Self Tapping Concrete Screws - How To Discuss
William Harris
Updated on May 09, 2026
Self Tapping Concrete Screws
Are the Tapcon screws self-tapping?
Self-tapping screws are concrete screws that snap into a substrate such as concrete, brick or block. The original and best known self-tapping thread is called Tapcon, derived from Tapping Concrete.Do I also need to drill for Tapcon screws?
Before installing a Tapcon masonry screw, you need to drill a hole in the masonry. Use a hammer drill to make sure the hole has the correct tolerance. The carbide diameter required for the 3/16 screw is 5/32. A 3/16 carbide tip should be used for 1/4 screws.Do you need self-tapping screw anchors in addition to the above?
Self-tapping screws have a sharp, piercing tip or a flat, blunt tip. Pointed screws are designed to drill their own holes in softer materials such as wood and plastic, so they do not require pre-drilling. Thicker metal may require more than one screw to pierce the surface.How are these Tapcon screws used?
Installation steps:- Using a hammer drill and the correct size carbide drill bit for the concrete screw you are using, drill a hole in the substrate.
- Clean the hole of dirt.
- Guide the pointed end of the Tapcon® concrete screw through the fastener and into the hole in the substrate.