What Causes Nail Pops and Cracks in Drywall?

Homeowner reactions to nail pops and drywall cracks usually range from alarm to frustration to downright anger. For the less experienced homeowner, seeing a nail pop or crack in the drywall for the very first time might be worrisome. More seasoned homeowners usually understand that these issues are fairly common and tend to be annoyed by the unattractive look and need for repairs. When nail pops or cracks keep coming back, however, it might be a sign of a real problem.

When nail pops and drywall cracks occur once, it is often the result of structural settling or changing seasons. But if they reoccur after repairs, or keep happening in new spots, there could be cause for concern. Homeowners should always keep track of cracks and pops in order to identify underlying issues.

What Are Nail Pops and Drywall Cracks?

If you have ever looked at a wall and seen a round hole that looks like it was punched into the wall or a bump under the paint, you are looking at a nail pop. Nails and screws are used to secure drywall to the house’s framing. Over time, these can come loose and pop out from the surface. The head of the nail or screw might punch through the paint and retract, leaving a hole. Or, it might stop short and just create a bump.

Cracks develop directly in the drywall. These are usually along the joints or seams, but they can happen on the main surface of the drywall as well. Under the paint, a crack looks like a pencil-drawn line. If the crack breaks through the paint, that line will be more prominent. Sometimes, the crack can become a split, actually creating an opening.

Fixing the occasional nail pop or crack is a DIY task. Homeowners can use spackle to cover the damage in the wall, smooth it out, and finish it with paint. When they keep coming back, or appear in a series, it’s time for some professional attention.

Why Do Nail Pops and Drywall Cracks Come Back?

Homes that are younger than 10 years old, like those in many developments throughout Montgomery and Bucks Counties, will experience several nail pops and maybe a few cracks while the house settles into place. Both the ground and the building materials take time to recover from the construction process. The framing will shift a little bit as the house adjusts to being lived in, and some of those fasteners will come loose. 

Young houses also need to get used to fluctuating temperatures and humidity. Especially here in the region surrounding Philadelphia, seasonal changes are going to have an impact on all those building materials! The wood framing will expand and contract with moisture, heat, and cold in the air, causing nails and screws to move and drywall to shift. 

Although some pops and cracks are common for newer houses, if the same spots have repetitive problems every season or year, homeowners should have that checked out. It could be a more serious issue related to installation or framing. These can be fixed with reinforcements and better fastening materials to prevent ongoing pops and cracks.

In an older home, repeated cracks and pops could signal structural deterioration or a response to environmental changes. Some older homes are not prepared for a sharp increase in vibrational forces either inside the house or in the surrounding neighborhood. New appliances or heavier foot traffic in the home can create enough activity to cause more shifting in the framing. If there is new construction in the neighborhood, more traffic on the street, or work being done on the ground, an older home might react with a slew of cracks and pops.

In some cases, especially in an older home, a sudden increase in nail pops or drywall cracks could mean there is a real structural problem brewing. Whether the issue is water damage from above or foundational issues below, homeowners should consider a professional home inspection to sort out the root causes. 

Effective Repairs for Nail Pops and Drywall Cracks

The first line of defense in addressing nail pops and drywall cracks is prevention. If you are building a home in Montgomery or Bucks County, work with the builder to ensure that best practices are being followed in the framing and fastening phases. Request multiple inspections throughout the building process to check the alignment, verify that screws are being used, and see that the drywall is being properly secured.

In an existing home, strive to maintain a consistent indoor temperature and humidity level. Use high-quality products and proper procedures to fix existing pops and cracks. Review the upper-level ceilings and outer walls of your house before and after heavy storms to see if there are any noticeable changes. Take note of the time of year and weather conditions when you notice new pops or cracks. 

Fixing nail pops is a fairly simple home maintenance task. If you don’t feel confident that your fix will look like nothing ever happened, consider calling a handyman service to take care of the problem areas. When homeowners hire Lauro Painting for interior residential painting services, we always address and repair nail pops and drywall cracks as part of our extensive preparation. If our team has any concerns that the problem is more serious than a cosmetic nuisance, we will stop our work and review the situation with our client. It might be necessary to get a professional structural assessment.

Ultimately, nail pops and drywall cracks should always be taken seriously. They might be a minor aspect of home maintenance, but they could be a sign of a genuine structural concern. If one of your goals for residential interior painting is to eliminate the unsightly evidence of nail pops and drywall cracks, be sure to go over the problem areas during our initial consultation. Our team will review your concerns and recommend trusted professionals if we feel that structural repairs should take priority over our painting services.

Lauro Painting performs extensive preparation prior to our interior residential painting services. This process ensures that every surface is ready for our high-quality products, resulting in the finish our clients envision. Contact us for an estimate on interior residential, exterior residential, and kitchen cabinet painting services in Doylestown, Ambler, Chestnut Hill, Glenside, Warrington, and the surrounding areas in Montgomery and Bucks Counties.