After casting concrete into the desired place and solidified it, there may be a need to drill some holes into it. This drilling can be a pretty difficult task if you will not weaken the concrete and cause long-term damage. However, there is a simpler and easier way to drill concrete that will save time and energy. On the other hand, this new recommended method may involve fastening, hanging, and securing some of the different components of the concrete.
Also, it can take about a minute to drill each hole, depending on the size of the hole. As expected, small holes are easier to drill, while larger ones are relatively more difficult to create. Meanwhile, if you need to just hit a few spots, you can use a regular drill. But in the event of having to drill bigger holes, you may need a Dewalt hammer drill and a masonry bit. Some of the other valuable tools in this project include;
- Tape measure
- Concrete fastener
- Vacuum
- 4 inches level
- Pencil
- Protective goggles
You can follow the steps below in drilling holes into a concrete structure. However, it depends on the size of the hole and the tool that is available at your disposal.
Steps to Drilling Holes into Concrete
Step 1: Mark your Spot before drilling holes into the concrete
To make a precise hole at the right spot in your concrete, take a little time to mark the spot you intend to use. This step is good to retain the correct procedure. And if you have to drill multiple holes, keep all the spots in place. You may use a pencil, pen or marker and it will work quite great to achieve the best results.
Alternatively, you can use a black sharpie, which allows the color to stand out more among other items. But if you need to mark out multiple places along the same line on the concrete, you can now use a 4 inches level to do it.
Step 2: Prepare the Drill to make the Holes into the concrete
This new step requires a clear definition of the depth control of the tool on the concrete you are using. So, before you prepare and start drilling, set the proper depth using a guide towards the center inside the concrete. Be careful in deciding the center along with the height or the thickness of the concrete surface. While using the drill, ensure the auxiliary handle is firm enough for better control.
At the same time, you can leverage your chances by starting the drilling process itself. Besides, you can also secure and insert the right side of the masonry bit onto the tip of the drilling machine. Of course, the size of the bit depends on the type of screw and fastener you will eventually use. Meanwhile, you can improvise the process of deciding on a depth guide, especially f you have other items at your disposal.
For instance, you can wrap a masking tape around the drill bit to the extent of the depth you desire it to go. Using the masking tape helps to serve as a depth guide with the driller without compromising the drilling process.
Step 3: Drill a Guide Hole into the concrete with a high level of precision
Remember that the drilling process needs to factor in-depth (which we already solved above) and the drilled hole size. For instance, making small holes of about a quarter of an inch or even less can be pretty straightforward. But when it comes to making larger holes than a quarter, you will have to hold the tools substantial to not run off the center of the concrete work.
At the same time, when drilling a smaller guide hole into the concrete, you may have to also maintain the spot where you have initially marked. Without this precision, it may be challenging to get the exact results, primarily if the holes serve a different purpose with balancing the whole construction process.
Step 4: Do the central drill into the concrete
Hold the drill firmly in your hands and ensure it aligns with the sheer size of the concrete. Then, slowly squeeze the trigger of the drill to start the drilling process. If you have a regular drilling machine, you may need to push hard into the structure while still holding your position firmly. On the other hand, a hammer drill may only require a little pressure to maintain the position and get the drill.
While drilling, stay on course in terms of the required depth, whether you marked it out directly or using a masking tape. In addition, you may also need to push in or pull out at different intervals, depending on the hardness or strength of the concrete materials. Here is where you need your goggles to be worn at all times because while drilling, some puff of concrete dust may blow out of the hole. Therefore a google mask will protect your eyes and face against such occurrences.
Step 5: Clean out the Concrete Dust from the Drilled Hole
After completing the drilling process and switch off the machine, take out your vacuum cleaner to start the next cycle. This process involves cleaning out every concrete dust from the drilled hole. You can use either a dry/wet vacuum cleaner. Ironically, you could use the drill to achieve part of this by running it up and down the hole for a period. Otherwise, spray your vacuum over the spot and get all the hidden particles out of place.
Step 6: Fasten a Screw into your Drilled Concrete Hole
After drilling your hole and cleaning it all out, then drive a screw into the hole or use other fasteners. For instance, you can use the TAPCON screws for securing wood on concrete as well. This set of screws come in different sizes, colors, styles, and length. In addition, the screws can also give you the nature of finish that you want on your concrete. You are also free to choose the best kind of fastener you wish to if you don’t like my recommendation.
Summary
Many times, the process of drilling into a concrete wall, floor, block, or ceiling may not be as easy as it sounds, especially when precision is essential. For instance, in commercial concrete construction such as flyovers and bridges, you may need specific skills to do it with the highest degree of precision. However, the simple step-by-step guide above can still help you achieve great results.