Fit a ground anchor in 10 steps

Give your home security a firm base with a ground anchor

1

Get the knowledge and the gear

First read the instructions. Although most ground anchors are similar in terms of design and installation, each will have their own unique considerations. Next, check you have the right tools. Most regular DIY drills will not be powerful enough to spin their way into concrete, so it will be worth hiring a heavy-duty SDS item and the correct size bits.

2

Check the chain

Once you have chosen the location that best suits your needs, run the chain through the anchor and bike as if it was fixed in place. You are checking that your chain is long enough to reach the bike and also that it isn’t too chunky to fit through the anchor. To make it harder for criminals to attack, you should ensure that no chain slack is trailing on the floor.

3

Make your mark

Make sure the installation area is as clean and tidy as possible by brushing away dirt and loose stuff. Place the ground anchor in position, hold it in place with one hand then mark the holes with a felt tip pen. Alternatively, some anchor kits provide a template pattern, which is very helpful, especially when you need to make multiple holes.

4

Stop wandering off…

Before you drill your main holes, first drill a small pilot hole to prevent the bigger bit wandering off centre. You should do this using a 10mm masonry drill bit to a depth of around 10mm. Place the ground anchor or template over the hole each and every time you drill to check that it all lines up – that way you can spot early if things are going wrong.

5

Drilling deep

Check in the instructions for how deep the main holes need to be, then set the drill’s depth gauge accordingly. If the drill doesn’t have one, mark the correct depth on the drill bit using some tape. Make sure the drill is going in straight at 90 degrees, perpendicular to the surface.

6

Bust the dust

When you have drilled all of the holes you will need to clean debris out from inside. The wide drill bit will have created a lot of loose material that will sit at the bottom of the hole and prevent the anchor from sitting flush. The easiest way to clean it out is by using a vacuum cleaner.

7

Insert here…

The anchor will be secured by security bolts threaded into expanding inserts. Take the inserts and place them in the holes, then tap them into place with a mallet so they are flush with the surface. Place the anchor over the holes and insert the bolts. Screw them in only a few turns each. With all of the bolts fitted, screw them all in evenly until they begin to tighten up.

8

It’s gotta be tight

Tighten up the bolts evenly a little at a time. As the bolts expand the shaft of the insert as they tighten they don’t feel the same as tightening up into a normal fixing; they have a longer range and more surface area to grip the concrete. Oxford give a recommended torque figure of 3440Nm, so use a torque wrench to make sure you reach this range.

9

Find your bearings

A good ground anchor which has been certified to Sold Secure will have some sort of method of preventing thieves from simply unbolting it from the ground. Most will come with small ball bearings which need to be installed on top of the bolts in order to prevent access to the Allen key head. Place each one on the head of the bolt and knock it in using a punch.

10

Hammer in the caps

After the ball bearings have been installed, next install the solid steel plug caps over each of the bearings. They’ll need to be hammered in using considerable force, so be sure not to get stray fingers or toes in the way. Hammer them in so they are flush with the surface of the plate and your bike will be well defended from thieves.