These tools will help you get the hang of it
October 24, 2009
Invest in a small set of masonry bits. A battery-powered drill may not be enough to get through concrete walls without them. .
"You want to make sure you're deep enough into the concrete and not just into the drywall. Drywall is generally a half-inch thick and so if the drill goes in three-quarters of an inch, you have to go in at least another inch to get a bite into that concrete," says Khachi. "If you go in a good inch-and-a-half and put a plug and screw in, you can hang the heaviest mirror on that.''
If you have yet to buy a cordless drill, consider one with a hammer drill feature (about $80) that makes it easier to drill into the concrete.
Buy a laser level like a Black and Decker Bullseye (about $50). It throws a laser line across the wall so you can mark it and get a level install every time.
Traditional bubble levels can leave you with miscalculations.
"On a two- or three-foot span, you could be out one sixteenth or one-eighth of an inch and not realize it and that can make a big difference in your finished project because once the holes are in, how do you adjust a hole for one-eighth inch?" says Khachi.
Consider using D hooks to hang artwork to keep it flat to the wall.
"I don't like hanging pictures and mirrors off of the wire on the back, we like the D hooks that are mounted on either side. They put pictures a lot flatter on the walls."
Plugs help hold screws into the wall and while lead is better than plastic for heavier items, the often pesky plastic anchors can still work in concrete.
"Those little plastic plugs are horrible for drywall, but the best thing you can use for those concrete walls," Khachi says.
Once you have a hole in the concrete, push the plastic plug in, then the screw. Without a plug, use wooden toothpicks to keep the screw in and support the weight.
– Jennifer Brown
Toronto Star