Pro tip: Don't buy the cheap expansion anchors from the big box store

I used the bargain pack of 50 from Lowe's on a driveway apron last month. Saved maybe 12 bucks. Third day of curing, half of them popped the surface. Had to demo and repour a whole 4x8 section out of my own pocket. Lost around $300 in materials and a full weekend. Anyone else learn this lesson the hard way?

2 comments

2 Comments

foster.dylan6d ago

From what I've seen with concrete anchors, the cheap ones usually have a thinner sleeve and less bite in the threads. The bigger problem is they can crack the concrete around them because the expansion force isn't spread out right. I usually spend the extra few bucks on the Tapcon brand or the red head wedge anchors, even if it hurts the wallet a little. The cheap ones just don't hold up to the freeze-thaw cycle, especially in a driveway with cars driving over it.

angelab626d ago

Question whether it's really that serious for most folks. Unless you're anchoring something structural like a porch roof or a swing set that could fall on a kid, the cheap ones probably work fine for a mailbox post or a garden trellis. I've used the no-name ones from the hardware store for years on things like fence posts and bird feeders, never had one crack or pull out. Freeze-thaw in a driveway is a different animal, but for light duty stuff, you're not going to see those problems.