OT - Nail Pop?

npowell · Jun 29, 2020

Have this protrusion in the ceiling above the shower. It's an inch or two across. Is it just a nail pop? Or something more significant? Aside from the aesthetic problem, is it important to fix for structural reasons?

Thanks,

Neil

Patsdeere · Jun 29, 2020

Looks/sounds awfully big for nail pop. Pull it down and see what it is. If over a shower you want to fix so moisture doesn't go up there and cause problems.

Dopp Creek · Jun 29, 2020

Some body been in your attic lately? Looks about the size of a footprint. Nail pops are not much bigger than the head of a pencil and most often a perfect circle. AS irregular as that is, its either impact or moisture.

kcm.MN · Jun 29, 2020

Definitely not a nail pop. At the same time, there are no obvious signs of water infiltration. That's good!

What is directly above this point? Is there a 2nd floor? Is it attic?

Also, interior or exterior wall?

What kind of foundation does the house have? Are there any signs of the foundation shifting? (I'm guessing this is not the issue, but always better to ask and be certain)

npowell · Jun 29, 2020

(quoted from post at 15:54:45 06/29/20) Definitely not a nail pop. At the same time, there are no obvious signs of water infiltration. That's good!

What is directly above this point? Is there a 2nd floor? Is it attic?

Also, interior or exterior wall?

What kind of foundation does the house have? Are there any signs of the foundation shifting? (I'm guessing this is not the issue, but always better to ask and be certain)

The attic is directly above the ceiling. Probably best to go up and see what it looks like from that side. Don't know what sort of foundation it has, but haven't noticed any cracks or other problems in the basement walls, either in the finished or unfinished section. Thanks for the thoughts.

paul · Jun 29, 2020

Would a previous owner have taped over a vent that is settling down? Or something fell in your attic.....

Paul

kcm.MN · Jun 29, 2020

If nobody has been in the attic lately, then be careful up there. Might be that a rather large raccoon has found a way to access your attic.

If this happens to be the case, and if you happen to see coon feces up there, get a good dust mask or respirator. Breathing their feces dust can potentially create all sorts of problems for you.

npowell · Jun 29, 2020

Thanks. Good idea to be cautious.

Janicholson · Jun 29, 2020

Agree, a cautious attic reconnaissance is first. clean it from that side. If insulation is present, use gloves and try not to disturb it very much. Once the attic look see is done, put down a tarp, or plastic, and pull down the broken pieces. if the material is plain sheet rock and the home is going to be an investment, I would remove the entire ceiling, and put up new Cement backer board. This material can withstand the high moisture around a shower. If a good temp repair is needed, and the remaining material is solid, take a piece of 1/2" plywood that is 2" overlap of the hole. Glue it down with Construction adhesive. Cut a piece of sheet rock close to the hole shape (or moisture resistant rock, or cement board) put the piece up in the hole, and use 6 or 8 coated (rust proof) to hold it in place (put the screws in just a tiny bit below the surface). Use a product called Durahm's rock hard water putty as the compound. It will be water proof when set, and solid. It can be sanded. prime and paint the entire ceiling. I hope this helps. Jim

Stroby · Jun 29, 2020

....some John Deere's "POP"

db4600 · Jun 29, 2020

You’ve told us some info and I will guess the rest. Bathroom moisture will promote popping and ceiling is adjacent to the attic which is colder than the occupied space which can promote pops. I have some thoughts. If it is nailed it might be likely it skun the framing member and is transferring cold from an exposed point. If this is adjacent to the outside wall there might be less insulation at that point due to the rafter height or pocketing or void of insulation from something as simple as a steel rafter gusset plate. It might be as crazy as puncture or joint in a vapor barrier. Pick the blister clean. If it’s a nail see if you can extricate it. Put a screw it that location trying to hit solid backer and replace/repair the mud/ tape job. I forgot. It could be as crazy as a knot in the framing member causing this fastener to blister. I hope it’s not raccoons.

Stephen Newell · Jun 29, 2020

The moisture of a shower can cause sheetrock to expand and contract causing a pop however that looks a little more severe than that. It looks more like something pushed down on the rock such as a person crawling through the attic or a large animal. If a person crawls through the attic and pushes the rock down off the nail the hole will close up behind it and when it goes back up the nail will push a hole through.

dr sportster · Jun 30, 2020

Any electricians in the attic lately ?

Texasmark1 · Jun 30, 2020

My bet is it could be foundation shift. I'm on black clay....mud in the winter (soil expands), rock in the summer (soil contracts). It seems, like happens to me after 42 years, as the foundation moves around the outer walls, supporting the free span (in some areas but not in others affected like this) trusses move at one rate and the piers supporting interior walls move at another. As a result, every season it opens and closes the cracks in the sheetrock and ceiling attachment devices open and close. I used to crawl under the house simi-annually and adjust. Too old for that now, just watch 'em open and close.

I agree that it should be sealed, being in the shower.

I also have a good deal of insulation in the attic weighing on the rock and in the free span areas I have had to re-attach the sheetrock to the trusses as it has started sagging gapping off the trusses as much as an inch is some areas. I use 2" sheetrock screws and 2" flat washers. Work a section tightening the screws a little at a time till I get it back up against the trusses.....distributing the weight across a larger area than just one screw as I go.

npowell · Jun 30, 2020

Thanks again guys. Will inspect it farther from the top and bottom. Will also seal it. And now, I have some good ideas how to tackle that. Do hope it's something simpler than a shifting foundation.

Best,

Neil

kcm.MN · Jun 30, 2020

I'm thinking the problem is not foundation-related. Let's hope so. If it is, there isn't a whole lot that can be done. Either a company specializing in this kind of foundation repair (can you say [b:25d78f5298]$$$$$$[/b:25d78f5298]) has to come in, or you could build a floating foundation that just sits on the ground.....and I'm sure building codes officer would [i:25d78f5298]love[/i:25d78f5298] to see that one! *lol*

Have fun in the attic. Don't get too hot up there.

fixerupper · Jun 30, 2020

It has to be removed to repair it so pull away the loose drywall from below and see what you find. Cut around it with a utility knife first so the paper does not tear.

big daddy t · Jun 30, 2020

Totally a nail pop...

OT - Nail Pop?

npowell

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Patsdeere

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Dopp Creek

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kcm.MN

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npowell

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paul

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kcm.MN

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npowell

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Janicholson

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Stroby

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db4600

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Stephen Newell

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dr sportster

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Texasmark1

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npowell

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kcm.MN

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fixerupper

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big daddy t

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