kaymccampbell
Well-known member
2.5" from the edge. Yeah, nothing larger than 1/4" that's not epoxy. You'll like the tapcons. My lift is held in place with them. So is the whole house vac.
On partial sets, using Ramset, I can usually set it with a second load, and the tool placed over the original fastener. I sometimes use a lighter load the second time around if it seems appropriate.Nah, don't want an epoxied fastener because it is (remotely) possible this gazebo may be moved in the future. I own a basic Ramset gun but don't want to use that because I have had partial "sets" of the fastener before and then you're stuck. In this case it would necessitate me moving the entire structure over slightly to fire a new fastener.
I was thinking Tapcon but I've never used them before. Doing research I hear sometimes they strip out the hole but for the anchors I need to place near the edge of the slab they might be best. I've used Redhead the most and they work great away from edge and as long as you're thorough in removing dust from the drilled hole.


Good to know, thanks!On partial sets, using Ramset, I can usually set it with a second load, and the tool placed over the original fastener. I sometimes use a lighter load the second time around if it seems appropriate.
Nice job. Well worth the sweat equity.Thanks Kay! I'll go check out Tapcons tomorrow.
This weekend we're babysitting grandchildren. My daughter & son-in-law are leaving their 14 month old son overnight for the very first time. The 5 & 9 year old girls are easy peasy and sweet. He JUST took his first steps a day ago and the time from walking to running is a very short, especially with boys, ha ha.
Today I assembled the gazebo. I staged two roof sides on saw horses to get higher starting point. They're not heavy but awkward as hell. Hired a day laborer to help. They already had the brackets that "sit" on the horizontal beams and loosely installed screws. Propped 1st one up w/2x4, then lifted 2nd. 3 ea. 1/4" long bolts attach one roof panel to the next through rafters. Neighbor arrived to help when we put up the 3rd. Getting them to fit tightly to each other takes a lot of finagling, jiggling & cursing (the technical terms) but we got them in place.
This was a true *** kick job. I'd had a very small breakfast and at one point I felt faint and nauseous at the same time - NO bueno - it was well over 90*! Told the laborer to "take 5". Fortunately my girlfriend brought in lunch and even though I'd been drinking water she insisted I drink Gatorade - which I dislike - but I admit it helped. I always assumed the electrolytes, etc were a marketing gimmick but whatever it has I felt better immediately.
After all this I found whoever Costco had assemble this in the store didn't remove the thin plastic sheeting on the roofing tin (aluminum). Getting it off now is going to be a pain and take a lot of time but the gazebo is done other than an overhead fan/light and moving the lamp post & brick pier to elsewhere in the yard. Upcoming work after an upcoming Hawaiian vacation!
Thanks! Worth the sweat but not the near heat stroke. I was dumb pushing it too hard on too hot a day. Dodged a bullet.Nice job. Well worth the sweat equity.
I'd like to find stainless fasteners & washers for the anchor bolts. The baseplate is powder coated but over time I think there's a likelihood for rust and I want to avoid that if at all possible. I considered whether to use some kind of spacers beneath the baseplate but I'm probably overthinking it. Just avoid water on the plates when cleaning the deck.Don
I’ve used both Tapcons and different Hilti products mounting items to my brick and block walls in my house. I used another product when I mounted my handrail on my back steps. I’ll have to find the box for the brand name.
I asked my local supplier for his recommendations when I described the project. I used stainless washers and fasteners.
Thanks for the kind words. The backyard is due south facing so it was needed. We moved in 3-1/2 years ago and that first summer was unbearable without the patio cover, shade sails over the pool, and now this gazebo.Dan, that's a slick looking gazebo over your outdoor kitchen area. I think you will enjoy the shade that provides!
Enjoy your time with the grandkids!

Dan.Home from Kauai. Helluva nice trip with a total of 11 family members including my two 9 year old grand daughters. Evidence of their attention to me in pic below.
"Papa. can we paint your toenails?" Sure guys, do a good job! (Yeah I'm aware. Pretty ratty looking feet...but no old man fungus!)
I'll have to do a search for those! Ha ha.Dan.
Hopefully you can find a pair of OSHA approved safety sandals you can wear while doing yard work. You gotta be safe while being stylish.
Smart! I take a couple before I start a project. It make a huge difference.Ha! We BOTH took some.
Hilary is why I'm heading home Sunday. We are about 2 blocks below a small dam. Same BIL & SIL I mentioned above lived a block closer for about 17 years but moved a long time ago. They never experienced an overflow when they lived here but times have changed with weather as we all know. I'm a little concerned. Mostly about my '55 truck getting flooded! Hope I get there in time!Smart! I take a couple before I start a project. It make a huge difference.
Are you prepping for Hilary? I've put all the loose stuff away. Rather be safe than sorry.
I hope so. Hope it's overblown (instead of ME being overblown!). Nope on Tapcons.Looks like it's slowing down to a tropical storm and likely passing east of us.
WTF not? They're easy and good.I hope so. Hope it's overblown (instead of ME being overblown!). Nope on Tapcons.
Just haven't had time - I had to drive 400 miles and back.WTF not? They're easy and good.
Yup. It says the pilot hole size on the package. You need to drill about an inch deeper than the tapcon. Then you blow out the hole with compressed air, a couple times. Then drive your tapcon. Rotary hammer is the best for drilling concrete. ****** little buzzer hammer drills are not your friend. Don't go hog wild with the impact driver when installing the tapcons. You can strip the hole.Just haven't had time - I had to drive 400 miles and back.
After this big storm (so far, a bust. We'll see what happens later today) I'll go take a look at them. I've never used them before. Big, nearly 1/2" holes in the gazebo base plates so I assume I have to drill pilot holes?
Kay, I have an old big, corded 1/2" Porter Cable hammer drill and also my Milwaukee M18 Fuel drill driver that has a hammer setting - which may well fall into the "****** little buzzer hammer drill" you mention. This is the kind of thing that makes me uncomfortable using a fastener I've never used before. If I end up accidentally stripping out the pilot hole then I'm up schist creek. I'd rather avoid that. Makes me want to go through the extra work(?) of using a wedge anchor like a "Redhead."Yup. It says the pilot hole size on the package. You need to drill about an inch deeper than the tapcon. Then you blow out the hole with compressed air, a couple times. Then drive your tapcon. Rotary hammer is the best for drilling concrete. ****** little buzzer hammer drills are not your friend. Don't go hog wild with the impact driver when installing the tapcons. You can strip the hole.
Redhead can split the concrete so near the edge.Kay, I have an old big, corded 1/2" Porter Cable hammer drill and also my Milwaukee M18 Fuel drill driver that has a hammer setting - which may well fall into the "****** little buzzer hammer drill" you mention. This is the kind of thing that makes me uncomfortable using a fastener I've never used before. If I end up accidentally stripping out the pilot hole then I'm up schist creek. I'd rather avoid that. Makes me want to go through the extra work(?) of using a wedge anchor like a "Redhead."
I'm getting about 1/2" per hour. We've gotten about 4 inches so far. No wind to speak of.I hope so. Hope it's overblown (instead of ME being overblown!). Nope on Tapcons.
Thanks PD, The storm is passing through or maybe it's "by" now. Its raining steadily but relatively lightly and there is little to no wind. They had forecast the worst of it would be about 4pm but nothing much happened.Dan, I've never had any issues with Tapcons. Much easier than Redheads. Smaller hole, quicker to install.
Get something on that structure. Soon.
Paralysis by Analysis isn't going to help when the storm hits.
Good luck, hope you and your GF stay safe.
We got about 6.5 inches of rain. It was a steady downpour from about 7AM. We are at 25" of rain this year. Normal is around 12"Much ado over nothing in Glendora.
A bunch of trees fell in other areas but no one hurt so it's a win!


