Home / Blog / Repair & Residential
What causes nail pops, tape bubbles, corner bead cracks and other common drywall problems, and how professionals fix them for good.
By SCCI Drywall. Published 2026-10-22.
Even a well-built house will develop a few drywall problems over time. Most are cosmetic and easy for a pro to fix. Here are the most common issues, what causes them, and how they're repaired.
What it looks like: small round bumps or circles of cracked paint, often in a line on a wall or ceiling.
Why it happens: as lumber framing dries and shrinks or the house moves, nails can work loose and push the compound covering them outward. Nail pops are especially common in the first year or two after construction.
The fix: drive a drywall screw a couple of inches from the popped nail to pull the board tight to the framing, then reset or remove the nail. Cover both with several thin coats of compound, sand, re-texture and paint.
What it looks like: a raised, bubbled or loose strip along a seam, sometimes with the tape edge visible.
Why it happens: the tape wasn't fully embedded in compound when it was installed, so there's an air pocket under it. Moisture can make it worse.
The fix: cut out the loose section, re-bed new tape in compound, and finish with additional coats. If moisture caused it, fix the moisture source first.
What it looks like: cracks running along an outside corner, or a dented or loose metal corner.
Why it happens: impact from furniture, vacuums and kids, or a bead that wasn't fastened well.
The fix: damaged bead is cut out and replaced, then finished and textured. In high-traffic areas, a more impact-resistant bead can help.
What it looks like: a vertical crack where two walls meet, or a horizontal crack where the wall meets the ceiling.
Why it happens: seasonal movement in framing and roof trusses. It's especially common in San Antonio, as explained in our article on why drywall cracks in local homes.
The fix: re-tape the corner, and in some cases use a flexible corner product that tolerates slight movement.
What it looks like: straight lines or ridges that show through paint, especially in side light.
Why it happens: joints weren't feathered wide enough, or the finish level wasn't high enough for the lighting or paint.
The fix: additional coats of compound feathered wider, or a skim coat. See our guide to drywall finish levels.
Doorknob holes, anchor holes and moving damage are repaired with patches sized to the damage, then finished and textured. The key to an invisible repair is matching the existing texture and repainting the whole wall.
SCCI Drywall handles drywall repairs of every size, from a handful of nail pops to whole-room refinishing. Call (210) 875-0280.
Usually not. They're typically caused by framing shrinkage or minor movement and are a cosmetic issue.
The tape wasn't fully embedded in compound, leaving an air pocket. Moisture can make the problem worse.
Painting won't fix it. The board needs to be refastened and the spot finished, or the pop will reappear.
SCCI Drywall serves San Antonio and all of South Texas with drywall installation, drywall repair, remodeling, metal stud framing, light gauge framing and acoustical grid ceiling systems for residential and commercial projects.
Phone: (210) 875-0280
Email: sccidrywall@gmail.com
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM