Drywall Cracks in Your Tiny Home

If you notice drywall cracks after delivery, don’t stress. We know it’s not ideal to see imperfections in a brand-new home, especially one you’re excited about, but this is very common, expected with Park Model RV Tiny Homes, and very manageable.

These homes are designed to be transported. Movement during delivery, blocking, and final leveling causes small shifts, and drywall is often the first place that movement shows. This does not mean something is wrong with your home, and it does not affect the structure or safety.

Nearly every owner sees some level of drywall cracking. It’s simply part of owning a movable home.

How We Help With Drywall Cracks

You have a few options, and we’re here to help either way.

First, an important timing note
Drywall repairs should be done after the home is fully set, blocked or piered, and level. Repairing too early often leads to cracks reappearing later as the home finishes settling.

DIY option (most common)

Most homeowners handle small drywall cracks themselves.

We provide matching paint and paintable silicone latex caulk, along with a homeowner-friendly repair guide. Most hairline cracks and corner cracks are easy to fix with basic materials and a little time once the home has settled.

Local help (Portland service area and Northern Oregon)

If you’re located in the greater Portland area or Northern Oregon, we have a go-to technician who is already familiar with these homes.

We typically send a warranty technician out after delivery for standard warranty-related items on nearly every home. When feasible, that technician can often help address small, basic drywall cracks during that visit. We will do our best to partner with someone who can service these cracks.

This isn’t guaranteed for every situation, but it’s something we’re often able to coordinate locally.

Professional drywall repair option

For homeowners who would rather not handle drywall repairs themselves, we can refer you directly to a professional drywall repair company such as Patch Masters.

Patch Masters specializes in drywall crack and seam repairs and works on homes of all sizes. Pricing typically ranges from approximately $600 on the low end to $2,500 on the higher end, depending on:

• The number of cracks

• Crack type (hairline vs seam repairs)

• Whether painting is included

• Access and location

If you choose this option:

• You work directly with Patch Masters for scheduling and payment

• Repairs are completed after the home has fully settled

• Any workmanship warranty is provided directly by the contractor

We’re happy to make an introduction and help explain what type of work may be needed, but this is a direct service relationship between you and the repair company.

Outside the Portland area

Outside of the greater Portland area, drywall service availability depends on technician's location and scheduling. Our dedicated drywall repair network is currently limited to the Portland region, but we’re always happy to offer guidance on what to look for or how to approach repairs locally.

Want to Fix It Yourself? Full Drywall Repair Guide Below

If you want to understand what you’re seeing and how to fix it yourself, the sections below walk through everything step by step.

The Most Important Rule: Don’t Patch Too Early

The best time to patch drywall is after:

• Your home is in its final location

• Blocking or pier setup is complete

• The home is level and has had time to settle

If cracks are patched on delivery day, there’s a good chance they come back later. That doesn’t mean the repair was done wrong. It just means the home was still settling.

A good approach is to live in the home for a bit, keep a short list of cracks you notice, then patch them once everything is finalized.

What Type of Crack Do You Have?

Hairline cracks (easy fix)
Very thin cracks, usually:

• Where the wall meets the ceiling

• In inside corners

• Along drywall seams

• Above doors or windows

If the crack is very thin and nothing feels loose, this is usually a simple DIY fix.

Seam cracks (medium fix)
Cracks that run in a straight line along a drywall seam. These usually need drywall tape and joint compound to keep them from returning.

Larger cracks or tape issues (more work)
Wider cracks, peeling tape, or cracks that keep reopening need reinforcement with tape and multiple coats of compound.

If cracks rapidly grow, continue widening, or are paired with issues like doors suddenly not closing properly, that’s the time to pause and ask someone to take a closer look. This is uncommon, but worth checking if it happens.

Option 1: Fix Small Hairline Cracks (Simple DIY)

This is the easiest and most homeowner-friendly method.

If your home came with a white caulk like White Lightning or another paintable latex caulk, this is exactly what it’s for.

Why this works
Flexible caulk can move slightly with the home without cracking again.

What you’ll need

• Paintable latex caulk (not pure silicone)

• Small putty knife

• Damp rag or sponge

• Touch-up paint (and primer if you have it)

Steps

1. Lightly scrape the crack to remove loose paint or dust

2. Apply a very thin bead of caulk along the crack

3. Smooth it immediately with a damp finger or sponge

4. Let it dry fully

5. Touch up paint

This method works great for corners and wall-to-ceiling cracks.

Option 2: Fix Seam Cracks (Long-Term Repair)

If the crack is more than hairline, runs along a seam, or keeps coming back, this is the better long-term repair.

What you’ll need

• Joint compound (drywall mud)

• Drywall tape (mesh tape is easiest for DIY)

• Putty knife (6-inch is great, wider helps for feathering)

• Sanding sponge or sandpaper (120–150 grit)

• Primer

• Matching paint

• Drop cloth and dust mask

Steps

1. Prep the area by scraping loose material and cleaning dust

2. Apply drywall tape over the crack

3. Apply the first coat of joint compound

4. Let dry fully, then sand lightly

5. Apply a wider second coat to feather the repair

6. Dry, sand, and add a third skim coat if needed

7. Prime the area

8. Paint to match

Thin coats and patience matter more than speed here.

Patching vs Painting: What to Expect

Drywall repair usually has two parts:

• Patching and sanding

• Priming and painting

If you skip primer, paint may look different over the repair. Primer seals the compound so the finish blends better.

Even with matching paint, small touch-ups can still show slightly depending on texture and sheen. In some cases, repainting a full wall produces the cleanest result.

The Takeaway

Drywall cracks after delivery are normal. They’re a side effect of moving and setting a home.

Your best plan is:

• Wait until the home is fully set and settled

• Use paintable caulk for hairline cracks

• Use tape and joint compound for seam cracks

• Prime and paint for the finish

If you’re ever unsure, reach out. We’re here to help you figure out the best next step.