How to Attach Wood to Concrete Block Walls

A few years ago my wife had tasked me with finishing our basement. One of my first questions was how to attach wood to concrete block walls. With out this I had no way to begin framing. Here I'll share the options I discovered.

Instructions

1. Masonry nails were probably the cheapest and simplest method to attach wood to a cement block wall.

2. The key is to make sure you drive the masonry nails into the mortar between the blocks, and not the blocks themselves. The nails will hold better, and you wont risk breaking the blocks.

3. The second option to attach wood to a concrete block wall is a masonry screw. They are known at hardware stores as either "Blue Screws" or "Tapcons".

4. Choose a masonry screw that will penetrate into the concrete block wall between 1 and 1 3/4".

5. Masonry screws must be inserted into pre-drilled pilot holes of a diameter 1/32" - 1/16" smaller than itself. Use a hammer drill to drill these holes in concrete block wall you wish to attach wood to.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear safety glasses when attaching wood to concrete block walls.