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It is common for homeowners to experience nail pops in their ceilings, especially when their homes are older. Small bumps appear in your ceiling from loose nails or screws, which have come loose from their surface, spoiling the flat appearance of your ceiling. Ignoring them can result in more serious damage. If you've never worked on nail pops before, you can easily fix them with some patience and the right tools.
What Are Nail Pops?
The nail pops are where nails or screws push through the drywall making a bump on your ceiling. This most often happens because the nails or screws did not hold well, but it can also be due to movement in the structure of your home.
Why Do Nail Pops Occur?
Nail pops occur for any number of reasons, all but one having to do with the natural settling process homes go through. Here are some common causes:
- Structural Shifts: Over time homes settle and the timber framing of your room may shift slightly causing nails to move until they start protruding out.
- Due to seasonal changes: As temperature and humidity fluctuate, wood framing expands and contracts, resulting in nail pops.
- Incorrect Installation: If drywall was improperly installed or the nails were not properly set, nail popsicles are more likely to occur.
Tools and Materials Needed
Before you begin fixing nail pops, gather the necessary tools and materials to make the job easier.
Basic Tools Required:
- Hammer
- Screwdriver
- Utility knife
- Putty knife
- Sanding block
Necessary Materials:
- Drywall screws
- Joint compound
- Paint
- Primer
- Protective sheets or drop cloths
Safety Equipment:
- Safety goggles
- Dust mask
Step-by-Step Guide to Fix Nail Pops in Ceiling
Step 1: Preparing the Area
When you first see nail pops, your initial step is to correctly prep the work area. The first step to this job is clearing out the area beneath any nail pops so that you have as clean working space as possible. You may need to shift or remove any furniture, decor, and other things so that they do not get dirty in the sanding dust. As well as this, be sure to put protective sheets or drop cloths on the floor and any remaining furniture. These sheets will help you catch every dust, garbage, or paint that may fall during the repairs so in clean-up it is all easier. It would be best if you also took the time to prepare this area, not only to protect your gear but it will allow you to work a lot quicker.
Step 2: Removing the Popped Nail
After the area is ready, take your popped nail or screw out. Gently pull the screw out and remove it from your drywall using a hammer or screwdriver. Make sure you wait very gently and slowly to avoid any additional damage being done to the drywall. Pulling out the nail too quickly or with brute force could make a bigger hole, just as easily cracking the drywall around it. If the nail is resistant; or if you notice that when done, drywall appears to flake around it — then better be safe than sorry and resort to using a box cutter blade so as not to further harm your walls. This additional step makes it less messy and lowers the chances of getting further scratches.
Step 3: Securing the Drywall
After removing the nail, you should replace anything holding in the drywall to resolve future nail pops. It is done by attaching a drywall screw to the part of the wallboard that is 1-2 inches away from where the original nail hole. It needs to go in just above or below the old hole and screw into a wooden stud behind that drywall. Drive the screw so its head is just recessed into the drywall, forming a small dimple. This will enable the screw head to be hidden under 2-3 coats of joint compound when you apply it later, making for a super flat surface finish. Since screws are a more robust and rigid fastener than nails, they hold the drywall much tighter in place so you need to be sure that you're not just hand-nailing your boards.
Step 4: Applying Joint Compound
Once you have the drywall in place and ready to go, cover up your screw head or old nail hole with some joint compound. With a putty knife, spread the joint compound over the screw head and the wider area around it that's been damaged as well as into where you've taken out a nail. Be sure to apply the material out because it will need a perfect feathered smooth edge so... it dries evenly with your old wall. The first coat will dry, which can take a couple of hours depending on the humidity and temp. Sanding the now-dried application can smooth out some of these imperfections, and you might want to apply a second coat in places. The second coat allows for a smoother surface which leads to an undetectable renovation under paint.
Step 5: Repainting the Ceiling
After you have removed the scrape, replace that section of the ceiling so it fits with the rest and is done. Begin by priming the surface that you used your joint compound on. The reason why primer is so important is that it helps the paint to stick better and gives you a level surface for each application. Once the primer has dried (approximately a few hours), paint your ceiling with a roller or brush. To produce the best-coordinated finish of paint possible, if you can, color (shade) and kind are what accomplish this. Either way, if you cannot perfectly match the paint or the patch is big enough to look awkward unless that entire side of your ceiling was repainted anyway. The result will be color and texture consistency all over the face of the ceiling making it look perfect and smooth.
Cost Estimation for Repairing Nail Pops
The cost to fix the nail pops in a ceiling will depend on whether you do it yourself or hire someone.
DIY Cost
If you attempt the project on your own, it will be of minimal cost. You may require materials like drywall screws, joint compound, sandpaper for rough surfacing of the walls, and paint which you might be able to get in any local hardware store. The total cost for these supplies is usually anywhere from $20 to $50, depending on what you already own.
Professional Repair Cost
And of course, a professional service costs more. A handyman or drywall contractor may charge around $100 to $300 on average for the labor based on the type of repair and your location. The total bill could increase by $100-$200 If the ceiling requires repainting.
Painters in Philadelphia: Pinnacle Painters
For top-rated professional Painters in Philadelphia, Pinnacle Painters is the preferred choice for homeowners and businesses. Specializing in the types of superior painting services that no one else around does, local partners like this have already made a name for themselves delivering premium precision craftsmanship and attention to detail.
Pinnacle Painters provides a full array of services from interior and exterior painting to drywall repair, as well as ceiling refinishing for situations when you are faced with nail pops or other imperfections in your ceilings. Nothing new is unknown about the thing that their team loves; punctual and perfect in everything. With Pinnacle Painters, you won't have to worry about updating one room or redoing your entire property.
Conclusion
Nail Pops In Ceilings Are Usually An Easy Fix, Giving Your Home's Ceiling Back Its Smooth Look. This is a very common issue you can solve confidently by following this guide. But just go slowly, use the right materials and some of you may even be able to resolve whatever underlying issues are affecting your process.
