There are a lot of different reasons why people want to drill into concrete foundation. In this article, we’ll take a look at the different reasons why you might want to so and whether or not it’s safe to drill into concrete foundation.
Safety Warning
Before reading on there are a few things to keep in mind. If you drill in concrete with a large bit, your bit might get stuck or lodged. If this happens, it’s common for the drill to start spinning around the hole until you release the trigger.
If you’re working on a ladder or leaning over to do drilling, be very cognizant of this possibility and try to avoid it altogether.
If you’re drilling a hole that’s eye-level, then understand that the dust from the concrete will come spitting into your face. Wear protective glasses and a respirator whenever drilling concrete to stay safe.
Drilling Small Holes (<1/2” Diameter)
What if you want to hang something on a concrete wall in your basement? This isn’t a problem at all. You can easily drill a small hole in concrete foundation to hang something, and it’s perfectly safe.
Make sure you use the right bit and don’t rush the process.
In this case, you’ll want to use small masonry bits and concrete wall anchors. You could benefit from using a hammer drill here, but don’t necessarily have to.
Some people choose to drill a smaller diameter pilot hole where they want their hole. From there, you can drill your hole with a concrete drill bit.
You obviously need a bit that’s long enough for the desired depth.
If you’re drilling a hole all the way through the foundation, it’s still safe to do if it’s under 1/2 inch. You should choose a bit that’s long enough otherwise you’ll have to try to match the hole on the exterior of the foundation which can be nearly impossible.
Drilling Large Holes (>3” Diameter)
This is where things get a little tricky. Any hole that you drill that’s larger than 3 inches in diameter should involve talking to a structural engineer.
If you skip this step and just drill the hole for yourself, you could cause your foundation to fail and crumble. Concrete isn’t very friendly when holes are drilled out of it, and it tends to collapse – potentially taking parts of your home with it.
When in doubt, bring in the engineer.
Drilling Holes for Pipes, Water Lines, Inserts, or Gas Lines
If you need to make holes that are less than 3 inches in diameter, you can choose from a lot of different methods. Each method has its own level of difficulty and mess associated with it.
Drilling Through Concrete with Rebar
If you are drilling through concrete that has rebar in it, your tools are going to suffer. Your bits will quickly wear down, break, or get stuck.
It’s very important to work slowly and always monitor how the drill feels as you use it. If you can feel the resistance dramatically change as you’re drilling, back out of the hole, use canned air to blow dust and debris out, and try again.
Going too fast will result in a lot of expensive and time-consuming problems.
Although drilling through rebar will hurt your tools and bits, it is perfectly safe to do in most cases.
Drilling Multiple Holes
If you are drilling multiple holes, you could be in serious danger. Even small holes are unsafe if you drill enough of them.
In the case of drilling multiple holes (beyond the need to hang something in the basement), consult a structural engineer. It could be just as disastrous as drilling a single massive hole in the foundation.
Picking the Right Tool and Bit
The best way to safely drill through concrete is to pick the right tool and bit.
Hammer Drill and Bit
In most cases, a hammer drill will work the best. A hammer drill will drill like a standard drill, but it will also punch and vibrate the bit. This helps a ton in breaking through the concrete and letting the bit penetrate.
Both the bit and the drill will see less stress as you drill when you use a hammer drill and bit. In fact, these were made for working with concrete, so it’s the right tool for the job.
Core Bit
You might also opt for a core bit. This should be used if your hole is larger than 1/2 inch diameter.
These bits need to be used in a core drill that uses a tripod or a stand to steady the bit while it drills.
It will only drill the perimeter of the bit rather than the entire bit (think of a Forstner bit). This results in less force needed, less stress seen on the drill, and a simpler cut.
You can use either wet-core or dry-core in this instance. Never use a wet-core bit if you’re working inside of a finished home. It makes a pasty mud mixture that’s nearly impossible to clean from finished surfaces.
Knowing What’s Beyond the Wall
Something that will make drilling unsafe is not knowing what’s behind the wall that you’re drilling into. As far as concrete foundation is concerned, almost every run is going to be a straight punch through the wall.
But, you shouldn’t assume that’s true. Check out any blueprints or documents of your home before you start drilling.
The last thing you want to do is drill into piping, tubing, or wiring as you work on your project.
