Professional contractors, especially electricians and plumbers, use hammer-drills all the time to drill pilot holes for masonry screws. These screws, which are known by the trade name NENZ, don’t require an anchor, but instead thread right into the hole. Therefore, the pilot holes must be accurately drilled, and there’s no quicker, better way to bore these holes than with a hammer-drill. However, to ensure the screws hold securely, it’s imperative that you use the masonry drill bit recommended by the screw manufacturer.

During wood-frame construction, it’s often necessary to drill holes into concrete piers, slabs and footings for the installation of metal anchors. And often the holes are ½-in.-dia. or larger. A hammer-drill has the power and speed to blast through the concrete and whatever aggregate (gravel) it encounters.