Need Help

[Billisnice]

I have an outside wall of rock with mortar in the joint. The old builder just put drywall screws in the mortar to secure the bracket to hold the outside light to the wall beside the door. The light has been hanging off the mortar for yrs. I want to secure it someway back. What is a strong concrete to fill the mortar holes with and how do i anchor it back with some more than drywall screws?

thanks

[glenn kangiser]

You could just drill it out with a masonry drill and put anchors in it maybe lead or plastic inserts or other type concrete sleeve anchors.

[Redoverfarm]

Bill I would go the route that Glen recommended.  Filling a small hole with mortar will probably not work.  Not enough mass to keep it from crumbling out.  You could move it over one way or the other if this could be an option to gain new mortar to drill through.  If not use the molly approach. 

[Billisnice]

I have the 12/2 hanging in that area with no way to move it over except tear rocks off the wall. What is Molly approach?

[Redoverfarm]

Just slang for wall anchor.  One of these pictured.  I prefer the lead for mason but anything along that order will work.



http://images.google.com/images?q=wall+anchor&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GGLF_en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=CBFVSsvCIMGllAeilPmVDQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=5

[Billisnice]

The holes are about an inch round to be filled with something. I wonder if a glue filled with wood particle and use wood screws would work?

[Billisnice]

Sometime i have used a match stick to glue for large holes in door plates to add mass. I might do the same thing with dowels and glue to get the  mass needed. What bonds glue to masonry?

[Redoverfarm]

Bill that is a pretty big hole for a drywall screw.  You might be able to use a short dowel epoxied (exterior type) in the hole. Allow sufficent time for it to cure and then drill and insert the screw.  Of course it is only wood and it's life could be iffy Maybe 2-5 years.  Maybe just standard construction adhesive if it is water proof.

[Billisnice]

John, What else do you suggest? This area is under a roof and will not get any rain.

[Redoverfarm]

I would probably just use the dowel cut to length.  If you used a tapcon that would reach to the back of the hole then the dowel would just be a spacer and the tap con would do all the holding.  If you found a longer tap con to give you about 3/4" penetration in the base of the hole then just use it by itself to hold the light fixture up eliminating the need to fill the hole.  They come in small diameter.

[Billisnice]

what is a tap con? ty

[Redoverfarm]

http://www.concretefasteners.com/anchors-fasteners/tapcon-screw/pricing.aspx?gclid=CO_H3ZaNx5sCFdBB5godc23EAQ

I knew that was coming

[Redoverfarm]

You don't need to buy a complete box. Most home improvement stores well them by the piece.  You would need a corresponding mason bit to match the size scre(undersized).  All in all you are only looking at a couple dollars.

[Billisnice]

I got 4 of those at ace hardware this am...did not know it was called that...lol

[Redoverfarm]

http://www.concretefasteners.com/anchors-fasteners/bits/tapcon-bits.aspx

[Redoverfarm]

Think we are set now.  Just don't let the bit wobble in the hole when you drill.  Slow steady pressure.  Drill it a little deeper than you are going to need for the tap-con.  Good Luck