Are Tapcons reliable?
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.
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.
The dust can build up and create a situation where the screw is unable to be fully inserted in the hole and if too much torque is applied, the Tapcon® screw may break of shear off.
Tapcon claims their large diameter concrete anchors are 20% stronger than wedge or sleeve anchors. They certainly install very quickly. You will not be able to install them with hand tools (perhaps the Incredible Hulk could).
A: (From Google search)How much weight can a Tapcon hold? *A safety factor of 4:1 or 25% of ultimate pullout/shear value is generally accepted as a safe working load. 340 lbs.
The minimum depth of embedment for the Tapcon screw is 1 inch, and the maximum embedment is 1-3/4 inch. The depth of the hole should be drilled to allow a minimum space at the bottom of the hole of 1/2 inch.
The hole must be drilled using a hammer drill with a carbide tipped bit meeting ANSI standards. A bit that meets ANSI standards will ensure that the hole diameter will meet the requirements of the Tapcon®.
Tapcon and wedge anchors are pre-installed mechanical anchors that attach structural objects to concrete structures. However, the wedge anchor suits heavier-duty applications, vs the Tapcon anchor that typically serve lighter deployments.
The Tapcon concrete screw is suitable for use in a variety of base material, including brick and the mortar joints between the brick. The holding values of the Tapcon in brick depends on the brick itself and the quality and quantity of mortar in the joint...
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.
What is the strongest anchor for concrete?
Wedge concrete anchors are a common choice for heavier load applications since they're one of the strongest types of concrete anchor bolts. They're also corrosion-resistant and are simple to work with. Best used for: Concrete wedge anchors are best used for heavier loads and heavy shear applications.
Tapcons can be installed in concrete, brick, block and in the mortar joints between the brick and block. The harder the base material, the less embedment is required to attain sufficient holding values. The minimum embedment for a Tapcon® concrete screw is 1” and the maximum embedment is 1-3/4”.
Tapcons are coated with a special rust-resistant material called Climaseal®. The Climaseal coating is blue and is a distinctive product identifier.
Tapcon® brand
The design of the Tapcon® concrete masonry screw anchors allows for anchoring into concrete, brick and block. This product is a self-tapping screw that taps threads into a predrilled hole in masonry materials.
| Size | Minimum Embedment | Shear (lbs.) |
|---|---|---|
| 3/16” | 1” | 730 |
| 1/4” | 1” | 1000 |
Do I need to drill a pilot hole for concrete screws? It is necessary to make a pilot hole for concrete screws. You should allow for a little extra depth to your drill hole to ensure that when the concrete screws are cutting threads there is enough room for any dust that might accumulate.
The minimum edge distance for a tension load is 1-3/4" and the minimum load factor should be reduced by 70% for the 3/8" diameter and 65% for the 1/2" diameter anchor. The maximum working tension load varies with different embedment depths.
While there are a lot of ways to fasten to concrete Tapcons are a great light-duty way to do so. They are accessible to most homeowners and DIY'ers because they are easy to use and only require having; a drill with a hammer setting, an impact driver and a masonry drill bit.
The Tapcon drill bit that is used depends on the diameter of the Tapcon screw being installed. The 3/16” Tapcon requires the use of 5/32” diameter bit, and the 1/4” Tapcon requires a 3/16” diameter bit.
The 410-grade stainless steel resists corrosion in dry atmospheres, freshwater, acids, mild alkalies, food, hot gasses, and steam. Tapcons are coated with Climaseal®. This coating, when applied on top of 410 stainless steel, gives these concrete screws superior rust resistance.
What is special about a Tapcon?
Patented in 1976 by ITW Buildex, the Tapcon anchor is the original masonry fastener that revolutionized the fastener industry. The name Tapcon comes from its unique ability to TAP its threads into CONcrete. No other product in the industry anchors to concrete, block and brick with the ease and power of a Tapcon anchor.
Original Blue Tapcon® Concrete Screw. The Tapcon® concrete screw with the Climaseal® coating gives excellent rust resistance when used for indoor applications and outdoor applications.
Tapcon Concrete Screws are removable, however it is not recommended to reuse the same hole because the cutting threads can compromise or destroy the holding power.
Do concrete screws need plugs? No. Concrete screws are directly screwed into the pre-drilled hole.
Tension & Shear in CMU (1" embedment)
The length of the concrete screw is determined by adding the thickness of the material to be fastened to the minimum embedment of 1" and a maximum embedment of 1-3/4". This will provide the minimum and maximum length of screw that can be used.
Double Expansion Shield Anchor
Double Expansion Shield Anchors are used primarily used in brick and block. As a screw is driven into the anchor, it starts to pull down towards the middle resulting in an expanded anchor. These anchors only expand so much. The reason for this is to prevent brick from cracking.
For brick, it's recommended to use Tapcons that are at least 1/4'' diameter. Next, use a hammer drill to drill the pilot holes directly into the brick where you previously made the sharpie marks. Keep the hammer drill as straight as possible the entire time and don't go much deeper than what the Tapcon anchor is long.
White finish that blends into light material and delivers long-lasting corrosion protection. Ultrashield finish delivers life-long corrosion resistance. Superior holding strength. The ability to withstand harsh conditions.
Steps to Installing Concrete Fasteners
The hole should be drilled 1/4" to 1/2" deeper into the base material than the anchor will penetrate. This allows for any material to fall when the anchor is inserted into the hole.
Many times wedge anchors are purchased in longer lengths to allow for deeper installation into the concrete, since the deeper the embedment into the concrete then the stronger the holding power will be.
Are concrete screws better than anchors?
Although the drop-in anchor might be the most popular, the concrete screw provides a good alternative option. The concrete screw is one of the quickest concrete fasteners out there and can be installed with just a drill, screw and impact wrench.
A Tapcon screw is installed with a regular twist drill or impact drill. The HOLE that the Tapcon goes into is usually drilled with a hammer drill. Although if the material is somewhat soft, like a cinder block, a regular twist drill and a good bit will work, too.
The average depth to drill your concrete screws is typically ¼ inch deeper than the length of your screw. You should not drill your pilot hole any deeper than ¾ inch to avoid shearing off the head of your screw. However, to ensure a secure fixing the screw should be driven in at a minimum of at least one inch deep.
The standard blue Climaseal® Tapcon® screw are a light duty masonry anchor primarily used in dry indoor applications for attaching items to concrete, brick or block. They can be used in applications ranging from attaching 2x4 lumber to concrete, a light fixture to brick, or furring strips to a block wall.
Fastening to concrete is not the same as attaching something to wood, drywall or a softer material. It's generally more difficult and requires speciality tools and materials. To fasten to concrete, you must: Drill a pilot hole, unless the screw can go in without one.
Tapcon® Concrete Screws: Tapcons are removable because they are threaded screws that tap threads into the concrete, brick or block. By simply turning the screw counter-clockwise, these concrete screws will thread its way out of the base material.
Mortar is easier to drill through because it's a softer substance than brick and is also easier to patch or repair. Drilling into the mortar with a screw expansion plug or another fastener will cause the anchor's force to push against the intact bricks instead of expanding the material.
The hole needs to be slightly smaller than the diameter of the fastener so that the threads of the Tapcon have something to grab into. If the masonry bit you use is too small you won't be able to drive the Tapcon in at all. If the masonry bit is too large, the Tapcon will not hold.
THE ORIGINAL, TRUE BLUE SCREW.
The benefits include: EASY INSTALLATION, CORROSION RESISTANCE, AND LONG LASTING QUALITY. Our Patented Advanced Threadform Technology™, which reduces head snapping, provides 30% lower installation torque and 20% more holding power.
Tapcons are a specific brand name and are the original concrete screws which are patented and American made. Tapcons are coated with a special rust-resistant material called Climaseal®. The Climaseal coating is blue and is a distinctive product identifier.
Do Tapcon go into brick or mortar?
The Tapcon concrete screw is suitable for use in a variety of base material, including brick and the mortar joints between the brick. The holding values of the Tapcon in brick depends on the brick itself and the quality and quantity of mortar in the joint...
Carbide tipped bit must be used for drilling the hole into the base material for the Tapcon screw. The quality ANSI standard carbide tips are brazed onto the end of the bit to ensure long life and consistent hole tolerance. Older style or less expensive carbide-tipped bits have the carbide soldered on.
Tapcon® brand
The design of the Tapcon® concrete masonry screw anchors allows for anchoring into concrete, brick and block. This product is a self-tapping screw that taps threads into a predrilled hole in masonry materials.
For that reason, the best concrete screws are either stainless steel, galvanized, or zinc coated. Many are simply coated with a corrosion-resistant layer, which is usually blue. These materials do better in damp conditions and resist the moisture present in concrete surfaces.
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.
All it involves is drilling a hole, cleaning the hole and driving the screw in — which is why these fasteners are referred to as self-tapping concrete screws. Concrete screw fasteners, known commonly as Tapcons, look similar to wood screws but have high-low threads, which bite the hole's side tightly.
Original Blue Tapcon® Concrete Screw. The Tapcon® concrete screw with the Climaseal® coating gives excellent rust resistance when used for indoor applications and outdoor applications.
