8 Steps To Drill Into Concrete

You could drill a hole through masonry or concrete in a minute or less with the right tool and technique.

1.      You should mark the desired position of the holes in pencil on the concrete surface. Double-check these locations before you proceed. Also consider the drilling depth necessary for each hole. If your drill has a stop bar, set it to the exact depth that you need. Should it not have this feature, then wrap a piece of masking tape around the drill bit to show you where to stop.

2.      Prepare for drilling by getting out a pair of safety goggles. Next insert the appropriate drill bit for your desired hole size into your hammer drill. Get into position by planting your feet firmly on the ground, shoulder-width apart. Hold the drill securely with both hands: grip it in one hand like a handgun, and, if there is no auxiliary handle for your other hand, use it to brace the back of the drill instead. 

It is critical to control the drill once you begin work. When you lean in to bore the hole, the drill bit should be perfectly perpendicular to the concrete. Be prepared for some recoil from the drill’s hammer action.

3.      Make a guide hole first. Turn your drill to a slower speed for best control when making the guide hole. If you only have one speed, work in short, controlled bursts of a few seconds until you have established a hole.

4.      The guide hole will make the drill easier to control. Continue to operate the drill with a steady, light-but-firm touch so you are never forcing it in. If you are feeling confident, turn the speed to full. Keep a firm grip on the tool and drill until the hole is complete.

Beware: concrete can have air pockets, pebbles, or stones. This will make resistance unpredictable, and it could be disturbingly easy to lose control of the tool for a moment. 

5.      When you hit obstructions, never force the drill farther into the concrete. This can damage he bits or drill or cause you to lose control of the drill and mess up your hole, damage the concrete surface, or worse. 

If you reach any overly tough spots that you can’t seem to get through, put the drill down and get a masonry nail and hammer. Put the tip of the masonry nail at the problem spot and give it a few taps (not hard whacks) for the hammer to break up the obstruction. When done, resume drilling at a slow speed until you are sure you have passed the rough patch. 

6.       To control dust build-up, periodically pull the drill out about ever fifteen to twenty seconds and brush it away.

7.      Once you have drilled your hole the necessary depth, make sure that your safety goggles are on securely and then use a can of compressed air to blow all the concrete dust out of the hole.  Vacuum it up from the ground.

8.      Repeat this procedure for any other holes you need.