Repairing Drywall Nail Pops

Nothing ruins a good paint job as popped nail heads. Nails will come loose when lumber shrinks due to aging and exposure to heat and cold. The resulting contraction exposes the shaft of a nail. Although not as common, this head popping can also happen with screws due to improper installation of the drywall. If the drywall was not secured correctly, it could be slightly loose and any pressure applied to the drywall can cause the head of a nail or screw to become visible.

Another common reason for popped heads is due to improper length screws and nails. Screws should penetrate the stud by at least ¾ of an inch and nails should penetrate the stud by one inch.

To repair a popped head, you first need to secure the drywall. The easiest way to do that is to add a new drywall screw a few inches above or below the popped head. Be sure to press on the drywall to ensure that it is tight against the wall. This will ensure that the new screw you are installing will not repeat the popped head. It is also important not to drive the new screw too deep. You want the drywall to dimple and not tear. Tearing the paper surface reduces the holding power of the screw you are adding.

Next you will want to remove the problem screw or nail. If it's a screw, just unscrew it from the wall using a counter clockwise turn on the screw driver or screw gun. If it's a nail, you can use a claw hammer, or cats paw to grab hold of the nail. Be sure to place a solid surface between the drywall and hammer so that you do not damage the sheetrock as you remove the nail. If you don't have a board handy to use, try a thick magazine as the pages will create a buffer between the hammer and wall.

Once you have removed the screw or nail, use some spackle to cover over the new screw and hold left from removing the popped head. Once the spackle has dried, sand lightly and reapply as needed to get a smooth surface. In a pinch or dont have any spackle, try a dab of toothpaste.

Once done spackling, touch up with paint and enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done.