Drilling Through A Concrete Floor

How to drill holes in concrete foundations.

Drilling through a concrete floor.

For a standard 1 inch bottom wall plate if you were using inch by 2. A hammer drill takes the hard work out of the job as it hammers into the concrete as it drives doing the work for you. The drill bit will heat up and also the dust needs to be released from the grooves. Learning how to drill through concrete can seem difficult but what looks like a challenging job can be made simpler with the right tools and proper technique.

After the core drill has gone through the wall up to about 0 5 inches it is advisable to unscrew the guide drill bit at this point. Drill through the predrilled holes in the wood and into the concrete to a depth inch deeper than the screw length. A rotary hammer drill is designed specifically for drilling holes in concrete rock brick or mortar. Once the core drill starts to go through the concrete wall maintain a smooth low speed.

Start drilling slowly with the attached guide drill on the core drill. Older concrete however is often much more dense than some of the cosmetic concrete used in modern finishes so boring through a 50 year old concrete foundation with your old school rotary drill. These two pieces of equipment can make a great deal of difference. It is far better to do the drilling in small increments.

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. For drilling into concrete without causing concrete cracks use a hammer drill not a regular drill. Continuing to use the guide bit might make it to jam. A hammer drill delivers the hammering motion needed to drill through concrete a little more efficiently.

But the best way to drill to concrete is to use a rotary hammer drill paired with a 4 flute masonry bit. Next turn on the drill s hammer function and start drilling applying firm but not forceful. Drilling into concrete can prove to be disaster if you don t know what you re doing and don t have the right tools. You also need to use a carbide tipped drill bit.

Then drill a shallow pilot hole using a low speed or short bursts. To drill into concrete use a hammer drill with a carbide tipped masonry bit. This guide reviews how to drill into concrete safely and effectively. Drill for maybe 30 seconds then pull the bit out of the hole.

Once you have the right drill and drill bit mark the spot on the concrete you want to drill through.