What Are Screw Pops?
If you have a plasterboard wall somewhere in your house, chances are you’ve seen one before. A screw pop/stud pop is an unsightly, small section where the plasterboard has essentially ‘popped’ away from the wall. They occur in places where the plasterboard has been fitted to a wooden stud using a drywall screw or a nail. Screw pops can range in size from around half a centimetre to a couple of centimetres wide, however even small screw pops can be very irritating! If left untreated, screw pops can also fall away from the rest of the plasterboard leaving behind an unattractive small cavity.
What causes a screw pop?
The two most common causes of screw pops are stud shrinkage and poor/improper fastenings. The former is inevitable but the latter can be avoided by using the correct fittings and proper technique.
Stud shrinkage
Wood naturally absorbs and releases moisture causing it to expand and contract. If wooden studs are moist during the drywall installation process, once heated they will shrink. The moisture content of the timber studs will fluctuate seasonally and with the temperature of the building. Artificial heating and cooling processes can cause the wood to distort at a faster rate and actually make stud pops more likely. As the wooden studs distort with temperature and moisture changes the screws and nails move from their fixed position thus causing the inevitable stud pop. Using steel instead of wood framing is one way to combat this issue, however it won’t eliminate the problem if the screws aren’t correctly installed.
Improper fastening
When fastening drywall to a stud frame, it can be easy to make a number of mistakes, which is why it is recommended you either call for a professional to do it for you, or practice on a dummy wall first!
Drilling the screw in too far
Drywall screws and nails should not penetrate the plasterboard lining paper (the thin paper-like covering that sits on the outside of the plasterboard). Driving the screw too far into the plasterboard will mean the screw isn’t fixed in a stable position and make it more likely to pop out or come loose. It also leaves a slight cavity in the wall which will mean when covered with plaster it is more likely to cause a stud pop.
Not drilling the screw in far enough
The screw/nail head should sit flush on the wall. There should be no recede and if you run a pallet knife over fixture, it should not catch on the screw head. A screw that sticks out from the wall will mean an opportunity for a screw pop once the area has been plastered over.
Using incorrect fixtures
As with any construction project, using the right tools is vital for safe and professional results. Drywall screws mean that screw pops are less likely than if you were to use nails, however nails can still be used to fix plasterboard to timber studs. Ensure your screw is the correct length and thread size for the plasterboard you are fixing to reduce the likelihood of screw pops.
