The 8-Step Simpson Strong-Tie Order and Installation Checklist I Wish I Had in 2019

I have been handling structural hardware orders for a mid-size commercial contractor for 9 years. I have personally made (and documented) 7 significant mistakes, totaling roughly $11,800 in wasted budget. Now I maintain our team’s pre-order and installation checklist to prevent others from repeating my errors.

This checklist is for anyone ordering or installing Simpson Strong-Tie (simpson-strong-tie) structural connectors, anchors, and fasteners. If your search history says simpson strong tie lag bolts and simpson strong tie wedge anchor, or you are trying to remember how do you screw in drywall anchors, you are in the right place. It also helps if your order includes a pipe fittings catalog line and you are receiving everything on one truck.

There are 8 steps. Follow them in order. Why bother? Five minutes of verification beats five days of correction. I learned that the expensive way.

Step 1: Define the connection and substrate before you open a catalog

Write down what is being connected, the base material, its thickness, and the expected load. For drywall anchors, do not ask how do you screw in drywall anchors until you know whether there is a stud. A drywall anchor is not a substitute for a structural connection. For wedge anchors, concrete strength and embedment matter. For lag bolts, wood species and grain direction matter.

Checkpoint: take a photo of the substrate and note the thickness. I skipped this in 2018 on a small warehouse job and ordered anchors for 4-inch concrete that turned out to be 3-inch topping over post-tension cable. That was a $640 lesson.

Step 2: Pull the current Simpson Strong-Tie load table and code report

As of January 2025, use simpsonstrongtie.com and the current ICC-ES evaluation reports. Do not use the PDF you saved in 2019. I got burned in 2021 by using an old edge-distance assumption on a Simpson Strong-Tie wedge anchor. The anchor was fine. My data was not.

According to Simpson Strong-Tie published load tables (simpsonstrongtie.com), allowable loads for wedge anchors depend on concrete strength, embedment depth, hole diameter, and edge distance. Source: Simpson Strong-Tie current catalog and ICC-ES evaluation reports.

For Simpson Strong-Tie lag bolts, verify pilot hole size, washer type, and thread length. For drywall anchors, verify the published weight rating and substrate type. The question is not whether the box says heavy-duty. It is whether the published data matches your actual condition.

Step 3: Match the anchor to the base material, not the other way around

People think a bigger anchor means a stronger connection. Actually, the substrate often decides the failure mode. If the concrete is cracked or the drywall is thin, a larger anchor just transfers the same bad assumption into a bigger hole. The connection is only as strong as its weakest link: substrate, anchor, or fastener.

For solid concrete, a Simpson Strong-Tie wedge anchor may be appropriate. For wood-to-wood structural connections, a Simpson Strong-Tie lag bolt may be appropriate. For drywall-only fixtures, use a rated drywall anchor or toggle. Do not mix categories because the part numbers look similar.

Step 4: Verify fastener size, thread, and tool match

Simpson Strong-Tie lag bolts are engineered for specific connectors and loads. Do not substitute a generic lag screw with a different shank diameter or thread pitch without approval. For wedge anchors, the anchor diameter must match the specified drill bit. For drywall anchors, match the screw gauge to the anchor body.

At our shop, the old tool crib label read screwdrivers chisel 14 drive, and that drawer became a junk pile. Structural hardware should never live there. For a Simpson Strong-Tie wedge anchor, use the specified carbide bit and a rotary hammer. For Simpson Strong-Tie lag bolts, use the correct hex driver and a torque wrench if the engineer specifies a value. Do not use a chisel, a flathead, or a 1/4 drive socket as a substitute just because it fits loosely.

Step 5: Separate structural hardware from pipe fittings catalog line items

If the same purchase order includes a pipe fittings catalog line, separate receiving. Pipe fittings have their own pressure ratings, thread standards, and lead times. I once assumed the whole mixed order arrived because the pipe fittings catalog boxes showed up first. The wedge anchors were still on backorder. That mistake cost a 2-day delay and a very uncomfortable site meeting.

Checkpoint: receive by line item. Count the structural hardware against the packing slip before the crew walks off with the boxes.

Step 6: Choose the right installation method and torque

How do you screw in drywall anchors without stripping them? Drill the pilot hole to the anchor’s specified size, insert the anchor, then turn the screw clockwise by hand until the anchor flares and the head seats. Stop when it is snug. If it spins, the hole is too big. Move up a size or switch to a toggle anchor. Over-torquing is the most common drywall anchor mistake I see.

For wedge anchors, clean the hole before setting the anchor. Dust and debris can reduce capacity. For lag bolts, do not overdrive the head into the wood. A crushed washer is a sign you went too far. Look, I am not saying every installer needs a torque wrench for every screw. I am saying the critical connections need a method, not a feeling.

Step 7: Run a first-article mock-up

Install one connection with the actual crew, actual substrate, and actual tools. If it strips, fails, or will not seat, you have found the problem for $20 instead of $2,000. This is the step most people skip. I skipped it in September 2022 on a 240-piece wedge anchor order. The holes were drilled with the wrong bit. We caught it after 60 anchors were set. That error cost $2,300 in redo plus a 3-day delay.

Checkpoint: photograph the mock-up and mark the torque or embedment depth. That single photo has saved me from three arguments since then.

Step 8: Final pre-delivery and installation audit

Before the crew starts, verify part numbers, quantities, batch numbers, and code reports. Attach the current load table to the submittal. Confirm no substitutions. For drywall anchors, tug-test each point. For wedge anchors, check the embedment mark and nut tightness. For lag bolts, check the washer and wood condition.

The checklist: specs confirmed, tools matched, mock-up passed, quantities staged. In that order. If any item is missing, stop. The cost of a 10-minute audit is almost always lower than the cost of a rework crew.

Common mistakes and notes

Do not assume contractor grade means code-compliant. Per FTC advertising guidelines (ftc.gov), claims must be truthful and substantiated. In structural hardware, that means a published load table, not a heavy-duty sticker.

Over-torquing is more common than under-tightening with drywall anchors. If it spins, the hole is too big. Move up a size or use a toggle. Do not fill the hole with construction adhesive and hope.

Do not mix wedge anchors and lag bolts just because both carry the Simpson Strong-Tie name. They solve different base-material problems. The wrong anchor in the right hole is still the wrong anchor.

This was accurate as of January 2025. Building codes and load tables change fast, so verify current prices, policies, and standards before ordering. I learned these lessons between 2018 and 2024. Things may have evolved since then.