Ask the expert

LITTLE ROCK — I would love to install pegboard on a wall to store tools so that they’re quick to find and easy to grab. But the wall is concrete. So is it possible? If so, how do I do it?

We turned to David J. Tenenbaum’s The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Simple Home Improvements (it’s an older book, but you might find a copy on Amazon.

com).

“Pegboard is such cool stuff that I wish I’d invented it myself,” Tenenbaum writes. “There are only three complications with pegboard. First, it needs at least 1 /2-inch of space behind it to give room for hook ends of the hangers. Second, you’ll be deprived of any excuse for chaos in the tool room. And third? Although attaching to concrete is never simple, we’ll describe two of the least painful methods, and mention a trick to minimize the need for fasteners.”

Step 1: Lay out the nailers.

Pegboard is fastened to nailers, horizontal strips of 1-by-2-inch boards that leave room for the hanger hooks. Place a nailer about every 2 feet - three for a 4-foot tall sheet of pegboard.

Nailers should run within 6 inches of the bottom, at the middle, and about 2 inches below the top.

Using a level, mark out the lines for all nailers. Mark for the screw holes about 18 inches apart along the nailers. Mark “left” on the front-left side of each nailer just to avoid confusion.

Step 2: Attach to the wall. If you are building against a wood wall, screw nailers to the studs - one screw, long enough to grab at least 1 inch of the stud, in each stud.

For concrete walls, use 1 /16-by-1 1 /4-inch concrete screws.

You’ll first pre-drill holes that are smaller than the screws into the concrete using a hammerhead drill. This job is no picnic, Tenenbaum says.

Each size of concrete screw calls for its own drill bit; they’re sold with the screws. Tapcon Concrete Screws, a major manufacturer, offers detailed advice about what’s required (concrete screws.com).

Hold the nailer in position, with the front left at front left, and drill one screw hole with the special bit through the wood and 1 inch into the concrete, just enough for the screw to penetrate.

Using a Phillips screwdriver in a big electric drill, start installingthe screw itself, then drill the other holes on the nailer. Pull out the screw, smear adhesive on the back of the nailer, and screw it into position. Use the same process for the other two nailers.

Take a long enough break for the glue to set up strongly.

Step 3: Cut and attach the boards. Before it’s installed, pegboard is flimsy, making it hard to cut. Tenenbaum has found a jigsaw works best, but a table saw or circular saw would work. Or have the building supply store cut it to size.

Drill holes into the nailer using the pegboard’s holes as guides. Do not drill on into the concrete. Screw 1 /4-inch flat-head sheet metal screws into the holes to hold the pegboard in place; again stop short of the concrete. Then arrange the hanger hooks to hold tools and accessories.