What Makes a Nail Pop Out of Plaster or Drywall?

Resulting from building shifting and settling, nail pops are common in most types of new construction. Nail pops occur when the wooden studs that the drywall is attached to dry out, causing the wood to shrink. As the wood contracts, a space is created between the stud wall and the back of the drywall, pulling the nails from the studs. When the building settles, the drywall is pushed back up against the stud wall, resulting in the head of the nails backing out from the face of the drywall.

Drywall screws
Power screwdriver
Scrap plywood
Claw hammer
Joint compound
320-grit sandpaper

Instructions

- 1
  Build stud walls from dry lumber. Allowing lumber exposed to moisture to dry thoroughly before constructing stud walls will reduce nail pops. Wait as long as feasible after stud walls are set in place before hanging drywall, permitting the lumber to further shrink as much as possible.
- 2
  Attach drywall with specially designed drywall screws and a power screwdriver. Engineered to hold drywall firmly in place, drywall screws are much more effective in securing drywall to studs than nails.
- 3
  Replace popped nails with drywall screws. Place a piece of scrap plywood, or other thin board, on the wall with the edge of the wood touching the side of the nail. Place the head of a claw hammer on the plywood, so as not to damage the drywall, and pry the nail from the wall with the hammer.
- 4
  Press the drywall tightly against the wall with one hand and install a drywall screw directly above or below the nail hole with the power screwdriver. Drive the screw into the wall until the head of the screw is set just below the drywall surface.
- 5
  Smooth joint compound over the nail hole and screw head with a putty knife. Allow the joint compound to dry and sand the patched areas with 320-grit sandpaper before repainting.

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