Howdy.
I’d like to anchor a small outbuilding to a concrete slab. I was wondering , if I use tapcons, how far away from the edge of the slab I would need to stay in order not to jeapordize the integrity of the concrete.
(As in steel, where you should stay 3 times the diameter of the hole away from an edge.)
Thanks.
Replies
Here we go again!
Is the outbuilding framed properly? Where is it (Location in the country)? Not too much information in the post.
The general concensus around here (and I agree) is that Topcon is not the way to bolt down buildings.
Go to the hardware store and buy Hilti bolts or good anchor bolts, rent a good concrete drill and bit of the appropriate size and anchor the building to the concrete tightly.
Is there a code reqirement for spacing? Follow it.
Quality repairs for your home.
Aaron the Handyman
Vancouver, Canada
If you put it in the middle of the slab, I'd be reasonably confident (but no guarantees) that it would not crack. Any closer, who knows? Drill it and set anchors. I'd be inclined to use the epoxy variety or grout. Any expansion anchor may crack that close to the edge. Same goes for ramset.
Buy some Hilti quik bolts, drill them close to the inside edge of the sill plate, then snug them up. I've set dozens of aluminum railing posts within 1" of the edge of concrete slabs/decks/stairs etc and never had a problem. Im sure some 3/8x4" bolts would be fine for what you need.
You should have used jbolts when you poured, Otherwise drill and use anchors set in epoxy or that hilti way.
Concrete is always under stress, and if you have to drill do it with a day or so of the pour. Id probably use a 2x6 green plate that will allow you to drill farther away from teh edge of the slab. Even if you frame with 2x4 that little lip in the bottom really wont play into the overall scheme of things.
Built a shed last winter.
Poured 4" thick slab. one week later drilled 1/2" holes centered in a 2x4 that was set in 1" from the edge of the concrete. So that would be 2.75" in from the edge. No cracking. Drove an expansion bolt in (red heads I think), no problems. Drove one every other stud bay and about 8" in from each corner.
MERC