Materials and Tools Needed

• Framing Hammer: Because of the heavy stresses involved with pounding into concrete, use a larger hammer. Framing hammers, with their added weight and milled faces (checkerboard ridged heads), make the job easier.
• Concrete Nails: Make sure that you purchase nails that are designed for driving with a hammer, not the kind you use with a powder-actuated tool. Concrete nails are made of hardened steel and have fluted shafts that help them sink into the concrete. You can also use masonry nails, which have a square cross-section and are tapered from the head to the tip. Masonry nails are cheaper than concrete nails and have less of a tendency to break or bend.
• Hammer Drill: A hammer drill is preferable, as it both revolves and hammers. But a sturdy conventional drill will work, too. The process will take much longer with a conventional drill than with a hammer drill.
• Masonry Drill Bit: Purchase a masonry bit, as regular bits will not stand up to the hardness of concrete. *** Make sure it is the same size as the nail being used or slightly smaller.***
• Shop Vacuum: A shop vacuum is an absolute necessity. A broom and dustpan will not do because you need to pull concrete dust from the hole that you are drilling. Unlike sawdust, which is light and tends to cycle upward on its own, concrete dust is heavy and settles into the hole.

As an added note, when nailing lumber to concrete, make sure that it is pressure-treated wood. Moisture from concrete will rot standard lumber over time. Even if you believe you do not have moisture problems with the concrete, you may find that trace amounts will leach up over time.