1annabelle says:

Why don't they have these available now? Not just the prefab versions, but actual materials specific to that design that can be constructed onsite?

lara_jane says:

Great article! I appreciate the restrained remodels (the kitchen is the exception, but it was already remuddled at one point...). I do, however, take umbrage with this statement:

"New siding, windows and front door ensure the home will be around for another century."

This is patently false.

You can't guarantee that the replacement windows will last the lifetime of the home, whereas the ORIGINAL windows had already survived 80+ years. With a LOT of time and elbow grease, original (old-growth) wood windows can be restored to last another 80+ years. You can't say the same for today's vinyl or even wood replacements.

amikens says:

agree with lara jane...and I love these homes!

sheilals says:

Answering 1Annabelle, these are available now. If you have a Menards, you can purchase one there. I am not sure about Home Depot.

Bud Dietrich, AIA says:

Hi lara_jane
Point well taken and you've hit on one of those issues that people usually fall into one of two camps about. I agree that older windows made from old growth wood are preferable, will last a long time and impart an authenticity to the home that new windows can't. However, we have found that restoring and making the original windows more efficient is too costly (if you hire someone to do the work) or too time consuming (if the homeowner does the work).

Having said that, no one should have any qualms about replacing the replacement windows of thirty or forty years ago as these generally had no redeeming qualities. Replacing these inferior windows with the windows being manufactured today makes a lot of sense. Many of the new windows, specifically those from the better manufacturers, are well made and well engineered and should last every bit as long as the original did.

s scamardella says:

I do agree that with a *higher end* window product you will have a better opportunity for long-lasting material than with wood. Not to mention the insulation factors that help make a better environmental product.

Pascale says:

We're in the midst of researching options for what will be our dream home and we stumbled on a company in Vermont called Connor Homes. They offer what they call mill-built homes that are gorgeous reproductions of classic New England architecture. The owner of the company has a deep respect for classic proportions and traditional building materials, details that make such a huge difference in the look of a home. His philosophy is to create homes that will last as long as the originals have lasted. They will ship their kits anywhere, but because we live on the other side of the country the added shipping costs may make this prohibitive for us.

Bud Dietrich, AIA says:

Pascale Collins - Connor Homes is a great choice for a "prefab" home in a more traditional style. Hope that the cost savings from factory assembling the components more than off sets the added shipping costs as Connor produces a really nice product.

Carrie Ure says:

Regarding old vs. new windows, here in Portland, Oregon, there are companies restoring and retrofitting old windows. This is proving not only to be cost effective and sustainable, but also possible to get R ratings almost as good as new windows with new technology such as Indow Windows, invented here.

On another note, I lived in a 1920 kit house. Very sweet and well designed. I was stunned to see it's sister while out house-hunting one day. I did the research and found the Sears kit, complete with exact room layout. Lot's of support for researching old houses here in Portland, as well.

Allie says:

I just found out I indeed live in a Sears Roebuck "kit" house, it is model 8013, the Columbine. The front porch has been enclosed as we live in northern Alberta, but the floor plan is dead on (windows have been moved). A trip to the archives office on Monday and some digging resulted in finding the original building permit and the plan named as "SR" short for Sears Roebuck! At some point blue stucco has been added to our home, probably around the same time the master bedroom had been extended. It has been quite the exciting week and this article came at the perfect time!

Bud Dietrich, AIA says:

That's really exciting , Allie. And in northern Alberta! Amazing how wide spread the Sear catalog was (kind of the internet of a century ago). And I believe that some manufacturers labeled some of the parts (e.g. stamped the lumber). Maybe you'll find something in the attic or basement. Good luck.

Pamela Secord says:

I live in a Sears bungalow built in 1927 in Massachusetts and am always told by the trade that it is built very well. I am a designer and have remodeled every room. When we put on a new roof years ago the roofers found some of the packaging with the details and dates of the kit stating that it had come by train from Chicago. Very interesting!

skeenan1343 says:

I'm twenty-one years old and even since I was really young i've always wanted one of these homes. I hope to someday be able to restore and afford one of these homes. They are still very customizable to this day and truly are the perfect dream home

tsudhonimh says:

I used to own a kit house, and talked to the son of the owner/builder. He remembered his mom marking up the catalog of parts with her choices for the built-in buffet, the molding, etc.

You could take the same floor plan and go from rock-bottom priocing to really posh with your choices of interior fittings. His mom got the fir one with plain glass. A similar house in the neighborhood still has its top-of-the-line oak buffet with leaded glass panels in the same spot in the same floor plan.

Jason Shepard says:

I grew up in a Sears home, actually in a Sears Home Neighborhood in Carlinville, Illinois. Ours was from 1918 and was still exactly the same floorplan (even the window locations) as it was when new. Even the kitchen sink was still the original from when it was built and we never changed it. When my mother moved out of my childhood home 12 years ago, new owners bought it and have restored it. The floorplan and windows are still in their same locations, even the porch is identical as-built, just with more modern coverings (i.e.: Vinyl Siding, Wood Flooring, etc.). I wish we could have afforded the paltry $17,500 that our landlord had asked for the place so I could still own it today. I still live only 20 miles away from that home and I pass by it often.

There are dozens of Sears homes still in that neighborhood that have been unmolested by renovations. Carlinville is very proud of its Sears Homes and even took on a full restoration of one of them as a city about 18 years ago. Thankfully, even those that have been renovated have mostly been done with care towards the home's history. Only a few have been demolished or molested beyond recognition. At least some parts of our nation's proud history are being preserved!

starbird says:

I checked the Menard's web site... I cannot find a kit home, pre fab house or anything even similar. Do you know the names of some of the manufacturers?

modern_ideas says:

A Google search for "Sears Robuck kit homes" provided this:

http://www.searsarchives.com/homes/

Complete with pictures, years, and prices.

dancingfish says:

I know our local 84 lumber was selling kit homes as of about two years ago. Saw them when we purchased our kit for our detached garage.

fournier says:

We're getting to ready to buy a kit home from Shelter-kit, they ship from Tilton, NH. We're very happy with their options and willingness to modify their kits to meet our needs.

Bud Dietrich, AIA says:

Here's some info for those looking for kit houses:

http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/assembly-is-required-for-these-kit-homes.html

good luck!