How Long Does Asphalt Anchor Installation Take?
Installation time depends less on the anchor itself and more on the drill, the asphalt, hole cleaning, adhesive choice, and how well the work is batched. For the installation steps themselves, see the Asphalt Anchor Installation Guide.
Drilling
Section titled “Drilling”Drilling is usually the biggest share of the time. With a Bosch RH745 rotary hammer, we measured:
| Hole diameter | Product | Time per hole |
|---|---|---|
| 7/8” | SP10 | 0:15 |
| 1-1/8” | SP18 | 0:30 |
| 1.5” | SP58 | 1:45 |
A smaller drill is slower: a $150 SDS-Max rotary hammer took 2:30 for the same 1.5” hole. Difficult asphalt can double drilling time. A weak power supply can be far worse: on a 1,500 watt inverter, an SP58 hole took more than 8 minutes. Ideally, use a power source rated for more than 2,000 watts. See Hammer Drill Size and Installation Time for the full comparison and when a bigger drill pays off.
Keep the bit sharp and clear the flutes after each hole. Packed flutes slow the hole and can jam the bit.
Hole Cleaning
Section titled “Hole Cleaning”Every hole gets brushed with a brush on a drill, blown out, brushed again, and blown out again. Plan time for this on every hole; it directly affects bond strength. See Clean the Hole.
Adhesive
Section titled “Adhesive”- EPX2 is the least expensive, but it has to be mixed, in batches of at least 4 anchors. It works best with a crew: one person mixes, one pours, and one sets anchors. Anchors can be loaded after about 2 hours at 75°F.
- EPX3 needs no mixing and is the fastest for small jobs and one-person crews. Anchors can be loaded after about 10 minutes in hot weather and about 1 hour in cold weather.
If anchors must be loaded the same day, include cure time in the plan. See EPX2 vs EPX3 Adhesive and Weather and Temperature Installation. To estimate how much adhesive you need, use the adhesive calculator.
Batching
Section titled “Batching”Small jobs feel slower per anchor because setup, mixing, and cleanup are spread across fewer anchors. On larger jobs, batch the work:
- Mark all locations.
- Drill all holes.
- Brush and blow out all holes.
- Place adhesive.
- Insert anchors.
- Clean excess adhesive.
Batching reduces tool changes and makes adhesive handling more predictable. It also helps avoid rushing hole cleaning. For jobs with many anchors, such as traffic calming, see Speed Bump Installation.
Total Installed Cost
Section titled “Total Installed Cost”The cheapest tool or the fastest-looking shortcut does not always give the lowest total cost. A faster drill, the correct bit, clean holes, and the right adhesive reduce labor without giving up anchor strength. A failed anchor and a callback cost far more than the time saved by skipping a step.
For projects exposed to road salt, coastal weather, or chemicals, anchor material also affects lifetime cost. See Zinc Plated vs Stainless Steel Anchors.
Planning Checklist
Section titled “Planning Checklist”Before estimating a job, confirm:
- Anchor model and hole size
- Number of anchors
- Asphalt thickness and condition
- Weather and whether holes will be wet
- Drill size and bit condition
- Power source for a corded drill (ideally more than 2,000 watts)
- Adhesive
- Whether the anchors need to be loaded the same day
The best estimate comes from timing a small test batch with the same crew, tools, anchor, and asphalt as the full job.