Fixing Drywall Nail Pops
Here is the nail pop!
What Causes Nail Pops?
Nail pops occur in drywall that has been secured with drywall nails as opposed to drywall screws. This commonly occurs in homes that are 30 or more years old but can also show up in newer homes. The nail pops are due to the nail working its way out which is caused by shifting of the structure or can be caused simply by someone pushing against the drywall (like next to a bed). In older homes these nail pops are to be expected and there is no need for concern.
Repairing Nail Pops is as Easy as 123!
Drive in the nail pop with several screws
To fix nail pops, simply drive in two or three screws next to the nail head so that the screw head pulls the nail head in below the surface. The screw heads should also be driven below the surface. You should use a star drive deck screw like the one shown here as it takes a lot of torque to drive this screw and you will have a difficult time with a regular drywall screw. Also, the head of a regular drywall screw may snap off. Once you drive the screws in, simply fill in the depression with a few coats of joint compound and sand level, taking care not to sand off a layer of paint. Then prime and repaint.
Fill, finish, prime and paint!
If you want to see an actual repair along with a few more details, go to Drywallinfo.com Nail Pops.
Hi, i have the same issues with nails, but i also have another theroy about nail pops, since nail pops can be all over walls and ceilings both, it cant just be from leaning up on the sheetrock. I believe it happens over the period of seasons. In winter wood swells with moisture and cold air, and summer the wood dries out with heat and dryness, so the nail is pressed out by the swelling and then even more when the wood dries out, causing it to poke out a bit and by the movement. Of the settling foundation also. Good luck in your wesite and drywall business, keep up the great job on helping others with the great info.
Yes, I think you are correct on this. Any type of shifting, including what you describe, will cause this. Could be that the drywall was high in moisture when installed and then lost moisture, especially in very dry conditions. The shrunk in drywall then results in the nail pop.
my home is 10 months old and I have started getting them. I have a history maker home.
History maker is telling me this is normal. For a 200k house it should not be normal.
thus the statement over time is incorrect. Also I moved from a home that was built in 1982 and it never had nail popl
s
richard lamkin I would be a bit upset too! It is not normal from everything I have heard. The nail pops seem to indicate that the house is shifting. Talk to a qualified builder on this topic – the original builder should possibly have to pay for the repairs.