Wall Bolts and Fastenings
Wall bolts are essential fasteners used for securing different items to walls made of concrete, stone, brick and thermal block. Choosing the right wall bolt for the type of wall you are fixing to is crucial to ensure that the bolt securely holds the weight of the item without damaging the wall or causing accidents. In this article, we will discuss the best wall bolts for all of the above types of construction and provide tips for proper installation.
Types of Wall Bolts
There are various types of wall bolts available in the market, and each type is designed to suit a specific type of wall. Here are the common types of wall bolts used for concrete, stone, and brick wall fixings:
- Expansion Bolts – Expansion bolts are the most common type of wall bolt used for concrete and stone wall fixings. They work by compressing the walls and expanding the bolt’s sleeve to anchor it firmly in place. Expansion bolts can hold heavy items, making them suitable for fixing small and large satellite dish wall mounts. The most common and useful size diameter is M10 ie 10mm hole plastic plug steel bolt, with normal brick structures this is the least likely to cause cracking yet hold very firmly. Available in 50mm, 70mm and 100mm length plugs choose according to the brick type. Bricks with spaces or holes inside may be better with the shorter 50mm bolts. For bigger dishes use the longer bolts.
- Sleeve Anchors – Sleeve anchors are similar to expansion bolts and are also used for concrete and stone wall fixings. They have a threaded rod that passes through a sleeve, which expands when the nut is tightened, anchoring the bolt firmly in place. Sleeve anchors are suitable for medium to heavy-duty fixings.
- Wedge Anchors – Wedge anchors are used for fixing items to concrete walls and are ideal for heavy-duty applications. They have a cone-shaped wedge that expands when the bolt is tightened, providing a secure anchor for the item being fixed.
- Drop-in Anchors – Drop-in anchors are used for concrete walls and are ideal for fixing threaded rods, pipes, and cables. They are inserted into pre-drilled holes in the concrete wall and secured using a setting tool.
- Chemical Anchors – Chemical anchors are used for heavy-duty applications and are ideal for fixing items to concrete, stone, and brick walls. They are fixed using a chemical adhesive that creates a strong bond with the wall material.
Choosing the Right Wall Bolts for Concrete Walls
When choosing wall bolts for concrete walls, several factors should be considered, including the thickness of the wall, the weight of the item to be fixed, and the size of the bolt. Expansion bolts and sleeve anchors are ideal for fixing medium to heavy items to concrete walls, while wedge anchors are suitable for heavy-duty applications. Drop-in anchors are ideal for fixing threaded rods, pipes, and cables, while chemical anchors are mainly used for heavy-duty applications.
Choosing the Right Wall Bolts for Stone Walls
When fixing items to stone walls, it is essential to choose wall bolts that will not crack or damage the wall. Expansion bolts and sleeve anchors are ideal for fixing medium to heavy items to stone walls, while wedge anchors are suitable for heavy-duty applications. Drop-in anchors are ideal for fixing threaded rods, pipes, and cables, while chemical anchors are used for heavy-duty applications.
Choosing the Right Wall Bolts for Brick Walls
When fixing items to brick walls, it is essential to choose wall bolts that will not damage the wall or cause cracks.
If the brick is exposed ie. not rendered, then choose the drilling position as far from the edges as possible to avoid cracking the brick. Some bricks have hollow spaces, in that case if there is insufficient brick to make the bolt work properly a chemical solution could be used. Otherwise expansion bolts and sleeve anchors are ideal for fixing medium to heavy items to brick walls, while wedge anchors are suitable for heavy-duty applications. Drop-in anchors are ideal for fixing threaded rods, pipes, and cables, while chemical anchors are again just used for heavy-duty applications.
Choosing the Right Wall Bolts for BlockWalls
In addition to the types of wall bolts mentioned earlier, there is another type of wall fixing called Thermal Block Fixings. These fixings are designed specifically for use in thermal blocks, which are lightweight and crumbly materials. Thermal Block Fixings are unique in that they cut their own thread in the thermal block to give a superior grip within the material.
From experience with these types of bolt, reworking ie screwing the bolt in and out of the hole is not recommended, it is always best to cut the hole with the bolts thread ONCE only. So – drill, put everything in place – THEN do the final screwing in.
Thermal Block Fixings are ideal for use in lightweight block, aircrete blockwork, aerated blocks, Thermalite, and Celcon. They provide a secure anchor point for lightweight items and are easy to install. Rather than over-tighten your bolts, use more bolts! If the wall mount has 6 holes, where you would normally use 4 bolts, utilise all 6 holes in the baseplate.
When installing Thermal Block Fixings, it is essential to use a hammer drill to create a hole in the thermal block. The hole should be the same size as the Thermal Block Fixing to ensure a tight fit. Once the hole is drilled, the Thermal Block Fixing is inserted and tightened using a wrench.
Installation Tips for Wall Bolts
Proper installation is essential to ensure that the wall bolts hold the weight of the item securely without causing damage to the wall or accidents. There are two fairly obvious installation tips to always follow:
- Use the right drill bit – Use a drill bit that is the same size as the wall bolt to ensure that the hole is the right size.
- Drill the hole to the correct depth
Getting Out of Trouble!
Inevitably, sooner or later, you will make a mistake. It may be that the material is relatively soft and an internal hole or space has caused the drill to go off course, or a small crack has occurred making full tightening of the bolt impossible. If its in the latter stages of the installation, restarting in a new position may be too time costly or simply not possible. So how can you rectify this? With Chemical Epoxy Mortars like the Hilti brand described at the end of this article. Although too expensive for general purpose use, it can get you back on track.
Conclusion
Choosing the right wall bolts for concrete, stone, and brick wall fixings is crucial to ensure that the item being fixed is secure and that the wall is not damaged. The most common types of wall bolts are expansion bolts, sleeve anchors, wedge anchors, drop-in anchors, and chemical anchors. When fixing items to thermal blocks, Thermal Block Fixings are the best option.
Proper installation is essential for all types of wall bolts to ensure that they hold the weight of the item securely without causing damage to the wall or accidents. By following the tips outlined in this article, you can ensure that your wall fixings are secure and safe.
Additional Information From: Hilti Chemical Anchors
Hilti chemical anchors were developed for the ultimate performance and model code-compliant design for virtually any concrete-to-concrete and steel-to-concrete connections. They have an ETA assessment for anchoring, including C1 and C2 seismic, and ETA for rebar, including fire and seismic applications.
In fact, Hilti was the first company to produce an epoxy mortar qualified according to EAD 332402-00-0601 for concrete-to-concrete connections. This means that rigid connections can now be designed and executed with post-installed rebars without splices according to the newest design method TR069.
Hilti chemical anchors are suitable for the toughest jobsite conditions. They work even in diamond-cored, wet or underwater holes, extremely deep injections, large diameters, and at temperatures down to -5°C / 23°F. They offer improved bond strength in the most demanding applications, such as cracked concrete and seismic C2 conditions.
Specifying and ordering Hilti chemical anchors is also easy. You can use PROFIS Engineering to design baseplate connections and PROFIS Rebar to design concrete-to-concrete connections according to EC2, TR069, or the Hilti Design Method.
Hilti chemical anchors are versatile and can be used in various applications. They are ideal for structural connections with post-installed rebar, such as slab extensions, wall/column connections, stairs, foundations, and more. They are also suitable for the structural renovation of buildings, bridges, and other civil works, retrofitting, and re-strengthening of concrete members.
Hilti chemical anchors are perfect for anchoring structural steel connections, including steel columns and beams. They can also fasten structural baseplates, even in cracked concrete and challenging seismic conditions. Additionally, they can fasten natural stone and wood, including GLT and CLT made from spruce or pine.
In summary, Hilti chemical anchors offer a reliable solution for various concrete-to-concrete and steel-to-concrete connections. They have been tested and certified to meet the latest model code requirements and offer the ultimate performance in the most challenging conditions. They are easy to specify and order, making them an excellent choice for any construction project.
Disadvantages of Chemical Solutions
- Time to Cure
- Safety Issues
- Expiry Date
- Expense
The tubes will have a T-cure time. This is the time from pumping the solution into the hole, to the time a load may be applied.
Safety: Always use gloves and eye goggles when applying/working with chemicals
Expiry Date; For our purpose with satellite installation this isn’t critical, but for major load bearing purposes, the maximum strength is only attained within the expiry date stated on the tube.
Expense: Even the low spec epoxy mortars are many times the cost of a standard bolt fixing.
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