Table of Contents
Nail pops are largely due to wood or drywall movement and often appear within a year of construction. After construction, as the wood slowly dries, the studs may shift or twist slightly. This can cause individual nails to move, and when a nail holding drywall moves, it loosens the joint compound covering the nail.
Can you prevent nail pops?
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.
Is nail popping normal?
Unfortunately, they’re quite normal — and even should be anticipated. Nail pops, the condition where a nail either pops through the drywall surface or is pulled deeper into the drywall leaving a depression, are, like many drywall problems, often the result of rough framing-lumber shrinkage.
When should I be concerned about nail pops?
One or Two Nail Pops When you’re first starting to see nail pops, that’s when you should get in contact with someone. That’s because this could portend a deeper issue, or it could just be a cosmetic problem. It’s true that sometimes, nail pops are only cosmetic.
Are nail pops normal in older homes?
It’s common and a quick fix. However, sometimes when this happens, there is something else going on in the house, like some settling, or pressure on a rafter or framing stud that is causing them to pop out.
Can moisture cause nail pops?
Significant changes in indoor humidity can aggravate this situation as well. A check in the nail-pop area with a moisture meter can confirm whether there is a moisture issue. Just because the nail pops are not in the vicinity of the ice-damming, does not rule out excess moisture (or humidity) as a culprit.
What are nail pops?
Nail pops are the small circles that protrude from the drywall of your walls and ceiling. Usually, the nail heads and bulges do not protrude very far: just about 1/8-inch. Often they crack the paint around them. They might run in vertical or horizontal lines.
Why are screws coming out of my ceiling?
Screws typically pop out of drywall for one of two reasons: they were installed too deep, or the studs have expanded and contracted. If you drive a screw too deep through the drywall and into the stud, it may pop out. Screws can also pop out of drywall from the constant expansion and contraction of studs.
Are nail pops common in a new house?
There are a few causes for nail pops in new construction. They include normal drying of wood and house settling, improper ceiling drywall attachment, and more serious structural issues. The normal drying and settling of your home is by far the most common reason for nail pops.
Why is there a random screw in my wall?
Causes of Screw and Nail Pops When a screw or nail pops out of the wall, one of the most common causes is shrinkage in the lumber behind the drywall. This shrinkage happens when the lumber used during construction has a high moisture content.
What’s better drywall nails or screws?
While nails tend to be more flexible and hold up better against shear pressure—or lateral force—screws have much better grip and tensile strength, which ultimately keeps drywall from pulling away from the studs. When it comes to holding power, screws simply can’t be beaten.
Is it normal for a 40 year old house to settle?
Some minor settlement is normal. Old houses usually have settled as much as they ever will, unless there is some other cause, such as erosion, causing it. It does happen, though. Assuming the house, about 60 years old, had finished settling, he repaired the cracks with the other work.
Can see nails in ceiling?
When nail-pops show up on the ceiling of the floor just beneath the attic and near a wall intersection, the culprit is a phenomenon known as truss-uplift or a variation of it. The framing is flexing and the drywall in those areas where the nails are popping can’t — hence the popping.
Are screw pops common?
It is not uncommon to have a dozen screw pops out of the 25,000 — 35,000 screws in an average house. After a full year cycle of seasons and wood movement, a few more screws may pop, and the owners usually ignore them until it is time to paint the walls again. Screw pops are not usually a problem.
What are drywall nails?
A drywall nail is a nail used specifically for hanging drywall. Though there is some debate amongst drywall contractors as to whether nails or screws are best for hanging drywall, the drywall nail has been a preference for decades. A drywall nail typically has a cupped head and a ringed shank.
What is a screw anchor?
Screw anchors are inserts, typically made from plastic, metal, or fiber, which enable the attachment of screws into brittle materials — such as masonry or dry wall.
What is the fastener?
A fastener (US English) or fastening (UK English) is a hardware device that mechanically joins or affixes two or more objects together. In general, fasteners are used to create non-permanent joints; that is, joints that can be removed or dismantled without damaging the joining components.
Does cold weather cause nail pops?
Over time that moisture dries and the lumber literally shrinks and pulls or pushes anything attached to it in the direction it shrinks. This is why you may see more nail pops show up in winter months when the air in your home is typically the driest.
