What Are The Different Types Of Concrete Anchors?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Concrete anchors types vary and include

concrete screws, hammer-set anchors, lag shields, lead screw anchors, plastic wall plugs, anchor bolts and more

. Masonry and concrete anchor types are considered light-duty, medium-duty or heavy-duty, based on how much weight they can support.

What is the difference between a concrete fastener and a concrete anchor?

The primary difference between concrete anchors is

whether the anchor is male or female

. Male anchors fasten to concrete via a nut and washer, and are inserted through the fixture (or object to be fastened) and into a pre-drilled hole.

What is a sleeve or wedge anchor?

The wedge anchor, drop-in anchor and concrete strike anchor can only be used in solid concrete and have the highest & most consistent holding values in concrete. Concrete sleeve anchors can be used in concrete, brick or block but their holding values are less in terms of shear and pullout values.

What types of concrete anchor are considered to be permanent?

Concrete/Masonry Screw and Pin Anchors are one-piece anchors used with concrete, brick, and block as noted. Concrete/Masonry Screws require a pre-drilled hole and are removable.

Pins

do not require a hole, and are considered permanent.

What are the strongest concrete anchors?

What are the strongest concrete anchors?

Wedge anchors

are typically the strongest anchors, but not every application requires a heavy-duty anchor. Some will do just fine with a plastic wall anchor or a nail-in version.

How do I choose concrete anchors?

The best holding values are achieved when

the concrete is hard and the embedment into the concrete is deep

. The larger the diameter- the higher holding values the anchor will have. For example, a 3/4′′ diameter anchor has a minimum embedment of 3-1/4′′ and a 1/4′′ anchor has a minimum embedment of 1′′.

How deep should concrete anchors go?

Make Sure to Drill the Hole Deep Enough

Holes for concrete screws should be

at least 1/4 in. deeper than the screw will penetrate

to allow a little extra space for dust accumulation from the drilling process.

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.

What are concrete anchors used for?

Anchor bolts are used

to connect structural and non-structural elements to concrete

. The connection can be made by a variety of different components: anchor bolts (also named fasteners), steel plates, or stiffeners. Anchor bolts transfer different types of load: tension forces and shear forces.

Why are concrete screws blue?

The blue,

corrosion-resistant coating enables them to withstand the harshest conditions

. And their unmatched performance in concrete, block and brick applications make them an excellent alternative to expansion anchors, plugs and lag shields.

How much weight can a wedge anchor hold?

Size Minimum Embedment Shear (lbs.) 5/8” 2-3/4”

6198
3/4” 3-1/4” 9378 7/8” 3-7/8” 13687 1” 4-1/2” 17712

Can sleeve anchors be removed?

Removing sleeve anchors and strike anchors

Like other male anchors, sleeve anchors and strike

anchors can’t be fully removed

, although some sleeve anchors can simply be tapped below the surface of the concrete after removing the nut and washer.

What size sleeve anchor should I use?

Diameter of Sleeve Anchor Minimum Embedment
1/4”


1-1/8”

5/16”


1-7/

16”
3/8” 1-1/2” 1/2” 2-1/4”

What is the strongest concrete?


Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC)

is a cementitious, concrete material that has a minimum specified compressive strength of 17,000 pounds per square inch (120 MPa) with specified durability, tensile ductility and toughness requirements; fibers are generally included in the mixture to achieve specified requirements …

Can I use plastic anchors in concrete?

Once you anchor hammer-set fasteners, there’s no easy way to remove them without destroying the material or the fastener. If the fastener works loose, leave it in place and drill another hole. Don’t use hammer-set fasteners in crumbly concrete or mortar.

Use a plastic anchor instead

.

How many concrete anchors do I need?

A rule-of-thumb in the concrete-fastener industry is that the

minimum spacing should be 10 diameters from each anchor

, and measured center to center. The spacing from an unsupported edge should be at least five-anchor diameters. Wedge anchors provide the widest range of concrete fasteners, from 1/4 to 1-1/4-in.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.