Concrete walls are durable and are commonly used in outdoor areas. You’ll need a masonry drill bit and basic tools to drill a hole in a concrete wall to mount outdoor lighting and other fixtures.
Concrete walls are one of the most common types of masonry walls because of their durability. They are popular because they can withstand harsh conditions, such as water damage and hurricanes, and support a home or building’s weight. However, drilling into concrete is more difficult compared to drywall or plaster walls.
When I moved into my home, I wanted to replace the doorbell with a unit that included a video camera for extra security. My home’s exterior wall is made of concrete so I had to ask my father to come over and help me drill a new hole into the wall so we can mount the video doorbell.
If you’re a beginner DIYer like I was then, asking for a helping hand makes drilling into a concrete wall easier.
Because concrete is harder to penetrate compared to other types of walls, you’ll need the following tools to drill a hole into a concrete wall:
Tools needed:
- Permanent marker
- Masking tape
- Tape measure (optional)
- Masonry drill bit
- Power drill
- Masonry screw or anchor
- Vacuum cleaner
Best Practices: Wear safety goggles, a dust or face mask, and work gloves to protect yourself when drilling into concrete.
Step 1: Mark the Hole’s Location
Identify where you’ll drill a hole into your concrete wall. Use a tape measure for precise placement, especially if you already have fixtures mounted on the wall.
Use a Sharpie or other permanent marker to mark the hole’s location. Unlike other drywall or plaster walls, concrete is difficult to repair and patch so you’ll need to be able to see the mark as clearly as possible.
Place around 5 layers of masking tape on top of the location you marked. This will help you drill into the concrete more easily in the next step. Mark the hole’s location on top of the masking tape with a permanent marker so you can see it clearly.
Step 2: Prepare the Drill Bit
Check the packaging of the sleeve anchor or fastener, such as a screw or nail, that you’ll insert into your concrete wall to determine the size of the masonry drill bit you’ll use.
Using the right drill bit will ensure that the anchor or fastener you’ll insert into the hole will stay in place. Additionally, wrap a small piece of masking tape around the drill bit to mark the depth you’ll be drilling onto the concrete wall.
Step 3: Drill the Hole
Once you’ve securely placed the masonry drill bit into the chuck, place the drill at the center of the location you marked in the previous step. Using a power drill to drill a hole into the concrete will take more effort because it might move from side to side as you are piercing through the concrete.
Drill slowly until you reach the depth you marked with masking tape on the drill bit. You can take your time in this step so you can precisely drill the pilot hole. If you’re having trouble driving the drill into the concrete wall, push the drill with your free hand. This will also prevent the drill from wobbling.
Step 4: Thoroughly Clean the Hole
Remove the dust and debris with a vacuum cleaner.
FAQ
What type of anchor should you use for concrete walls?
A sleeve anchor will help you mount outdoor lighting and other heavy objects on concrete walls.
Learn More: Different Types of Drywall Anchors
Do you need a hammer drill to drill a hole into a concrete wall?
Using a hammer drill is ideal because you’ll require less effort and time to drill a hole into a concrete wall. However, most DIYers might only have a power drill on hand. With a good masonry bit, a standard drill should be adequate.
Read More:
- How to Drill into Drywall: DIY in 4 Simple Steps
- Different Types of Drywall Anchors: 5 Common Options
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Main Image Credit: NVB Stocker / Adobe Stock / License
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