More blog items

How to Use Masonry Fixings Like a Pro

Author: Ivor Blatchford | Published: June 19, 2025

Fastening to masonry can be extremely challenging. In our latest blog post we look at masonry fixings and what it takes to use them effectively.

Have you ever attempted to attach something to a stone or brick wall and struggled with the drill skating sideways or discovered the masonry was as soft as cottage cheese? Reliably attaching things to masonry is challenging and we often need to attach items, like TVs, that subject fixings to significant load and strain. Shelving, for example, needs to cope with whatever is loaded on it without risk of collapsing. If a collection of expensive ceramics was displayed on a shelf, poorly attached to a masonry wall, it would be disastrous if the shelf gave way. And if one of our excellent bolt-down ground and wall anchors was poorly attached to a wall or driveway substrate whatever was secured to the anchor would be at risk.

What is Masonry?

Before diving into the wide variety of masonry fixings and fastenings its worth clarifying exactly what the term ‘masonry’ encompasses.

Broadly speaking, when someone talks about ‘masonry’ they are referring to brick, stone, concrete, ceramic and similar solid building elements, bound together with mortar. The common feature of these building materials is they are hard, tough and often brittle.

Another important point that’s worth noting is that each of these masonry building material types include a number of variants. Concrete blocks, for example, can be made from very dense material that’s extremely robust. They might also be lighter, far less dense blocks made from aerated concrete.

Stone, used in building applications, also has a wide range of variants. Basalt, sandstone, gritstone, granite, slate and marble are all commonly used in building applications and each of these stone types have differing attributes.

Bricks are also subject to a great deal of variation. While most bricks are made from clay, fired in a kiln, there are notable variations in the materials used and manufacturing processes. This means bricks can have wide variations in properties like hardness

Another challenge is that its not always simple to determine what has been used to construct a property wall and the condition it is in. The external rendering might appear to be tough and hard but underneath, the wall may have been constructed from cob, a relatively soft, natural building material made from clay, soil, straw and water. Properties with cob walls often have masonry chimneys or other key load-bearing architectural elements. In Brighton and surrounding areas an historic composite building material, known as Bungeroosh, has been widely used in construction. This consists of a variety of ingredients including lime, gravel, sand, flint, broken bricks and other flotsam including old shoes, wood and tin cans.

Masonry offers a number of key advantages in construction including durability, fire resistance, sound proofing and aesthetic appeal. Although the term ‘masonry’ generally applies to brick, stone, concrete and ceramic, there is clearly a wide variation in the properties of these building materials.

Problems Attaching Things to Masonry

The unique properties of brick, concrete, stone and other forms of masonry, present some challenges when attempting to reliably attach fixings.

Cracking or splitting is a common issue. If holes are drilled close to the edge of a masonry element (such as a brick or cement block) this can cause splitting or spalling, where a piece of the block flakes off.

Another commonly encountered issue is drilling into the mortar that binds masonry elements together. Mortar is much softer and weaker than bricks, concrete blocks or stone, so whatever is attached is more likely to fall off.

Using the wrong type of masonry fixing for the substrate is another common issue. This can result in the fastening being pulled off by the load which can be very expensive if a shelf collapses or a TV falls off the wall.

Another issue sometimes encountered is drilling into hollow voids in hollow-core concrete blocks or between bricks and mortar. Standard fastenings simply can’t establish adequate grip so specialised fixings are required to ensure reliability.

Anyone who has ever needed to attach something to a solid stone wall is likely to have experienced difficulty drilling the required holes. The drill will sometimes frustratingly skate sideways when attempting to drill into a hard masonry substrate. Using the right drill bit in a hammer drill, with sensible preparation, can help. A few useful pointers on how to successfully drill into hard masonry are provided later in this post.

Fasteners can corrode and fail due to moisture in masonry, especially in outdoor applications. Weatherproof stainless steel fasteners are generally most appropriate for these applications.

Masonry Fixings and Fastenings

Luckily there are many different types and designs of masonry fixings and fasteners, suitable for every known application and load-bearing requirement. It is often worthwhile consulting with experienced professionals to determine which is the best and most appropriate masonry fixing for any specific application.

Hammer Driven Anchors

Hammer driven anchors include basic masonry nails and masonry pins. These are simply hammered into the masonry. This form of fastening is typically used for low load, light duty applications.

Another form of hammer-in anchor, used for light to medium duty applications, requires a suitably sized hole to be pre-drilled. The anchor is pushed into the drilled hole and the nail section is then hammered home, causing the sleeve to expand in the hole, holding the fastening securely in place.

Screw Anchors

Masonry screws and Tapcon screws are specially designed self-tapping threaded screws that are screwed into suitably sized pre-drilled holes. These fastenings are generally good for medium loads.

 

Expansion Anchors

Expansion fastenings are available for masonry in a number of designs. The basic principle involves inserting the fastening into a pre-drilled, dust free hole that’s just big enough. When the fastening is tightened the inserted section expands in the hole to establish a firm, reliable grip. It`s worth being aware that expansion fastenings can potentially cause the substrate to crack as the bolt expands when tightened.

Sleeve anchors have a metal sleeve around a bolt which expands when the bolt is tightened. A hole needs to be drilled into which the sleeve anchor fastening is pushed. Then the bolt is tightened causing the sleeve to expand to create a firm, reliable fixing. Ideal for medium loads on concrete, brick or stone substrates.

Rawl bolts are similar to sleeve anchors but are more suitable for heavy load applications. This design of expansion bolt features a cone shaped section that expands when the bolt is tightened, firmly gripping the surrounding substrate.

Wedge anchors are very similar to these expansion bolt designs, but there is a wedge at one end of the bolt shaft. At the other, outside end there is a nut and washer. Once inserted into a pre-drilled hole of the required diameter the nut is tightened causing the wedge to be pulled into the expansion section, forming a very firm grip. Ideal for medium to heavy loads with a variety of masonry substrates.

Drop-in anchors are another form of expansion fastening used specifically on solid concrete substrates. These fastenings require a setting tool for installation and are most commonly used to insert a threaded rod, typically used for supporting electrical cable trays, HVAC duct work, fire sprinkler systems and similar structural elements.

Epoxy, Chemical or Resin Anchors

Epoxy, chemical or resin anchors use a two part resin along with a threaded rod. The resin is injected into a preformed hole and the threaded rod is inserted with the resin setting hard around the rod. This form of fastening is good for high load applications in concrete, brick and other substrates. This material and technique is also useful for establishing reliable fixings in poor quality masonry.

Masonry Fixing Materials

Masonry fixings are available in a range of materials and finishes. Corrosion resistance, strength, and cost are all important considerations when thinking about the best masonry fixing material for a specific application.

Stainless steel is more expensive than low cost carbon steel fastenings, but very durable and highly resistant to corrosion. This makes these fasteners ideal for outdoor applications, especially in coastal and corrosive environments.

Mild steel or carbon steel fasteners are relatively low cost and good for most general purpose, indoor applications. This material is often zinc plated or galvanised to help prevent corrosion.

Zinc plated steel fasteners are an economical option for indoor applications. A thin zinc coating helps prevent corrosion but isn’t suitable for wet or outdoor applications.

Hot-dip galvanised steel fastenings have a thicker coating than basic zinc-plated fastenings, making them useful for some external applications such as roofing, fencing and wall attachments.

Brass fastenings have excellent corrosion resistance and unlike steel are non-sparking, making them suitable for use in some high risk environments. Typical applications include plumbing and decorative fixings.

Aluminium fastenings are lightweight and corrosion resistant. But they are lower strength than steel, making them only suitable for light duty applications.

Drilling Holes in Masonry

A common requirement for the installation of all masonry fixings is the need to drill appropriately sized holes and this is often where problems occur. As previously noted, tough masonry can cause a drill to skate off sideways and sometimes the masonry is found to be soft and crumbly, making it unsuitable for any load bearing fixing.

 

Preparation is key when creating holes for masonry fixings. Start by gathering the tools and equipment you need for the job. These typically include:

• Sensible safety equipment including goggles, a dust mask, ear protection and gloves.
• A hammer drill.
• Appropriately sized carbide tipped masonry drill bits. The drill bit size is determined by the masonry fixing. Masonry drill bits can be identified by their wider, arrow shaped tip.
• Masking tape or a hole depth stop.
• Vacuum cleaner or can of compressed air.
• Possibly - a water spray bottle, to cool stone when drilling slowly.
• Pencil.
• Centre punch or something similar.
• Spirit level.

Here’s a step by step procedure.

1. Start by marking the location, where the first hole is to be drilled, with a pencil. Avoid locating holes in the mortar between bricks, blocks or stone.
2. Consider using a centre punch to create an indentation in the stone or concrete that will help prevent the drill from skating sideways. Some professionals describe how they use a masonry nail to chip a small indentation exactly where the hole is to be drilled. 
3. With a drill set to hammer mode, set the require hole depth by either using a hole depth stop or by wrapping tape around the drill bit at the required depth.
4. Start at the lowest drilling speed to minimise the risk of wandering. Make sure the drill is held perpendicular to the hole and carefully drill to the required depth, starting with very low pressure on the drill. For deeper holes, pull the drill bit out occasionally to remove accumulating dust.
5. If the substrate is getting warm, due to prolonged drilling, cool it with some sprayed water.
6. Use a vacuum cleaner or can of compressed air to remove dust from the hole. This is an important step as dust can inhibit the grip of any inserted masonry fixing.

Important precautions:

• Always wear eye protection, a face mask and gloves for safety.
• Don’t drill too close to the edge of any masonry blocks or concrete. Try to allow around 50mm (2 inches) between holes and edges.
• Minimise overheating by spraying the drilled stone or concrete area with water.
• Always ensure the hole size matches the fastening requirements. Never drill holes too large.
• Always clean the dust out of holes before attaching fixings.
• Use a spirit level to ensure holes are perfectly aligned for level shelving etc.

If you have any questions about fastenings and fixings, or if you have any special requirements, remember we are here to help. Give us a call on 01273 934739 and we’ll provide you with free, expert advice.

This message was added on Thursday 19th June 2025