Okay, so in this quick video I'm going to
share with you how to fix a popped nail or drywall screw in your sheetrock.
Hi there! I'm Jeff with Home Repair Tutor. This is going to be a really quick video,
and I'm going to show to you a few different quick tips that you'll be able to apply in
other drywall repair projects. So stay tuned. Let's get to it. And before you know it, that
popped drywall nail or screw is going to be gone.
So here's my popped nail in my drywall. As you can see here, it's leaving a little bit
of a bubble there. So what I have to do is tear out the old joint compound using a putty
knife. And what I'm trying to do is reveal the top of the screw, as you can see here,
because that's our culprit. You can remove that screw using a screwdriver
or drill. And what you'll want to do is replace that screw by putting a new one in -- about
1½" above the old spot. Now, you can see here my new screw is slightly longer than
the old one. So I made a little mark on the wall, and then drilled it into place. And
you want the new screw to leave a slight dimple in the drywall.
You can use Sheetrock Patching Compound Easy Sand 5 for this project because it sets up
in 5 minutes, and it's really easy to mix up. I want the consistency to be that of a
thick milkshake, and then you can apply it to the hole and to the new screw. Honestly,
you probably only have to do this. But I wanted to show that if that hole that you created
is really bad, you can also apply mesh tape to the wall and then a nice, thick layer of
joint compound and then smooth that layer down, like I'm doing here, so that there's
not much. There's just enough holding that tape to the wall.
And in between, you can play with your kids or watch some TV, but I prefer to play with
the kids whenever the weather's nice outside. Once your joint compound is fully dried, you
can apply a second coat, like I'm doing here. And just make sure that you smooth it down
such that you hold your joint compound knife at an angle, like I'm doing here. And that'll
make the ends of your job nice and tapered. Then you can scrape down or knock down any
ridges using the same joint compound knife. You can use a sanding sponge, like I'm doing
here. You can either wet it or leave it dry, but sand down the entire surface in a circular
motion. This is going to get a nice, smooth job. And then feel it up with your hand for
any bumps or ridges. Prime the entire surface with a good primer
-- I use Kilz Primer in this case. Prime the entire surface; otherwise, your latex paint
isn't going to stick. Then you can use a 3/8" nap roller -- I like Purdy -- to apply the
latex paint to the primer. I use a screen and then i roll on the paint like so. And
that's how you patch a pooped drywall nail or screw.
There you go. That's how you fix a popped nail or drywall screw in your sheetrock. Super
simple, right? And the first version, which was just basically skimming over the nail
and the hole that you made in the wall, is super simple. That's what I recommend. Unless
you have a really damaged wall, then you can use the mesh tape.
So hope that you liked these tips. If you did, go ahead and give the video a thumbs
up so that somebody else could find it on YouTube, and it will help them out. And remember,
if you haven't already done so, and you're looking for more DIY tips or you've got an
old house that constantly needs repair, you can always subscribe to my YouTube channel
because a new video comes out every single Friday.
I love this stuff. I love sharing what I do at my own home and in rental properties, and
that's why I make these videos. And if you haven't already done so, you can
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Thanks so much for joining me today. I really appreciate your time. And I'll see you in
the next video. Take care!
