Concrete Screws
Concrete screws give you a fast, solid fixing into concrete, brick and block without messing about with separate anchors or resin.
If you're fixing battens, trunking, frames or brackets into hard masonry, concrete screws save time and hold properly when the hole is drilled right. They're a go-to for sparks, joiners and fitters who want clean, direct concrete fixings without waiting on plugs to spin or crumble. Match the screw length and diameter to the base material, use the correct pilot hole, and you'll get a fixing that bites hard into concrete, brick and breeze block. If you're weighing up Screws for masonry work, this is the range to start with.
What Are Concrete Screws Used For?
- Fixing timber battens, treated carcassing and support rails straight into concrete walls is where concrete screws earn their keep, especially on basement refurbs and garage conversions.
- Installing door frame fixings into masonry openings is quicker with masonry screws because you can drive them straight into the drilled hole and adjust the frame before final tightening.
- Securing conduit, cable tray, trunking and brackets onto blockwork suits sparkies and mechanical fitters who need a neat fixing that does not rely on a separate plug.
- Mounting metal frames, base plates and light structural supports into dense concrete or breeze block is a solid use for long concrete screws when you need proper pull-in without overcomplicating the job.
- Replacing failed plugs in old walls is often easier with a screw anchor, as long as the masonry is sound and the pilot hole is clean and sized correctly.
Choosing the Right Concrete Screws
Sorting the right one is simple: match the screw to the base material, fixing thickness and embedment, not just whatever is nearest in the van.
1. Length Matters More Than Most Think
If you're fixing clips, brackets or thin timber, 40mm to 60mm concrete screws are often plenty. If you're going through battens, frames or packers into solid masonry, look at 70mm, 75mm, 120mm or 150mm concrete screws so you've still got enough bite in the wall after the fixing thickness is accounted for.
2. Match the Diameter to the Load
Small concrete screws are fine for lighter brackets and containment. If you're fixing frames, heavier timber or kit that takes regular strain, step up to 8mm concrete screws or 10mm concrete screws rather than hoping a thin fixing will cope.
3. Know Your Masonry
If you're going into dense concrete, a standard concrete screw or masonry bolt works well with the right pilot hole. If you're fixing into older brick or softer block, don't overtighten and check the substrate is sound, because crumbly masonry will let any fixing down.
4. Pick the Faster System Only When It Suits
If you need a removable fixing and quick install, concrete screws are a strong option. If the hole is blown out, the wall is poor, or the load is more demanding, you may be better off looking at Wall Plugs, Hammer & Frame Fixings or Chemical Anchor Resin.
Who Uses These on Site?
- Sparkies use concrete screws for fixing trunking, clips, backboards and containment onto brick and block because they go in quickly and hold firm without a plug spinning in a rough hole.
- Joiners and shopfitters swear by them for door frame fixings, packers and timber grounds where a clean, adjustable fixing into masonry saves time on snagging.
- Kitchen fitters and bathroom installers reach for masonry screws when fixing rails, brackets and framing into hard walls, especially where accuracy matters and you may need to back the fixing out to tweak the line.
- General builders and maintenance teams keep a box on the van for refurbs, patch jobs and secondary fix work where concrete fixings need to go in fast and stay put.
The Basics: Understanding Concrete Screws
Concrete screws work by cutting and gripping into a pre-drilled hole in masonry. Get the hole size, depth and base material right, and they give you a direct fixing without the extra faff of separate anchors.
1. They Need a Pilot Hole to Bite Properly
These are not self-drilling into concrete. You drill the correct pilot hole first, clean out the dust, then drive the screw so the thread can cut into the masonry and lock up tight.
2. Holding Power Comes from the Masonry Itself
Unlike a plug that expands, a concrete screw relies on the thread gripping the sides of the hole. In sound concrete and decent brick, that gives you a firm fixing. In weak or blown block, the hold will only ever be as good as the substrate.
3. Drill Bit Accuracy Is Half the Job
Use sharp, correctly sized Masonry Drill Bits and drill to the proper depth. If the hole is too wide, full of dust or too shallow, the fixing will not pull up as it should.
Concrete Screw Extras That Save Time on Site
A few simple add-ons make masonry fixings quicker, cleaner and far less frustrating when you are working through hard walls all day.
1. Masonry Drill Bits
Get the pilot hole wrong and the whole fixing is a waste of time. A sharp masonry bit in the exact size stops you blowing out the hole or fighting a screw that will not bite.
2. Impact Driver Bits and Sockets
Concrete screws need driving in straight and clean. The right driver bit or socket saves cam-out, chewed heads and that awkward moment when the fixing is nearly home but now rounded off.
3. Hole Cleaning Brush or Blow Pump
Dust left in the hole can stop the thread cutting in properly. Clearing the hole first gives a better bite and saves you blaming the screw for a problem caused by packed masonry dust.
Choose the Right Concrete Screws for the Job
Use this as a quick guide before you start drilling.
| Your Job | Concrete Screw Type | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Fixing clips, saddles or light brackets to brick | Small concrete screws | Short lengths such as 40mm or 50mm, quick to drive, ideal for lighter loads and neat second fix work |
| Securing battens and timber grounds to blockwork | 60mm to 75mm concrete screws | Enough embedment for timber plus masonry bite, good for service battens and general refurb work |
| Installing door linings and frame sections | Concrete frame screw | Designed for frame fixing, easy to adjust before final tightening, suits door frame fixings into brick or block |
| Fixing heavier rails, brackets or thicker timber | 8mm or 10mm concrete screws | Higher holding strength, better for more demanding loads, useful where thinner screws feel under-specced |
| Going through packers, deep sections or long stand-off fixings | 120mm or 150mm concrete screws | Long reach for thicker materials while still giving proper embedment into the masonry behind |
Common Buying and Usage Mistakes
- Choosing the length by eye instead of allowing for the thickness of the item being fixed leaves too little thread in the masonry. Measure the fixing depth properly or the screw will pull weakly no matter how good it looks from the front.
- Drilling the wrong pilot hole size is the big one. Too tight and you will shear the fixing or strip the head. Too loose and it will never bite properly. Always match the hole to the screw spec.
- Driving concrete screws into dusty holes cuts holding power fast. Blow or brush the hole out first so the thread is biting masonry, not packed dust.
- Using them in weak, crumbling brick and expecting the same hold as solid concrete is asking too much. If the substrate is poor, change the fixing method instead of forcing it.
- Overtightening in block or old brick can strip the hole out at the last second. Once the fixing is seated and firm, stop leaning on it like a coach bolt.
Concrete Screws vs Wall Plugs vs Frame Fixings
Concrete Screws
Best when you want a direct fixing into concrete, brick or block with fewer parts and quicker install. They are especially handy for battens, brackets and frames where you may want to remove or adjust the fixing later.
Wall Plugs
A good all-round choice for lighter to medium fixings, especially in general brick and block work. They are more forgiving in some substrates, but slower because you are using two parts and they can spin if the hole is rough.
Hammer and Frame Fixings
These are often the quicker option for repetitive frame work where speed matters more than easy removal. Once they are in, they are less convenient to adjust than a concrete frame screw.
Which Should You Buy
Go for concrete screws if you want neat, removable concrete fixings with good pull-in. Pick plugs for everyday lighter fixings in mixed masonry. Use frame fixings when you are smashing through repetitive frame installs and removal is not part of the plan.
Maintenance and Care
Keep Them Dry and Boxed
Store concrete screws in their proper box or organiser, not loose in the back of the van. Keeping moisture off them helps prevent corrosion and stops sizes getting mixed up.
Protect the Heads
Use the correct driver bit and keep steady pressure on the tool. Once heads start getting chewed, driving and removal become a fight, especially on longer screws.
Check for Thread Damage
If a screw has been forced into the wrong size hole or dragged back out under load, inspect the thread before using it again. A damaged thread will not cut cleanly into fresh masonry.
Replace Blunt Drill Bits Early
A tired masonry bit makes oversized, messy holes and that ruins fixing performance. If the screw fit starts feeling inconsistent, check the bit before blaming the fastener.
Why Shop for Concrete Screws at ITS?
Whether you need small concrete screws for clips and brackets, concrete frame screw options for door sets, or long concrete screws for deeper fixing jobs, we stock the range that matters on site. You'll find the key sizes, lengths and fixing types in our own warehouse, ready for next day delivery when the job cannot wait.
Concrete Screws FAQs
What are the disadvantages of concrete screws?
The main downside is they are less forgiving than some other fixings. If the pilot hole is the wrong size, too dusty, or drilled into poor masonry, they will not bite properly. They also do not suit every crumbling old wall, and overtightening can strip the hole out, especially in softer block.
Do concrete screws need a wall plug?
No. That is the point of them. Concrete screws are designed to go straight into a correctly drilled pilot hole in concrete, brick or block without a separate plug. If you need a plug to make it work, the hole size or substrate is probably the real issue.
What drill bit size do concrete screws need?
It depends on the exact screw diameter and manufacturer spec, so always check the listing before drilling. Do not guess. Even being slightly off can mean the fixing is too loose to hold or too tight to drive without damaging the screw.
Can concrete screws be removed and reused?
They can usually be removed, which is one reason trades like them. Reuse is more hit and miss. If the thread is undamaged and the job is light, some will reuse them. For critical fixings, fresh screws are the safer call because a worn thread will not grip the same way twice.
Can concrete screws be used in brick?
Yes, they work well in sound brick. They are commonly used for frames, battens, brackets and containment. Just be more careful in older or softer brick, because if the face is weak or the hole blows out, the fixing strength drops fast.
