When the head of a drywall nail becomes visible through the paint, it can be an unsightly problem. However, fixing nail pops is a simple process. With a bit of time, some elbow grease, and a couple of tools, you’ll have your wall looking new in no time.
According to Monica Armbruster, a Painter at St. Louis-based Grime Fighters Plus:
“When I am fixing nail pops, I usually use spackling or mud, depending on the size of the hole. I cover the hole completely and leave it to dry overnight. The next day, I use fine sandpaper and sand the patch until it’s totally smooth and flush with the wall.”
If this sounds like too much trouble for you, or if you have a lot of nail pops to fix, you may be better off hiring a handyman. Home Gnome can connect you to local handymen who are experts in all things nail pops.
| Project Difficulty: Intermediate Estimated Time to Complete: 2-3 hours Project Cost: $100 for all necessary items |
Tools You’ll Need to Fix Nail Pops
If you’re going to fix nail pops by yourself, you’ll need the help of a few trusty tools. That’s why step zero of the process is to first prepare said tools.
- Gloves
- 5-in-1 painter’s tool: a versatile multi-tool designed for scraping, chipping, opening paint cans, cleaning rollers, and spreading spackle or adhesive.
- Drywall knife
- Nail bar or pry bar
- Wooden shim
- Drywall screws
- Drill or screwdriver
- Hammer
- Spackling or joint compound (for patching)
- Sandpaper or sanding sponge
- Rollers
- Paintbrush
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Cut Out Damaged Areas
When a nail bulges out of your drywall, it often damages the paper around that area and makes it loose.
Use your drywall knife to cut around the nail pop, making sure you get all the damaged areas. You should also scrape the bump with your 5-in-1 painter’s tool.
Together, these acts will get rid of blemishes, isolate the area you’ll be working with, and reveal the nail head for the next step.
Step 2: Remove the Nail
A lot of sources will have you believe it’s best to push the nail back in before following up with other steps. They’re not entirely wrong, but there may be some trouble with that approach.
The thing is, a popped nail already means there’s a loose hole. If you just push it back in, the nail won’t have a firm hold, and as such, will likely pop out again.
That’s why it’s usually better to just remove the nail. In fact, when I asked Monica what she thinks about leaving the nail in, she said: “I personally remove all nails”.
Here’s how to do it.
- Use the claw of your pry bar or nail bar to grab hold of the nail and hold your position.
- Put your wood shim underneath the nail bar’s heel. This separates the bar from the drywall and prevents damage when you finally apply pressure on the nail bar.
- Pull out the nails.
Step 3: Put in Your Drywall Screws
Once the nails are out, the next step is to secure your drywall to the studs in the wall.
You won’t be using nails anymore, since they’re highly susceptible to pulling out. Rather, you’ll be using drywall screws.
Use your pencil to mark 1 inch above and below the hole you pulled the nail from.
Place your drywall screw on the spot you marked and fasten it with your drill or, preferably, your screwdriver.
As you fasten your screws, let them dig a little bit into the drywall paper, to create a small dimple. You’ll need the dimple to properly cover up the screws with patching.
Once you’re done screwing, run your painter’s tool across the screws and listen for any clinking sound. If you hear any, it means your screws still need to go deeper into the drywall.
Step 4: Patch Up the Holes
You’ll need to cover up the holes with patching materials. Here’s how it’s done.
- Scoop spackling with your 5-in-1 tool and apply an initial coat to the holes.
- Swipe the tool over the holes to ensure proper filling.
- Leave the spackling to set for 45 minutes.
- Apply another coat, but this time, make sure it’s much thicker than the first.
- Scrape the area with the painter’s tool to get rid of any excesses and unevenness.
- Leave the second coat to set for 45 minutes.
Once it dries, it’s on to the next phase.
| Warning: Don’t use caulk for patching! While it does cover up holes, you can’t sand it. As such, you won’t be able to paint, which in turn means that your walls won’t return to their former glory. |
Learn More: How to Patch Holes in a Wall Before Painting
Step 5: Sand the Patched Area
At this point, you already have all the holes patched, and your new goal is to prepare the wall for painting. To achieve this goal, you must sand the patched areas. Here’s what you should do:
- Run your sandpaper or sanding sponge up and down the area.
- Continue this process until the patched area is level with the drywall’s surface and smooth enough to accommodate paint.
- To determine this, simply run your hand from the drywall surface to the patched area and back. Alternatively, you could run your painter’s tool across the surface.
- If you notice any resistance or roughness, there’s a high chance it’s not yet level enough for painting. But if there’s no resistance, you’re ready to paint.
Step 6: Paint Your Wall
For this final step, your mission is to make sure the areas you patched blend in with the rest of your drywall. To do this, paint over the sanded area, using the same color of paint as the rest of the drywall.
Begin with a paintbrush, applying and spreading the paint over the surface. Switch to a roller for a smoother and neater finish.
Let it dry, and that’s it. You just successfully fixed a nail pop all on your own.
Read More: How to Finish Drywall
FAQs
The main culprits of nail pops are expansion and contraction.
When moisture gets into the drywall, the humidity causes wood framing to expand. Later, when temperatures begin to rise, the expanded wood framing expels the moisture it absorbed before, which causes it to contract.
As this relentless cycle of expansion and contraction continues, the drywall nails become looser. Eventually, they pull out from the framing.
Leaving nail pops as they are can attract several consequences. For one, it will reduce the aesthetic appeal of your wall.
The damage can also spread, leading to more costly repairs. It can even put off potential buyers and reduce the value of your property.
Finally, protruding nails can scratch your skin or snag your clothing as you walk past the wall.
You can’t fix a nail pop by simply pushing the nail back in. The reason is simple.
Simply popping out in the first place shows that there’s a loose fit in the hole the nail was nestled in. If you push it back in with a hammer, center punch, or nail punch, all you’re doing is a simple cosmetic fix.
While it’s going to look better in the meantime, the nail won’t be firm enough to hold the drywall in place or even itself in place for long. Eventually, it will pop out again.
When You Should Call a Professional
Having a nail pop in your drywall in and of itself is nothing to worry about. As much as four nail pops in one room is within the realm of reason. However, if you’re seeing way too many nail heads bulging out of your drywall, it might be a sign of a foundation or structural issue.
In such cases, you’ll need to call in a professional to assess your home, pinpoint the problem, and offer solutions.
Monica Armbruster notes: “It is normally best to leave it to the professionals when you discover that the job is too big or you don’t feel comfortable doing the project yourself”.
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Main Photo Credit: Lost_in_the_Midwest / Adobe Stock
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