Attaching french cleats to masonry

[Michael Moscicki]

I was at the borg(home depot) and picked up a box of the following SPAX screws in the 1-1/4" length. Now I'm thinking the screws would be too short for 3/4" plywood french cleats screwed into the walls of my basement shop. I read here (http://www.confast.com/articles/installing-masonry-screws) that the screws need to go in at least an inch but no more than an 1-3/4". One section around the stairs is nice and flat(cinder blocks), while the rest appears to be natural rock wall.

Do I need to get longer screws or is 1/2" into the masonry fine?



SPAX¨ Multi-Material Construction Screws
T-STAR Plus Flat Head, Full Thread
http://www.spax.us/images/products/t-star-plus_thumb.jpg (http://www.spax.us/images/products/t-star-plus.jpg)










Size
Drive Bit
Coating
Use


#8 x 1-1/4"
T-20
Yellow Zinc
Interior


#8 x 1-1/2"
T-20
Yellow Zinc
Interior


#8 x 2"
T-20
Yellow Zinc
Interior


#8 x 2-1/2"
T-20
Yellow Zinc
Interior


#9 x 2-1/2"
T-20
Yellow Zinc
Interior


#9 x 3-1/4"
T-20
Yellow Zinc
Interior


#10 x 3"
T-20
Yellow Zinc
Interior


#10 x 3-1/2"
T-20
Yellow Zinc
Interior

[John Lankers]

I said to myself before I was half done reading your post: 1/2" no way - 1" at least better 1 1/4" or 1 1/2"

[Michael Moscicki]

Just wanted to make sure. Thank you.

[Jamie Buxton]

You're planning to drive wood screws into natural rock? I don't think that's gonna work.

[Howard Pollack]

I'd use construction adhesive.
Howard

[Michael Moscicki]

The SPAX screws do say they are for use in wood, masonry, sheet metal, drywall, and plastic. They say in masonry/concrete, to pre-drill a hole at least a 1/4" longer than the length of the screw using a 1/8" diameter masonry drill bit.

Am I missing something or will I be asking to much of these to hold a clamp rack and some French cleats with holders for screwdrivers, chisels, measuring tools, etc.?

If it helps part of the rock wall has been covered with 2x4's and drywall. I could continue that and use plywood instead of drywall where I would attach the tools on French cleats.

[John Lankers]

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You were planning to use wall anchors in cinder block, concrete and rock? Screwing directly into 2x4's is ok as long as they are attached properly.

[Rod Sheridan]

Hi Michael. in my shop the French cleat is on a concrete wall so I used Tapcon screws..........Regards, Rod.

[Bradley Gray]

+1 for Tapcons. I have used them in block, brick poured concrete and stone.

[Mike Heidrick]

+2 for tapcon

[Stan Calow]

+3 for Tapcons. No failures yet.

[Peter Quinn]

+4 for tapcons. Spax aren't nearly as agressive. Yes, follow the mnimum depth requirements, but I'd use tapcons, I've tried spax for masonry as they indicate but they just don't hold like tapcons. I watched a clamp rack fall off a wall and nearly take out a coworker last year.....I don't want to stand near several hundred pounds of steel suspended off a wall unless it really trust the anchors.

[John TenEyck]

I've always used Tapcons, but if Spax says the screws can be used in masonary applications I would believe them. Regardless of which you use you need enough screws with sufficient penetration into the block to hold whatever you want to put on it. The thickness of a block varies from not very much to essentially infinity between the hollow sections and the webs. There must be guidelines somewhere showing what the holding power is of screws in the thin section of concrete blocks. Knowing that would allow you to figure out how many screws you need to put in the cleats.

John

[Michael Moscicki]

Just got back from the borg and picked up a package of 3/16" diameter 2-1/4" long Tapcon concrete anchors. Performance values can be found here: http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/pdfImages/c0/c063f0ba-e028-42fd-9652-a519dfcf1198.pdf

It says that the 3/16" diameter is light duty. The pull-out and shear weight ratings are lower, but I think if I stick to the rock wall and avoid doing anything with the cinder block wall I should be fine.

Thanks again for the help. Now to figure out if that weight rating is per screw or not.

[Peter Kelly]

Should be able to pick up these at either the Home Depot in Gowanus or the Hilti store down the street on 3rd Ave https://www.us.hilti.com/anchor-systems/plastic-anchors/336485
Would recommend #8 stainless square drive screws to go with them. No zinc chromate in below grade CMU walls. Will rust out instantly.

I personally cannot stand Tapcons.