One of the key parts of home renovation is mounting and attaching shelves and other objects to your walls and floors.
But when the surface is made out of concrete or brick, this task becomes a lot harder than nailing something to a wooden surface. This is where concrete anchors come in.
There are various types of concrete anchors in the market but among them, wedge anchors and sleeve anchors are the best in town. Wedge anchors are perfect for securing objects on concrete surfaces while sleeve anchors work best on brick and masonry surfaces.
In this article, we will focus on the wedge anchor vs sleeve anchor discussion and how they perform the most under different conditions.
Let’s get into it right away.
5 Differences Between Wedge Anchor And Sleeve Anchor
While both of these concrete anchoring systems have high-quality applications, there are a few significant differences between them.
I have prepared a comparison list for you so you can determine which fastening system would be perfect for your project.
| Factor | Wedge Anchor | Sleeve Anchor | Winner |
| Versatility | Solid concrete surface | Brick and concrete surface | Sleeve Anchor |
| Holding Power | High | Lower than wedge | Wedge Anchor |
| Installation | Exact same-sized hole | Longer hole | Both |
| Strength | Heavy-duty | Medium-duty | Wedge Anchor |
| Durability | High | Medium | Wedge Anchor |
| Price | Check the price | Check the price |
Enough with the pointers, let me take you through a brief journey of these differences.
Comparison Factor 1: Versatility
While most of the concrete fastening systems are made to be extremely strong, some are designed to provide flexibility for the users. Wedge and sleeve anchors are among them.
Let’s take a look at the wedge anchor first. Wedge anchors are strictly meant to be used on solid concrete surfaces.
However, there is a limitation to its usage. Wedge anchors can not be used for brick or block material surfaces.
Now if we take a look at the sleeve anchor, its versatility has already won many users’ heart. These concrete fastening system can be used for both concrete and brick surfaces.
This makes sleeve anchor an excellent wall anchor.
Winner
Considering the versatile use, I definitely have to say that this round goes for the sleeve anchor.
Because although wedge anchor is the perfect fastening system for solid concrete, wedge anchor in brick has a very little durability.
Comparison Factor 2: Holding Power
Both wedge and sleeve anchors provide top-notch quality and service.
However, wedge anchor is considered as the best mechanical anchor due to its highest holding power in the group.
Wedge anchors are made of stainless steel which increases their holding value and makes them perfectly suitable for mounting large structures.
On the other hand, sleeve anchors also hold a really high holding value. But compared to wedge anchor, the power is a bit low.
Winner
In terms of holding power, both wedge and sleeve anchors race neck to neck.
Nonetheless, wedge anchors are built for heavy-duty fastening jobs, so has a slight upper hand on the holding power than sleeve anchors.
Comparison Factor 3: Installation
The installation process is an important factor when it comes to differentiating between wedge and sleeve anchors.
Both of these anchors require a pre-drilled hole to install. For the wedge anchor, the hole needs to be the exact same size and length as the anchor. This makes the installation process more challenging.
On the other hand, sleeve anchors require the pre-drilled hole to be a bit longer than its actual size so that it can expand properly.
Winner
The installation process for the wedge anchor needs to be very precise, so you have to be extra cautious while drilling the hole.
Considering the time and efficiency required for the installation process, sleeve anchors are easier to install on any concrete or brick surface.
Comparison Factor 4: Strength
Let’s look at the wedge anchor first. It has four different parts that take its strength to the top – threaded anchor body, an expansion clip, washer, and finally, a nut.
When installed on concrete, wedge anchors provide the most consistent holding ability in the market. It is mainly used for mounting or fastening very large and heavy objects to the surface.
Though sleeve anchors provide greater versatility by working on multiple surfaces such as brick, block, and concrete, its holding ability is lower than the wedge anchor.
But it is really light-weight and can be used for medium-duty tasks.
Winner
In this case, there is no doubt that the wedge anchor possesses more strength than the other one.
So apart from the versatility, the wedge anchor still takes the lead.
Comparison Factor 5: Durability
As I mentioned before, wedge anchors are made of stainless steel, which makes them highly durable and resistant to corrosion.
You can use this anchor both underwater and in dry settings. This durability makes the wedge anchors capable of performing in different environments.
However, sleeve anchors are more focused on versatility rather than the durability. They are light-weight which makes them unable to be used on concrete surface, thus providing low durability.
Winner
By now it should be clear to you that wedge anchors are superior in nature than sleeve anchors.
This is not different when it comes to durability. Wedge anchors are much more durable than sleeve anchors in terms of practical use.
Now that I have shown you all the possible factors that determine which anchor is the best in each of them, let’s roll out to see which one you actually need.
When Should You Use Wedge Anchor?
Okay so first things first, as I have discussed earlier, if you are trying a fastening system on solid concrete, you must go with the wedge anchor.
This is the only anchor that has been designed to provide complete support on concrete surface.
Also, wedge anchors are built for static loads only. It should not be used for any type of vibrating or shock loads like a flagpole or a dock bumper.
When Should You Use Sleeve Anchor?
Usually, sleeve anchors can hold up to 200 pounds. But you need to keep in mind that this anchor best works on brick and block surfaces.
You can use sleeve anchors for any light or medium duty task like hanging shelves or wall heaters. Oh did I forget to mention? It works best when it is installed for indoor use.
Final Verdict
Now that we have reached the end of the article, I want to remind you that using wedge or sleeve anchors totally depends on the condition you are working in.
My suggestion will be before buying just any concrete anchor, do your research on the surrounding elements you will be working on.
Happy decorating!
FAQ
What type of concrete anchors are the strongest?
Wedge anchors are generally the strongest anchors. Nonetheless, heavy-duty anchors are not always necessary for every application. Some tasks will be perfectly completed using a plastic wall anchor or a nail-in model.
What are sleeve anchors used for?
Sleeve anchors are ideally suited for light to heavy-duty fastening applications and can be used in brick and block construction material.
Is wedge anchor same as expansion anchor?
The threaded anchor body, the expansion clip, the nut, and the washer make up a wedge anchor which is a mechanical type expansion anchor. When compared to other mechanical-type expansion anchors, wedge anchors offer the highest and most reliable holding values.
