Cracks or nail pops in drywall

A nail pop is a fastener working loose, and the fix is mechanical: drive a drywall screw into the stud just beside it, set the nail below the surface, then spackle both in two thin coats. A hairline crack needs paper tape bedded in compound, not just filler, or it comes back.

Our guide which patch to use for which size of hole has a quick chooser for every kind of damage. For holes, start with Patch a hole in drywall. Diagonal cracks that keep coming back or widening above doors and windows can mean the house is moving: have them looked at before you patch.