tampering once installed.
Hammer set anchors can be found in two sizes: 3/41 cm and 1/10 cm. Their lengths range from 7/20 cm up to 8 cm. You must drill the hole to the right diameter and length for your anchors.
Hammer set anchors are made up of two parts. The body and the steel pin. The hollow anchor body features a mushroom head and the zinc-plated steel Pin expands the anchor once it is hammered into its body.
Machine Screw Anchor
This anchor will provide slightly more support than a traditional hammer set anchor. Machine screw anchors can also be attached to brick, concrete, and cement without any difficulty.
Two parts make up the machine screw anchors: an internally threaded cone, and a sleeve. Machine screw anchors are sized by the size of their internal threads. Common sizes are 1/10 cm and 3/20 cm.
These anchors are great because they can be used with any type of hold. Machine screw anchors can be installed by covering the threaded cone with a sleeve and then inserting the pair in a previously drilled hole that is larger than the size of the anchors.
Machine screw anchors come with a setting tool that allows you to expand the sleeves until they are securely anchored.
Concrete Screws
Concrete screws are the next step up. Concrete screws are different from any other anchor type because they don’t require expansion to set in concrete. Concrete screws are a type of threaded screw that has special threads with hardened notched threads or high-low threads.
They are used to dig into the sides of the holes while the screw is anchored into the base material. The head then fits tightly onto the surface. Concrete screws require that the hole be smaller than its diameter to ensure they are secure. For example, a 1/41 cm hole should be used to drill a 1/10cm screw.
Sleeve Anchors
Sleeve anchors can be used for medium- to heavy-duty purposes depending on their size. There are four parts to them: the stud, which is threaded at one end and can be flared or cone-shaped at the other, an expanding sleeve and a nut.
The sleeve should be placed over the stud and the washer and nut are then threaded onto one side of the cone-shaped tip. The stud expands within the hole until it fits tightly when you turn it.
You can find sleeves anchors in six sizes in the hex nuts: 1/10 cm to 5/41 cm and 3/20 cm.
Choose a diameter of 3.5 inches for heavy-duty projects
Wedge Anchors
Wedge anchors can be used for heavy-duty applications. These concrete anchors are made up of multiple pieces and can provide some solid support.
They are made up of a steel rod with a clip. A steel rod is usually made of stainless steel or zinc-plated steel and tapered in length. One end has a clip attached. After inserting the anchor into the hole, a washer and nut are attached to the threads of anchors.
The wrench can be used to turn the nut, which will pull the anchor up and secure the clip against concrete. These should be drilled to the same dimensions as the anchors.
Wedge anchors are available in three sizes: 1/10 cm to 5/41 cm and 3/20 cm.
Take A Bow
While applying adhesives to many materials is relatively easy, fastening concrete can be a complicated task. You want something that will do the job and requires only one application to prevent unnecessary repairs.
You should also consider which type of concrete anchors you want. There are many options, but only one concrete anchor is right for you. Make sure to consider your specific needs when shopping.
Red Head Hammer Anchors are our personal choice for the best concrete anchors. They offer maximum versatility and performance, without breaking the bank.
