Reply #24: There are several ways to anchor wood to concrete or masonry [View All]

[Lefty48197]

One of the most common is a coarse threaded screw called a "tap con". I would pre-drill holes through 2X4's using a regular wood drill bit (about 1/8 - 1/4 " diameter), then I would hold the 2X4 where I wanted it, and then drill through the hole in the wood into the masonry/concrete, but you'll need to use a special concrete drill bit. They often work with a regular drill, but sometimes you need a "hammer drill". The bigger packages of tap cons come with a masonry drill bit of the proper size. I'd recommend picking up an extra one or two, since they wear out fairly easily.
Once the hole is drilled into the masonry, you can run the tap con through the wood into the masonry using either a screw gun, a socket wrench, or even a hand screwdriver, or wrench, in a pinch. Put 2X4's along all four sides of the window opening, and when all the tap cons are screwed in tight, then screw or nail plywood onto the 2X4's. You might want to put washers on the tap cons before screwing them in. I would try drilling into the grout lines of a brick building, because it is easier to drill, and the bricks are a lot less likely to crack. Don't be cheap. Put a tap con every 12"-16" or so along the length of the 2X4's.