Whether it is use or aesthetics, you might wonder how to glue wood to concrete? It could be a wall panel, a hanging book or a wall mounted display unit. It could be anything small that does not require expertise. The hardness of the concrete could be another reason to use glue. After all, drilling is no child’s play.
It is common practice to use adhesives for hanging wooden attachments to concrete walls. Even then, it does require a good understanding of the wood, concrete & the adhesive.
For example, pressure adhesives are suitable for light objects, polyurethane gums work on heavy objects & resins can be useful in many cases.
Lately, people are also using acrylic sprays. You can identify the right gum by seeing its ability to go into the pores of the concrete i.e. wetting properties. It should act as a locking mechanism that binds the wood to the concrete. Some glues can bind instantly while other glues take a little time.
If the application of the glue is minimal i.e. a few small drops, an instant glue is the right binding agent. If the glue use is excessive, you would require a slow drying glue with plenty of curing time.
This would make sure that your glue does not dry up while you are on the job. Removing dried glue can be a tedious task for beginners in home maintenance.
If you use the right glue & adhere to the following steps, you can learn how to glue wood to concrete.
Items & Tools Required to Glue Wood to Concrete
While a huge variety of glues are available in the market, beginners can collect the following items in their checklist.
- Safety Equipment i.e. Glasses, gloves & protective gear.
- Paper towels, sponges & absorbent cloth to clean surfaces & prevent damages from Glue spills.
- The appropriate adhesive i.e. epoxy, polyurethane glue or construction glue.
- Some masking paper or the painter’s tape as another precaution to glue spills.
Applying glue & sticking wood is not a very difficult task, but it is prone to many errors. It can never be done casually or hastily. A poorly glued study table may not hold your stationery, or a bar set may not hold on to your glasses. The dimensions & alignment of the wood with the concrete is essential. Even if you are sticking a wooden floor to concrete, if the alignment is wrong, it may become unstable for you & may even cause you injury.
A Step-By-Step Guide on How to Glue Wood to Concrete
Step 1: Wear the protective gear with glasses & rubber gloves. The adhesives should not get in direct contact with your body. They can be dangerous for the sin & hazardous to sense organs. You may also carry the risk of accidental ingestion & risk internal organs. It is prudent to protect yourself from such building materials at all costs. You are also advised to avoid such work if you have allergies to dust or adhesives.
Step 2: Clean the surfaces of the concrete & the wood. The adhesion of the glue gets dampened if the concrete or wood surface has dust, grime, oil or excessive moisture. These foreign elements can hinder the glue from percolating into a surface & stop it from binding the two surfaces effectively. Dust can settle into the pores of the wood or concrete & prevent the even spread of the glue. Grime & oil can be counter- productive to the binding & prevent the glue from holding both the surfaces together. Last but not the least, a thorough cleaning can also remove lose concrete in the form of debris & provide an effective surface for binding. After this cleaning, it is prudent to wipe it once more before the application of the glue. You could use a paper towel or a vacuum for this final clean up.
Step 3: Apply Paint Tape on Concrete outside the Gluing area & put rags on the floor. Take all the precautions to protect the surrounding concrete from excessive glue. If the concrete remains clean, your aesthetics remain intact & painting over the concrete becomes easy.
Step 4: Use the glue. Follow the instructions of the manufacturer & apply it on a side or both the surfaces. Make sure that the surface has dried a bit & it remains clean. You could even vacuum clean the surfaces before the final application of the glue. If the glue is concrete glue, apply it on the concrete, else you can apply it on the wood. Pour the glue in small straight lines that are half an inch apart & half n inch from the corners. As a beginner, avoid quick drying super glues & go for glues that give you time to spread them evenly. Use a roller, brush or applicator to spread the glue evenly across the surface. If the glue is not even, the wood may not align correctly with the concrete. It is a big hassle to correct a crooked attachment to the wall.
Step 5: Stick both the surfaces along the right markings & measurements. An evenly spread glue does not guarantee a good job. You have to ensure that the wood sticks to the concrete within the right marks & measurements. You may have to hold the wood for a prescribed period until the glue is cured & capable of holding the unit on its own. Epoxy has the longest curing time & it may need up to 72 hours to become sturdy. In such a case, you can use a table or plank to support the wooden unit & prevent it from tilting or falling. Another option could be the use of hanging ropes or heavy weights.
Conclusion
Whatever your requirement, if it is not some wooden unit that has complications of weight balance & safety, you can easily learn how to glue wood to concrete.
