Why does drywall crack over doors and windows?
Door and window openings are the weak points in a wall, so that is where movement shows first. Houses move a little as the seasons change: wood framing swells in humid summers and shrinks when the heat comes on in winter, and Georgia clay soil expands and shrinks with rain and drought. The corners of openings take that movement, and the joint compound cracks.
What is a nail pop?
A nail pop is a small round bump or crack over a nail head, often in a row along a stud. As the framing dries and shrinks, the nail backs out a little and pushes on the paint. It’s cosmetic, and common in homes from the first few years after building.
How are drywall cracks repaired so they don’t come back?
Filling a crack with compound alone almost always cracks again in the same place. A lasting repair:
- The crack is opened up slightly and loose compound scraped out
- Paper or mesh tape goes over it to bridge the joint
- Thin coats of compound are feathered out on both sides
- Sanded, texture matched, primed and painted
How are nail pops fixed?
A drywall screw goes in just beside the popped nail to pull the board tight to the stud. The old nail is set below the surface, then both are covered with compound, sanded and painted. Driving the old nail back in on its own usually lets it pop out again.
When is a crack a sign of something bigger?
- Cracks wider than a quarter inch, or getting wider
- Doors that suddenly stick or won’t latch, together with new cracks
- Floors that have started to slope
- Cracks in a stair-step pattern on brick or block outside
If you see these, Ramzi will tell you to have a structural engineer look first, before anything is patched or quoted.
How much does drywall crack repair cost in Atlanta?
Cracks and nail pops are usually quick to fix, and several fit in one Honey-Do Day: $350 for a half day (4 hours) or $600 for a full day (8 hours).
Every price depends on the job and can change once Ramzi sees it. Text Ramzi a few photos for the final price, agreed before any work starts. Estimates are free.
Handyman jobs only: small fixes, adjustments and installs like mounting a TV, fixing a sticky door, hanging shelves and furniture assembly. These rates are for one person working alone. If the job needs more than one person, the price will change.
More on drywall repair
Areas we serve in Atlanta
Ramzi repairs drywall cracks and nail pops in homes across these Atlanta neighborhoods and ZIP codes:
- Sandy Springs (30328)
- Vinings and Cumberland (30339)
- Buckhead and Lindbergh (30324)
- Midtown and Old Fourth Ward (30308)
Close by but not on the list? Send your address and Ramzi will tell you.