Fastener/Compound "Pops"

Hello Folks,

Enlighten me thus: Regarding Fastener/Compound "Pops" (those little round 5c-piece-sized cracks in the ceiling that occur at clouts/screws), when you've got one (or two dozen...) and you can't push the ceiling up even just a millimetre or so at that point, are there any other possible causes besides adhesive shrinkage? In other words, why does the little cone of compound pop out when the plasterboard can't even move upwards at all?

Thanks so much,
Batpig.

Gyprock? plasterglass?
If you push the ceiling do you see the compound pops move? maybe insulation got caught or something got caught between the ceiling and the timber or chanels. maybe the timber is not straight old house?

They are called poped nails.

The most common cause in plasterboard is that screws, nails are placed too close to the adhesive daubs. When the adhesive drys it shrinks slightly pulling the board up and causing the plaster around the nail head to crack.

Other causes are movement or vibration from wind etc, but more unlikely than the nail being too close to the adhesive.

The reason the ceiling won't move is because the sheet is tight to the adhesive and the adhesive has no give when pushed up. However it only takes a fraction of a mm to case the plaster to crack around the nail head. If the glue is and nails are placed at the right distance this should not occur.

If you are plastering your own job popped nails can be eradicated completly by using a nail though a temporary block to pin the board to the glue for 24hrs till the glue has set. Then you can remove the block and pull the nail out. Just stop up the nail hole.

When hanging sheets on walls nails should never be placed in the center of the sheet. The blocking method is all you should ever use.

They are easily fixed. Just put a new screw in either side of the poped nail and give the popped nail a bit of a tap with a hammer and re stop them up.

Cheers Rod

Thank-you Rod. You Loom Large on this forum, and it was mighty good of you to take the time at 10.30 last night to post a reply. Sounds like adhesive shrinkage is the problem.

Best Wishes,
Batpig.

Thanks batpig, good luck with the repairs.