What glue sticks to concrete?

Construction adhesive is what glue makers list for concrete and block. For anything that carries weight, use a concrete anchor instead.

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Cure takes days, not hours

Wet, cold and tall jobs

• Loctite PL Premium can go on wet and frozen surfaces. Liquid Nails LN-905 can’t go on wet ones.
• Liquid Nails says to follow the maker’s instructions for walls taller than 3 feet.
• Loctite rules out its PL 500 for landscape steps and stairs, for safety reasons.

When to use an anchor instead

The adhesive makers treat glue as a helper, not the fixing. Gorilla says heavy items may need temporary support and mechanical fasteners, and that its construction adhesive doesn’t replace screws or nails on structural parts. Loctite recommends furring strips for gluing to concrete walls with PL Premium Max. For shelves, handrails, TVs or anything overhead, use a concrete anchor.

Natural stone has limits of its own, such as limestone and sandstone: see stone.

Silicone caulk is no fix here either: Loctite rules out concrete and cement for its clear silicone.

Safety

Liquid Nails warns that sanding or grinding LN-905 makes dust that may be harmful to breathe, because it contains crystalline silica. Loctite’s PL Premium label says to open windows and doors for cross ventilation until all odors are gone.