Anchoring to concrete

JimS · Sep 19, 2020

It has been some time since I have anchored anything to concrete. I have a canopy to cover some hay on a concrete slab. What is the best type of anchor to set the foot/flange onto smooth concrete? What are some techniques I should be aware of to make the mounting secure and effective?

There are 6 legs with 4 holes in each flange or 24 bolts. The roof will be tied to the flange to prevent it from blowing away.

Thanks.

bmack95hd · Sep 19, 2020

Standard wedge anchor or Simpson Titan anchor.

bmack95hd · Sep 19, 2020

Titen

John Garner · Sep 19, 2020

I STRONGLY prefer internally threaded concrete anchors, which can be undone to leave a flat floor, then be used again later. Of the internally threaded anchors, the "drop in" is the most readily available. There are also "rod hanger" internally threaded anchors that are kissing cousins of the wedge-type studs. The queen of the internally-threaded anchor ball is probably the epoxy-bonded internally threaded anchor from Wej-it.

RalphWD45 · Sep 20, 2020

For many years I have used an anchor called Quick bolt, You put your item in place on the concrete, grab a rotary hammer, with the size rotary bit, that fits the hole in your metal, and drill your hole ( I usually drill all the way thru the slab, for later removal purposes). With the hole drilled, put the quick bolt in the hole, screw the flat washer and nut, on the bolt(flush), and with a big hammer, drive the quick bolt down to the metal plate. when all the bolts are in place, go back with a crecent wrench, and tighten the nuts down. If some day in the future, you find you want to remove the structure, from the concrete, after removing the nut and washer, you can drive the anchor bolt ,down thru the concrete, if you drilled all the way thru, in the beginning.

Steve in VA · Sep 20, 2020

I've used tapcon screws with excellent success.

Russ from MN · Sep 20, 2020

I second the suggestion on quick bolts, we used a lot of them in industry.

bmack95hd · Sep 20, 2020

Same thing as a wedge anchor. Kwik bolt was a Hilti product.

Stephen Newell · Sep 20, 2020

A lot depends on your environment there. If where you are putting an awning is out in the open and you get high winds the wind will eventually tear anchors out of the concrete. If conditions warrant it might be necessary to either cut the slab and put posts in concrete or at least bore a deep hole filled with concrete and put J-bolts in the concrete. I've done one where I just put the posts just outside the slab and just make the awning extend a little outside the concrete. I had to replace an awning that someone did attach to a slab with mechanical fasteners. Here and there it pulled chunks of concrete out where you can tell the fastener did do it's job. The wind was just too much for it.

BAnNC · Sep 20, 2020

Make that a second for the Titen

RobCons · Sep 20, 2020

Wedge or drop in anchors. Either one should work.

john in la · Sep 20, 2020

The weakest link in concrete anchors is the concrete itself.

So now the question is do you want the best anchor system or the easiest to install.
For the best you need pour in place anchors set in deep footers using high quality concrete.
But if your slab is already poured you are pretty much limited to drive in wedge or similar anchors.

ss55 · Sep 20, 2020

If the concrete is already poured, Hilti bolts or similar anchor bolts will do the job.

mrslesq · Sep 20, 2020

If you do not wish to remove the anchor again you can use a hammer drill to make a hole and then drive a machine bolt of a little bigger size with a big hammer or sledge hammer. You will have to make sure of the length of the bolt so it is tight against what you are anchoring when the last of the threads dissappear into the hole. Try a test hole and see if you can remove the bolt without twisting it off. Good Luck!

bjb in TX from Ne · Sep 20, 2020

How thick is the concrete? Is it reinforced? How big are the bolts for the Flanges? What is the concrete compression strength? How close to the edge of the slab? How big is the canpoy? What are the wind loads in your area? What is the shape and slope of the canopy? What are the uplift loads on legs?

You can put a number of products that will "fasten it down" but if you don't want to blow away, you need to provide more information. Your friendly local structural engineer would be able to get you some better guidance.

bjb
Texas PE

Whiskey Bent · Sep 20, 2020

I am getting ready to put a 2 post hoist in my shop and was told to use Redhead anchors, are these the same as Hilti anchors?

db4600 · Sep 20, 2020

Likely. Hilti is the typical engineering standard cuz they buy
the engineers more steaks than Red Head at the conventions.
Red Head is an Equal option and some times outperforms the
Hilti product. There are wedge and sleeve anchors. Wedge
tend to work better in concrete. Sleeve seem to work better in
masonry.

John Garner · Sep 20, 2020

Hilti and Red Head are brand-names of concrete anchors, not types of concrete anchors. Both of these companies, and most other concrete
anchor makers, make multiple types of concrete anchors.

There is far more functional difference between the different types of concrete anchors than there is between the same types of concrete
anchors made by different reputable makers.

HenryO · Sep 20, 2020

I built gas stations for years and found that Redheads are the absolutely the best

Anchoring to concrete

JimS

Member

bmack95hd

Well-known Member

bmack95hd

Well-known Member

John Garner

Member

RalphWD45

Well-known Member

Steve in VA

Well-known Member

Russ from MN

Well-known Member

bmack95hd

Well-known Member

Stephen Newell

Well-known Member

BAnNC

Well-known Member

RobCons

Well-known Member

john in la

Well-known Member

ss55

Well-known Member

mrslesq

Member

bjb in TX from Ne

Member

Whiskey Bent

Member

db4600

Well-known Member

John Garner

Member

HenryO

Member

Similar threads