How to fix a plaster screw pop?

[Joshuam08]

Hey all,

I noticed this large bump in our plaster next to our window. We have quite a few little plaster screw pops around the house but this one seems significantly bigger and has pushed a lot of plaster out with it. Could this still be a screw pop, albeit a very large one, or could it be something more serious?

what’s the best way to fix it up either way? 

thanks!

[JacobZ]

Hi @Joshuam08,

It definitely looks like a screw pop, albeit one that has fractured a fair bit of the plasterboard around it. 

If there were considerable cracking and more large screw pops around it, I might be concerned, but if that is it, I wouldn't be particularly worried.

The solution is to install some additional Plasterboard Screws above and below the screw pop, cut out the blistered section of plasterboard using a utility knife, remove the popped screw, then patch the whole thing with Multi-Purpose Joint Compound, sand it, then prime and paint.

Make sure you wear some gloves and long protective clothing while using a utility knife, as there is always a risk of lacerations.

After installing the screws and cutting out the damaged plasterboard, the process is the same as that shown in How To Patch A Plaster Wall. You can follow along with this guide to patch things up.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

[Joshuam08]

Thanks Jacob! When cutting that section out, is the goal to remove the full thickness of that section (ie so I can see behind the plaster), or just the top layer of the blistered section?

[MitchellMc]

You just need to remove the raised, compromised section that the screw has fractured and pushed up, @Joshuam08. That should expose the head of the screw, allowing removal. There is no need to cut all the plaster away.

Mitchell