Fastening bottom plates to concrete slab
This should be so simple, but I’ve said that about a lot of things. I’m putting up some walls in the basement on a concrete slab floor, well cured. Snap lines, lay out pt lumber, apply adhesive, and I think I’m simply going to shoot some nails down into the concrete with the little .22 nail shooter. No luck. The nails bend, the concrete spalls, this just isn’t working. So now what? The way my kids slam doors I need some good reliable mechanical fastening on the bottom of these walls. These power actuated fasteners are what I’ve always used in the past, but on pretty fresh slabs. My usual method of operation has failed and I’m just clueless. So what would be a good alternative? Drill and hammer in expansion bolts? Would concrete screws (I’ve never used these) be an option? Thanks in advance for helping me out with this.
Replies
Rent a rotary hammer; they drill holes in concrete like butter. Then use an appropriate expansion bolt; there seem to be alot of different types available now.
Tapcons.(Concrete screws)
2-3/4"
get a hammer drill ( Metabo makes the best ones)
Also get a driver kit, it will save alot of time.
If your slab is more than ten years old (really Hard) get 1/4" dia. screws
hell get if your slab is new, the 3/16 ones strip out or break to easily.
Where hearing protection in addition to your safety glasses.
Mr T
Do not try this at home!
I am a trained professional!
did you try changing the length of the studs and the power charge ?
2" stud with a yellow load and increase the charge from there?
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
I have had good luck with 'bent nails'...can't think of the correct name. They come in various dia and length, I use 1/4" dia x 3". Drill a 1/4" hole, drive them in with a hammer, and it's done. But get it right the first time, cause they won't come out. Looks like a 1/4" smooth nail with a mushroom head, about 1/2" from the end there is a kink in the shank.
Those bent nails are made by Rawl, called Rawlspikes, and they do work great.
For the redneck version (that's me, the redneck version of a custom builder). . .oh, right, nails . . . for the redneck version of the Rawlspike, drill a 1/4" hole and drive a couple of 16dVCC sinkers into the hole together. I wouldn't use these anywhere uplift was a problem, otherwise they're pretty stout. We call 'em Texas Ties around here.
If you glue the plate down with CA before you do the Texas Tie, your kids can slam the door with explosives and the plate will still be securely fastened.
Good Luck.
DRC
We do alot for this type of fastening on commercial jobs. Most of it is temporary for concrete forming. We use a roto-hammer drill to drill a 3/16 hole then put a piece of tie wire, the type used to tie rebar, into the hole. Then drive a 16 penny double head nail. They hold great, they are vey inexpensive, you can pull them out, but they are not galvanized or rust friendly. They do install quickly. Just drill though the board and into the concrete at once, have a buch of short wires cut, stick and drive. Good lick.
Thanks to all for the excellent suggestions. I tried the tapcons, they work great except sometimes I snap them off. Didn't see anything call Rawlspikes at HD, or anything I thought fit the description. Also tried the 2 16d nails in the hole, also works very well. Walls are up and going. Thanks again for the learning experience.
No, you won't find the Rawlspikes at HD or Lowes or probably any other chain. Look in the yellow pages under fastener and start shopping there. You'll be surprised at what they have (you can specifiy most any size of screw or bolt and they'll have it) and you'll find their prices are about half of HD, especially for galv cariage bolts for decking.