What are Nail Pops?

Have you seen a small ‘bubble’ on your ceiling or wall and wondered what it was? Maybe more of a bump just about the size of a nail head? Perhaps the bubble or bump has already fallen off leaving the nail head exposed.  They are called nail pops because that’s exactly what they are - simply the nail popping (backing out) through the finished drywall and they are certainly ugly. I see these commonly when showing houses to potential buyers in the Dayton OH area. Home buyers often ask, “What are they?” 

These occur when the natural expansion and contraction of the wooden stud underneath allows the nail to work itself out.  Screws can be the source of a ‘nail pop’ too but for a different reason. Screws won’t back out like a nail but their heads can create this damage if during construction the drywall was not held tight against the stud when secured. This added play between the drywall and stud can show up as the screw head starts to poke through. Excessive twisting and movement of studs due to temperature swings in less insulated walls/ceiling can cause it too. 

They are not difficult to fix.  If the pop is from a nail, pull that nail out and run a 1.5 inch screw in its place. The screw won’t work itself out.  If the pop is from a screw there may need to be some additional holding power applied. Sink an extra screw one inch above the popped screw and one inch below. This will ensure the drywall is held tight against the stud to eliminate excessive movement. If this is on a textured ceiling you can dab a bit of caulk on the head and no one will be the wiser  If on a flat surface, you’ll need to break out the spackling and sandpaper to make it blend. Learn more fun facts about buying, selling and owning a home now and feel free to reach out with any questions after!