Fixing Nail Pops in the Ceiling
- Remove the area that’s raised. To access the nail, you’ll first have to scrape off the entire section of the ceiling that’s protruding.
- Drill screws around that area. Locate the ceiling joist, and drill two screws in there. ...
- Hammer in the nail. Don’t just hammer it in—bury it. ...
- Patch the scraped off area. ...
What causes the nails to pop out of the ceiling?
Warning signs of a ceiling under stress may include:
- a loud cracking sound in the ceiling;
- a sagging or dropping of the plasterboard sheeting and/or the cornice; and
- visual cracking and/or small circles or blisters (nail pops) on the ceiling, which are a sign the plasterboard sheeting may be pulling away from the nails or screws.
How to repair a bad patch job on a ceiling?
Things You Will Need
- Putty knife
- Hammer
- 10-inch drywall knife
- Drywall compound
- Drywall sanding pad
- Paint roller and pan
- Primer
- Paint
What causes nail Pops and how do you fix them?
Other sources of nail pops include:
- Improper spacing of drywall screws or nails
- Installing the fasteners at an angle, rather than driving straight into the stud
- Missing the stud altogether with the drywall fastener
- Nails that are too short, resulting in insufficient penetration of the stud
- Overdriving the drywall screws or nails, breaking into the soft gypsum layer of the sheetrock
Why are nails popping out of my Ceiling?
Instructions
- Hammer the Nail Back. Wearing safety glasses, use the hammer to drive the protruding nail back into the wall, being careful not to damage too much of the drywall around ...
- Secure the Nail. Secure the drywall to the wooden studs using two drywall screws, one on each side of the nail. ...
- Cover the Dimple. ...
- Dry, Sand, and Prime the Drywall. ...
How do you repair a popped nail in the ceiling?
How to Fix Nail Pops in Walls and CeilingsGather your materials. ... Drive new drywall screws a couple of inches on either side of the nail pop. ... Drive a new nail immediately adjacent to the popped nail using the hammer and nail set. ... Apply a coat of compound over the new fasteners and the old nail. ... Sand the patch.More items...•
Why are nails popping out of ceiling?
Causes of Drywall Nail Pops Modern drywall systems are largely installed with drywall screws. Drywall screws may occasionally snap off but they will never pop out. Instead, the nail pops in your ceiling and walls are caused by short drywall nails that are no longer firmly attached in the two-by-four studs.
Should you fix nail pops?
The result is a tiny bulge on the wall surface or, in some cases, a visible nail head if the drywall compound comes loose and falls away. This is the most common cause of nail pops and it's completely cosmetic. There are no structural issues to worry about, and repair is fairly simple.
Are nail pops in ceiling normal?
Although you should definitely tackle nail pops in ceilings, walls, and floors as soon as you see them, the problem can vary wildly. They typically stem from some sort of foundation problem, but the problem in question may be different from home to home. These are just a few of the most common reasons for nail pops.
How much does it cost to fix nail pops?
How much does it cost to fix nail pops? If you get a professional to fix your nail pops, it can cost anywhere from $30 to over $100, depending on rates in your location. If you repair the nail pops yourself, however, supplies shouldn't cost more than $40-50.
Are nail pops a defect?
In most cases drywall nail pops are a cosmetic defect, though in some locations such as near a center partition below a truss roof, they may indicate interesting structural movement such as arching roof trusses.
Can you hammer nail pops back in?
0:051:12Fix Nail Pops - Drywall Nail Pops - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd what you want to do is just take a hammer with the widest head you can find this one is actuallyMoreAnd what you want to do is just take a hammer with the widest head you can find this one is actually specifically a drywall hammer it has a serrated face and a very wide beveled.
Can you fix nail pops with spackle?
If the nail pop is in the ceiling, use an additional drywall nail or screw within an inch of the pop to reinforce the mounting strength. Using the putty knife, apply a small amount of spackling or joint compound to the new recess formed by setting the nail or screw.
How do I stop my nails from popping in drywall?
Nail pops can be easily fixed by following these recommendations:Use kiln-dried lumber for framing or if the framing is installed way before the drywall, you will need to protect it from moisture.Drywall screws should be used instead of nails. ... Avoid fasteners within 16 inches of any wall to prevent nail pops.More items...•
How do builders fix nail pops?
0:001:34Fixing Nail Pops - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNext with a putty knife apply a layer of quick-dry spackling compound to cover the hole.MoreNext with a putty knife apply a layer of quick-dry spackling compound to cover the hole.
Are nail pops covered under warranty?
The reason nail pops aren't generally covered under your warranty is because they are the result of normal settling and/or shrinkage of materials. As you'll learn in the video, nail pops occur as the materials used to build your home begin to dry.
Are nail pops common in older homes?
3 Most Common Culprits. Nail pop has a few common causes, and they depend somewhat on the age of the home as there is an “old-school” cause of nail pop and a “modern” cause too. The third common cause can happen in any age home.
Why do my nails pop out?
Drywall screws may occasionally snap off but they will never pop out. Instead, the nail pops in your ceiling and walls are caused by short drywall nails that are no longer firmly attached in the two-by-four studs.
What is nail pop?
Nail pops are cosmetic imperfections that sometimes show up in drywall ceilings and interior walls that have been fastened with nails. Nail pops rarely affect your wall's structure, though in great enough numbers your wall might lose a section of drywall. Hammering in the nail pops sometimes works but usually not.
How far should drywall screws be from the nail?
Both screws should be about 1 or 2 inches from the nail. In the previous step, if you were unable to hammer the drywall nail in and get it to stay in, the two drywall screws that you drive in this step usually will be strong enough to pull the drywall tight up against the stud.
How long are drywall nails?
Made of galvanized steel and with a broad head, drywall nails generally range from 1 1/8-inch to 1 7/8-inch long. Even if you have walls that have been built after the 1970s, you might still have wallboard hung with drywall nails, since some drywall installers prefer to use nails. As the wood studs dry out over time, ...
How to get a nail back into drywall?
Hammer the Nail Back. Wearing safety glasses , use the hammer to drive the protruding nail back into the wall , being careful not to damage too much of the drywall around it. Be sure to use a smooth-headed hammer, not a hammer with a waffle or grid head. The result will be a small, round indentation in the wall.
Can you fix nail pops on drywall?
However, if entire rooms have many nail pops, it may be time to completely replace the drywall. If this is the case, call a drywall contractor. Read More.
How to make a nail pop?
1. In the center of the nail pop, place the tip of nail punch, and tap in with hammer. ...
What happens if you don't use primer on a patch?
If you don't use primer on the patch it will "flash," or show through the paint. Thanks! If your walls have a texture on them, you will have to match it before painting. Some textures can be matched with some drywall mud or Spackle and a putty knife.
What does it mean when a nail pops in the ceiling?
If you noticed popped nails in the walls of your home, you may wish to do a bit of investigating for similar bulges on the ceiling—which can indicate a more serious problem. Today’s homebuilders often use manufactured trusses to construct a roof rather than building the roof with rafters. Some wood members in a set of trusses are designed to move slightly with attic humidity and temperature fluctuations, and so many modern drywall installers use a special attachment technique when hanging drywall on a ceiling made from trusses. If they attach the drywall directly to the underside of the trusses, however, when the trusses lift, nail pops can occur in the ceiling drywall. Depending on how much the truss moves, in addition to nail pops, you might also find a horizontal crack between the ceiling and the wall. In order to fix this issue, a contractor should remove the drywall panels and install news ones attached to clips or blocks, but not to the trusses themselves.
How to fix a popped nail?
A better solution is to tap the nail back down and then insert two drywall screws in the stud, one about an inch above the nail, and one about an inch below the nail.
How long should a drywall screw be?
The general rule is to use screws that will penetrate the stud by a minimum ¾ of an inch. For example, with ½-inch thick drywall, you’ll need a screw at least 1¼-inch long.
Why do my nails pop on the wall?
This can cause individual nails to move, and when a nail holding drywall moves, it loosens the joint compound covering the nail. The result is a tiny bulge on the wall surface or, in some cases, a visible nail head if the drywall compound comes loose and falls away. This is the most common cause of nail pops and it’s completely cosmetic. There are no structural issues to worry about, and repair is fairly simple.
Can a truss lift a nail pop?
If they attach the drywall directly to the underside of the trusses, however, when the trusses lift, nail pops can occur in the ceiling drywall. Depending on how much the truss moves, in addition to nail pops, you might also find a horizontal crack between the ceiling and the wall.
