Drilling into concrete can prove to be disaster if you don’t know what you’re doing and don’t have the right tools. Some common mistake an average person makes can include trying to drill into concrete with a regular bit in a regular drill, or even a concrete drill bit in a regular drill.
Drilling Into Concrete – What Tools Do You Need?
Of course if you plan on drilling into concrete you are going to make sure that you have the right tools. I don’t know about you but I never bring a knife to a gun fight. Just having the right tools can save you a lot of time and heart ache.
So what tools do you need anyways?
First of all it would be a great idea to start off with a good hammer drill, a regular drill in most cases just will not cut it or drill it. I would recommend a rotary hammer drill if you are drilling a hole any bigger than ¼”. You can buy a decent one from around $150 up to $500 or more. If you only plan on drilling into concrete once or twice your best bet might be to just rent one from your local tool rental store. Keep in mind that most rotary hammer drills have a chipping function as well so if you will only drill a few holes then you plan on chipping out that mortar bed from your shower and busting a hole through the wall in your basement for a window, buying one could save you money.
Next you are going to need a good concrete drill bit. A regular steel bit is not hard enough to make a clean hole and will just over heat and break if you even try. You will definitely need a drill bit meant for concrete. Usually diamond, or carbon coated drill bits are what you will need. And be careful to buy the right style of bit, there are a few different styles of bit, for example an SDS Drill needs and SDS drill bit.
Concrete Drilling Tips And Tricks
Here are a few tips and tricks for drilling into concrete that can save you some time and effort because drilling into concrete does not have to be hard if it is done right. Just like with anything it is better to work smarter than to work harder.
Drilling Larger Holes – in the event that you are drilling larger holes than your drill is meant for, you can of course buy or rent a larger rotary hammer drill. Or you can start with a smaller bit and drill a pilot hole and then use a bit a little bigger working your way up to the size you want.
Hitting A Dead End – a lot of times when you are drilling into concrete you will come to a dead end where it doesn’t seem like you are drilling any deeper. So one of two things have happened here either you hit rebar or you hit aggregate. If you hit rebar there are special drill bits that are meant for drilling through the rebar as well. Generally these bits are a little more expensive. In the event that you have hit aggregate, most bits will eventually pound through. Or you can use a concrete nail and hammer and break the aggregate by sticking the nail in the hole and giving it a couple swift blows.
Burning Up Bits – burning up bits when drilling concrete can not only get aggravating but it can get pretty pricey as well. If you are burning up bits there could be a few different reasons but the most important thing to remember is LET THE DRILL DO THE WORK, in other words don’t push too hard. One reason would be that the concrete is way to hard for the bit (very common with cheap bits which will only cost more in the end), or you could be using a bit aimed more for masonry and not concrete. Another common mistake is not making sure the hammer action is working on the drill. Keeping the bit cool with water can make a big difference and definitely make your bits last longer. Last but not least if you a variable speed hammer drill you can turn down the rpms.
I started a small home renovation project last week in my basement. However, it got a lot more complicated when I realized that I needed to drill through concrete. Thanks for explaining these basic ideas. Even just knowing what tools to use for this job makes a huge difference. Thanks for the info!
My husband is working on a project in the backyard and needs to drill through some concrete. Great tip about going to a tool rental store to rent a hammer drill. I’m pretty sure he will only need it this once, so I think that would be the best option for our situation.
I didn’t know that to drill into concrete that using a hammer drill would be best. It seems that it can cut into the concrete better. I would imagine that a company that specializes in that would have the tools to do the job right.
I would hope that they would have the right tools for the job. As mentioned though if you are doing it yourself you can just rent one.
Hey Sam, glad you got value from the post. For sure I would look at the price of a rental vs. buying one. Sometimes it is almost worth picking up a cheap one.
Hey Nathan, yes concrete can definitely complicate things if you don’t have the right tools for the job as with anything we try to do around the home or jobsite. Thanks for reading, glad you got value.
Chris, thanks for putting together some tips for drilling into concrete. You make a good point about how it can be very dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing. I would imagine that it is vital to make sure you hire a licensed contractor who knows how to use the proper equipment. It seems like that is the best way to ensure that your concrete is drilled safely and correctly.
Glad you enjoyed the tips. I would have to agree that if you don’t know what you’re doing then hire a professional of its in your budget. It will save lots of frustration at the end of the day.
Cheers
Thank you for this advice. I have been struggling on burning up bits and had no idea why this kept happening. Once I began to not push to hard and let the drill do the work it became much easier to drill. Your tips have been extremely helpful for all the projects i have been currently working on.
Starting with a smaller bit and working your way up to the size you want is a good idea. Making sure you get the size of hole you need could be important to make sure it works properly. I would imagine that working with a core drilling company could help ensure you get everything done correctly.