Walls: Smooth out those ugly nail pops for good.

Popped drywall nails and screws are common in old and new homes alike. It’s tempting to just pound the fastener back in and fill the divot. But this is a short-term solution. To permanently fix the problem, drive a new nail or screw to reattach the drywall to the framing and remove or bury the old fastener. Don’t be scared off by the extent of damage, even in extreme cases where the nail pop was made worse by an overzealous drywall installer. In situations like this, the crushed drywall must be removed before you fill the hole.

We used lightweight spackling compound to fill the damaged area. It dries quickly, doesn’t sag and is easy to sand. Expect to apply two or three coats to cover a large hole. The drying time between coats will depend on how deep the hole is. Use a fine sanding sponge or 100-grit drywall sanding paper to sand the patch before priming and painting.

Refasten the drywall with 1-1/4 inch drywall screws. Drive the screws until they are recessed but don’t break through the paper covering on the drywall. If you accidentally drive a screw too deep, add another screw alongside it.

Cut out crushed or damaged drywall with a sharp utility knife. Bevel the cut and don’t leave any fuzzy bits of paper that would be hard to cover with the patching compound.

Bury drywall nails in the wood framing with a nail set. Back out and remove old screws.

Fill the damaged area and the holes left by the new screws with lightweight patching compound. Use a flexible putty knife to apply the compound and smooth it. Apply two or three coats, allowing each to dry completely before recoating.