Wednesday, May 2, 2018

How to Connect Wood Floor Joists to Cinder Block Walls

Wood floor joists can be connected to cinder block walls. You will find that you will simply need to know the tricks and the hints that will help get the job done. This may be something that you need to do because you are finishing your basement or redoing an addition that has cinder block walls. Whatever the case may be, this is not a task that is impossible, but it will need the right tools.

What You'll Need:
Masonry Nails
Masonry Screws (Tapcon or Blue Screw)
Hammer Drill
Safety Glasses

Step 1 – Options

There are a few different options that you will have when it comes to connecting wood floor joists to concrete walls. You will find that usually the least expensive way to do it is by purchasing masonry nails. They work great with connecting the concrete and the wood together. You may also want to try masonry screws. Usually, masonry screws are called blue screws or tapcons at hardware stores. When you choose a masonry screw, you will simply need to make sure that you have a screw that will have the ability to go all the way through a concrete wall. Usually, screws that are 1 3/4 inch or 1 inch will suffice.

Step 2 – Masonry Nail

If you have taken the masonry nail route you will need to make sure that you have the nail driven in between the blocks of the mortar. The most common mistake people will make is screwing the masonry nails into the actual blocks themselves. When you drive the nail into the concrete block you can expect the nails to hold a lot better and the blocks will not be running the risk of breaking.
Step 3 – Masonry Screws

Whenever you are using masonry screws, you will need to begin by pre-drilling the holes that the screws will go in. The diameter of the holes should be anywhere from 1/16 inch to 1/32 inch. When you are pre-drilling the holes, you will need to do it into the concrete block wall that the wood will be attached to. Whenever you are using the hammer drill you should go slowly and have patience. You will need to apply pressure since you are drilling a concrete block, but make sure that you are not doing all of the work. Simply apply enough pressure so that you are backing up the drill as it does its job.
Step 4 – Safety

It is always important to remember safety whenever you are working on this type of project. Safety glasses are a necessity. You will especially want to use safety glasses whenever you are pre drilling the holes for the masonry screws. Failure to take the necessary safety precautions could result in serious injury. You should also keep in mind that masonry screws and nails should be the only thing that you attempt to use for this task.