Buying Wedge Anchors at Lowe’s, Home Depot and Grainger May Be Expensive
Published by Robert Carlisle on May 9th 2012
Before purchasing wedge anchors online, it’s wise to check pricing from several companies. The pricing can exceed three times the cost of a wedge anchor if bought from national retailers.
Compare the pricing that was posted on April 24, 2012, for 1/2” x 5-1/2” Zinc plated wedge anchor with nuts and washers:
Concrete Fasteners $0.88/ea
Lowe’s $4.65/ea (type in your zip code)
Grainger $1.992/ea
Product
Wedge anchors are all basically the same. They are made from grade 2 steel, zinc or galvanized coated, with an expansion clip and one nut and one washer. Holding values are essentially the same for the wedge anchor because they are dependent upon the concrete used for installation. Values reported by different brands may differ due to how they were tested, the depth of embedment, the psi of the concrete and the type of values being reported. Slight differences may also occur because of the type and style of clip used on any particular brand. Any differences that may exist are slight. In fact, when there is a slight difference in any particular application then a large diameter or depth of embedment should be considered.
Quantity to Purchase
Local stores may sell in smaller quantities and, in some cases, in single piece packaging. If only several wedge anchors are required for the home do-it-yourself project, then purchasing them conveniently at a big box store or local hardware store for a higher price is logical. Paying a higher price for the convenience is also understandable if you need to purchase wedge anchors for a job being done that same day. Ordering wedge anchors online require several days’ wait for delivery, so planning ahead is required to take advantage of the lower prices.
Product Sizes
The big box stores do not carry a full line of the diameters, lengths, and types of wedge anchors that are available. They only stock and sell the “A” items, even though wedge anchor sizes should not be substituted. Wedge anchors come in 44 different sizes and each size is manufactured in a zinc plating, hot-dipped galvanized, 303/304 stainless steel and 316 stainless steel. Unlike big box stores and local hardware stores, Concrete Fastening Systems, Inc. has all sizes and types in stock at all times.
Pricing
Concrete Fasteners, Inc., offers quantity pricing, contractor and distributor pricing taken off of the existing lower prices.
