Simpson Strong-Tie Anchor Systems

Anchoring into concrete or masonry comes down to one decision before anything else: mechanical or adhesive. Get that wrong and it doesn’t matter how good the product is — the hold won’t be there when the load shows up. Simpson Strong-Tie offers a full array of mechanical anchors, adhesive solutions, and tools for concrete and masonry applications. The right pick depends on your base material, the load, and the conditions you’re fastening in — not on the name stamped on the box.

This guide is for contractors, remodelers, and serious DIY builders fastening to concrete or masonry — sill plates, post bases, holdowns, equipment, railings. The short version: these are specialized fasteners designed for high structural integrity in concrete and masonry, and you choose them by matching the anchor type — mechanical, such as wedge or screw anchors, or adhesive — to your specific base material, load requirements, and environmental conditions.

Mechanical vs. Adhesive — The First Call

Mechanical anchors grip by expanding or interlocking inside the hole. They install fast and perform consistently, which is why they’re the go-to for most production work. The Simpson mechanical line includes the Titen HD heavy-duty screw anchor, the Strong-Bolt 2 wedge anchor, the Titen Turbo concrete and masonry screw anchor, and the Drop-In (DIAB) internally threaded anchor. Wedge-All and Sleeve-All round out the mechanical options for cracked-concrete and general work.

Adhesive anchors are a different animal. They cure to bond threaded rod or rebar into the hole, and they earn their keep where mechanical anchors struggle — cracked concrete, seismic zones, deep embedment. The 3G adhesive family is built around three products. SET-3G is a high-strength epoxy formulated for superior performance at elevated temperature and ideal for installing anchors in cracked and uncracked concrete. ET-3G is a two-component, high-solids, epoxy-based system for general anchoring of threaded rod and rebar into concrete and masonry. And AT-3G is a hybrid acrylic-based adhesive for anchoring threaded rod and rebar into cracked and uncracked concrete — ideal for cold weather and wet concrete applications.

That last one matters here. Montana winters and wet spring concrete are exactly the conditions AT-3G was built for. When choosing an adhesive, consider your application, the base material, the type of insert, the load requirements, environmental conditions, and the cure time.

Matching the Anchor to Base Material and Load

Different substrate, different anchor. Solid concrete handles load-rated mechanical anchors — wedge or drop-in — or any of the 3G adhesives. Brick and softer masonry call for screw or sleeve anchors that expand without splitting the material. For hollow block, you’re into specialized hollow-set anchors or adhesive paired with screen tubes — Simpson offers Opti-Mesh Screen Tubes for materials that are hollow or contain voids.

Load tiers track roughly with anchor type: light-duty work suits smaller screw anchors, medium-duty leans on sleeve and wedge anchors, and heavy-duty structural connections go to large-diameter mechanical anchors or epoxy. Whatever you pick, design off published numbers, not gut feel.

A note specific to this climate: freeze-thaw cycling cracks concrete over a structure’s service life. Cracked-concrete-rated anchors aren’t a luxury here. Simpson’s epoxy and hybrid-acrylic adhesive anchors are code-listed for cracked and uncracked concrete, and the Strong-Bolt 2 and Titen HD carry cracked-concrete ratings on the mechanical side.

Anchor Lineup at a Glance

Anchor	Type	Notes
Titen HD	Heavy-duty screw anchor	Cracked-concrete rated
Strong-Bolt 2	Wedge anchor	Cracked-concrete rated
Titen Turbo	Concrete & masonry screw anchor	—
Drop-In (DIAB)	Internally threaded anchor	—
Wedge-All	Wedge anchor	—
Sleeve-All	Sleeve anchor	For softer base materials
SET-3G	High-strength epoxy adhesive	Elevated-temperature performance
ET-3G	Epoxy adhesive	General rod/rebar anchoring
AT-3G	Hybrid acrylic adhesive	Cold weather, wet concrete

Installation — Where Most Failures Start

Anchors don’t usually fail because the anchor was wrong. They fail because the hole prep got rushed. The technique is the same no matter whose product is in your hand.

For mechanical anchors, the rule is simple: drill the hole to the precise diameter and depth specified on the packaging or technical guide, make sure the hole is clean, and tighten to the specified torque. Oversized holes cost you load capacity. Match the drill bit to the nominal anchor diameter.

Adhesives demand more discipline. Use approved dispensing tools and mixing nozzles, clear the hole of debris, and allow the specified cure time before applying load. Hole cleaning is the step people skip — drill to spec, blow it out, brush it with a nylon or wire brush, blow it again. Simpson supplies nylon and wire hole-cleaning brushes, dispensing tools, and adhesive nozzles for exactly this. Fill from the bottom of the hole to avoid trapping air, and don’t disturb the anchor until it’s fully cured.

Two things that bite people in cold weather: condition the adhesive to a workable temperature before you dispense it, and always verify expiration dates on adhesives and refer to the official Product Installer’s Guide for your specific model. Expired product is a guaranteed warranty problem. For overhead and horizontal holes, Simpson’s Piston Plug Delivery System dispenses adhesive into drilled holes for threaded rod and rebar installations in overhead, upwardly inclined and horizontal orientations.

Code Compliance and Design Tools

For structural work, anchor selection isn’t preference — it has to meet code. Simpson’s anchors are tested and load-rated to recognized standards, and many systems are listed for cracked-concrete and seismic use. The free design software does the heavy lifting. Anchor Designer for Concrete satisfies the strength design provisions of ACI 318, ASCE 41-17, and CSA A23.3, and analyzes designs in cracked and uncracked concrete conditions. It can calculate single anchor solutions or up to 64 anchors in a single plate.

A few other tools worth knowing: the Adhesive Cartridge Estimator helps you figure out how much adhesive a job needs, and the Post-to-Foundation Designer designs holdowns and anchors that resist uplift loads per latest building codes, letting you filter thousands of solutions for a given uplift load.

One warranty caveat that ties the whole thing together: the limited warranty holds only when products are installed and used strictly according to official technical and design specifications. Skip the hole prep, and you’ve voided more than the hold.

Western Building Center carries Simpson hardware including the 1-1/2” x 6” Simpson stud shoe.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I use an adhesive anchor instead of a mechanical one? Adhesive anchors shine in cracked or seismic concrete and where you need high-strength bonded holds. Simpson’s epoxy and hybrid-acrylic adhesives provide a high-strength hold and are code-listed for cracked and uncracked concrete. Mechanical anchors are the faster choice for consistent installs in sound concrete. Match the choice to your base material, load, environment, and how much cure time the schedule allows.

Which adhesive works in cold or wet conditions? AT-3G. It’s a hybrid acrylic-based adhesive for anchoring threaded rod and rebar into cracked and uncracked concrete, ideal for cold weather and wet concrete applications.

Why does hole cleaning matter so much with adhesives? Debris in the hole keeps the adhesive from bonding to the concrete, which kills your load. Clear the hole properly using the right brushes and dispensing gear. Clear the hole of debris and allow the specified cure time before applying load.

How do I know an anchor will meet code for a structural connection? Design it against published load data using the right standard. Anchor Designer for Concrete works to the strength design provisions of ACI 318, ASCE 41-17, and CSA A23.3 for cracked and uncracked conditions. It produces detailed output you can save and submit.

Does the warranty cover a failed anchor? Only if it was installed by the book. The limited warranty applies provided products are installed and used strictly according to official technical and design specifications.