Sears Houses: This article series provides detailed photographic and historic clues to assist in the identification of Sears Catalog or Kit homes and including references to other expert books and resources on Sears Homes.

We describe and provide photographs of Sears Catalog homes, using examples of these homes located in the Hudson Valley of New York.

This article provides examples of clues useful in identifying Sears Catalog Kit Homes. We also edit Sears Kit House identification checklists and comment and books on Sears Homes by Rosemary Thornton.

How to Identify Sears Kit Houses

- Daniel Friedman, Rosemary Thornton. Presented at the Hudson Valley American Society of Home Inspectors HVASHI Annual Historic Homes Inspection-Seminar, Kingston, NY - 8 September 2005, updated through July 2024

Sears Roebuck is estimated to have sold 100,000 catalog homes in the U.S. between 1908 and 1940, with probably the heaviest individual sales years before 1929.

Sears Roebuck's business model differed from some or all of the other kit home marketers by offering an accompanying home mortgage to their customers beginning in 1916.

Sears sold building products before 1900, and sold "Sears Modern" kit homes from 1908 to 1942. Sears Roebuck house or "building" kits included more than single family homes. The company also offered out-buildings, utility buildings, and briefly, a schoolhouse (in 1908).

Sears sold Homart pre-fabricated home kits in a more limited distribution from 1940 to 1950, or by some sources between about 1942 - 1951

Thornton says there were 370 different Sears Roebuck kit home models;

Hunter says there were 450 different Sears kit house models.

Wikipedia editors cite this list of the most-popular Sears kit home models: (2022) The Sears Alhambra kit home, Sears Argyle kit home, Sears Avondale kit home, Sears Barrington kit home, Sears Conway/Uriel kit home, Sears Crescent kit home, Sears Dover kit home, Sears Elsmore kit home, Sears Gladstone/Langston kit home, Sears Hathaway kit home, Sears Lewiston kit home, Sears Lynnhaven kit home, Sears Osborn kit home, Sears Starlight kit home, Sears Vallonia kit home, Sears Westly kit home, Sears Willard kit home, Sears Winona

Rosemary Thornton, whose work is referenced in this document, is a leading expert on Sears catalog homes. Since 1976 Daniel Friedman has identified, inspected, and in some cases repaired Sears catalog homes in the Hudson Valley of New York, and has included additional identification tips and photos with this article.

Article Contents

• SEARS KIT HOME IDENTIFICATION
  • THE SEARS CATALOG HOUSE - PHOTOS - History of Sears Catalog Homes; Location of Sears Catalog Homes; Cost of Sears Catalog Houses
  • SEARS CATALOG HOME EXTERIOR DETAILS
  • SEARS CATALOG HOME INTERIOR DETAILS
    
  • SEARS MAIL ORDER LUMBER STENCIL MARKS
    
  • HOW WEAR AND TEAR AFFECT A SEARS HOME
  • SEARS HOUSE IDENTIFICATION POINTS - Photographs of homes & house details are provided along with references & books to help identify Sears Catalog homes & other kit homes
  • CONFUSION IN SEARS HOUSE IDENTIFICATION
  • ARE THESE SEARS CATALOG HOMES?
  • BOOKS ON SEARS AND OTHER KIT OR CATALOG HOUSES
• KIT HOMES, ALADDIN, SEARS, WARDS, OTHERS - separate article

Thornton is also the author of books on identifying Sears houses, cited atReferences or Citations below, and she offers a Sears house identification service.

• Sears Catalog Homes:
  
  Sears Roebuck is estimated to have sold 100,000 catalog homes in the U.S. between 1908 and 1940, with probably the heaviest individual sales years before 1929. Sears Roebuck's business model differed from some or all of the other kit home marketers by offering an accompanying home mortgage to their customers beginning in 1916.
  
  Thornton says there were 370 different home models; Hunter says there were 450 different house models.
  
  Sears sold building products before 1900, and sold kit homes from 1908 to 1940.
  
  From 1940 to 1950 or 1951 Sears sold Homart pre-fabricated home kits in a more limited distribution.
  
  
• Sears Honor-Bilt Homes: 
  
  were distributed by Sears Catalog and represented a higher-quality construction.
  
  Framing spacing intervals were 14 3/8" instead of the standard 16" (or even 24" in some older non-kit homes), and interiors used a better grade of lumber to fabricate flooring and trim.
• Sears Standard-Bilt Kit Homes:
  
  were a more economical line of kit houses (see Honor-Bilt above) and were less insulated.
  
  "Simplex Sectional" homes were a still simpler home design sold by Sears.

The Fullerton Sears Kit House - Photos and examples

Above is the original catalog description of this home at 15 N. Remsen, Wappingers Falls, NY

Three neighbors - three Sears catalog homes were built in a row by Wappingers grocer Adolph Von Vorstel on N. Remsen Ave. in Wappingers Falls.

This house, #15 N. Remsen, in Wappingers Falls, NY, shown below, arrived by train, probably in Hugsonville, New York.

Using the Sears numbering system, the contents of the railroad boxcars (typically two boxcars were needed to ship all of the parts to build a complete home) were brought by wagon to this site in the village of Wappingers Falls, NY.

Wagon loads of house materials were brought wagon-by-wagon in the proper order for construction while the boxcar sat on a siding.

The total cost for this house was $1500. As shown here in September, 2005 this charming house was listed for sale by its owners for $299,000.

Exterior details of Sears Catalog Homes and How They May Have Been Modified or Covered-up

Inspecting a Fullerton Sears Catalog House for Details

• Although its outside appearance that closely resembles the home show in this SEARS KIT FULLERTON CATALOG PAGE
• A Sears Catalog home built decades ago may by now have been covered with ALUMINUM SIDING [image] though the original and not-unique wainscot porch ceiling may remain.
• These homes may also have been expanded at the side and/or REAR, [image]
• Rear expansions to Sears houses were a COMMON EVENT [image] On especially the smaller catalog models.

Interior details of Sears Catalog Homes

Each link in this section shows a photo with additional details of the interior of a Sears Kit Home.

• Some interior details remain and are easy to find, including a wide DINING ROOM REAR WINDOW

Above: an original door hinge from a Sears Kit home (Wappingers Falls, NY).

• Sears DOOR HINGES - FACE face view
• Sears DOOR HINGES - INSIDE inside view,
• Sears Roebuck ESCUTCHEONS & DOOR KNOB PLATES
• Sears House WOODEN INTERIOR DOORS, this one abandoned in an attic, others painted.
• Sears interior DOOR TRIM may still be original but might not be easily recognized as unique to these homes
• Sears WIDE STAIR PLATFORM (shown below)

• Sears House stairwell newel POST
• Sears stair HANDRAILING with some interesting details
• Sears house STAIRWELL SIDE TRIM
• This particular Sears catalog house in New York also had an interesting WOOD STOVE NICHE in the LIVING ROOM
• But a SINGLE SHARED CHIMNEY FLUE as was sometimes used on these catalog houses (if that is the case) would violate modern Building codes.
• Insulation in Sears houses: Mineral wool also called ROCK WOOL INSULATION had been added in the attic.

Sears Mail Order House Lumber Framing Stencil Marks

More difficult to find in some homes is the definitive stamp/stencil letter-number identification on framing lumber and trim, but it is often there for the diligent inspector, for example on

• ATTIC LUMBER STAMP (e.g.1)
• DORMER LUMBER STAMP (e.g.2)
• RAFTER LUMBER STAMP (e.g.3) and
• In one case on a "trim" stamp remaining
  
  on EAVES BLOCKING made from un-used trim boards, for a careful inspector to detect.
• In some of these photos of framing lumber stamps you may also recognize
  
  the STRAIGHT GRAIN character of what looks to us like Douglas Fir lumber.
• Stamps or stenciled markings on ends of floor joists
  
  were NOT ACCESSIBLE (if present) in this home.

How leaks and other wear and tear may have affected a Sears Catalog Home

Like many houses with a history of incomplete insulation and dormers with flashing failures at the dormer wall-to-roof juncture, there are often visible in the attic of both Sears Catalog and non-Sears homes of this design.

• DORMER SIDE LEAK STAINS and
• ATTIC CONDENSATION DRIP STAINS

We did not examine the mechanicals closely in this house, as they were not provided by Sears and Roebuck and were obtained locally. We did not photograph the kitchen and bath as they had been remodeled leaving no obvious original materials.

However the combination of catalog match, interior hardware, and stencil marks make the identification of this home as a Sears catalog house quite clear.

We also had help - the home was so identified and its history written in a Poughkeepsie Journal article in 1990.

However the owners and listing realtor had been unable to identify the Sears catalog model. The Journal article (1/7/1990 F1-2), also identified other Sears catalog homes in Dutchess County, NY. These are listed here.

Examples of Other Sears Catalog Homes in New York

• Manchester Road in Poughkeepsie, NY (Dietz, late 1920s) which includes markings 'Order Chgo Milwk Sup', and 'hall closet' on a hall closet door frame
• 217 Dutchess Turnpike, in Poughkeepsie, NY, a (1917) 7-room cape which used a basement cistern for its water supply and a fieldstone fireplace.
• North Avenue, in Pleasant Valley, NY, a "gothic cottage" Crescent model built in 1932 for $1761.
• 35 Point St., New Hamburg, NY, a 936 sq.ft. bungalow ordered in 1926 for $1000. (order #51300) by George and Gorgianna Hasbrook in honor of their golden wedding anniversary. The house was shipped by Gordon Van Tine Co. of Davenport IA, and delivered by railroad box car to the New Hamburg freight yard. The house has been expanded and modified.

Definitive List of Sears House Identification Points

How can you spot a Sears Catalog Home? While I have expanded, edited, and illustrated this list based on our own field experience, and we have added photographs and other details, this material has its origin in Thornton's books cited at "References" below. We recommend those books for any owner or serious investigator of Sears Catalog homes.

1. Year built:
   
   Thornton points out that while Sears sold Building materials as early as in the 1895 Sears and Roebuck Company catalog, pre-cut "kit" residential homes were sold between 1908 - 1940.
   
   Note that other companies may have purchased Sears-inch designs and continued to sell some models after 1940, and also note that Sears kit home "look-alikes" will be found.
   
   In fact since Sears architects who designed their catalog homes copied currently popular house designs, some of which were themselves built from stock plans, there may be Sears catalog home look-alikes that were built before and during the years during which Sears, Wards, or other catalog home companies sold and distributed their house kits.
   
   But there are specific details, particularly in hardware, stenciling, and labeling that can be conclusive in identifying a Sears or other company's catalog or "kit" home. Dates of manufacture of other brands of kit homes are discussed below
   
   at WHEN AND WHERE WERE SEARS CATALOG HOUSES BUILT?
   
   Note that even before 1900 Sears was selling construction materials, but not in complete pre-cut home kits.
   
   Here are the details that will help in identifying Sears Kit Homes:
2. Stamped letter-number marks on framing and trim,
   
   such as observed in the Fullerton model in Wappingers Falls, NY ON LUMBER (eg.1)
   
   or trim are good evidence of a "Sears kit." While we are informed that Montgomery Wards also sold pre-cut homes into the 1950-inchs, we don't think you'll find the same rubber-stamped number system. Note that some houses were built with almost no markings - see the Remsen Avenue house in Wappingers Falls, NY, and about 1/3 have no marks at all (before 1920). (Strong evidence.)
1. Framing members:
   
   letter + number, at the butt end (unlikely to be visible) and on the face occasionally visible near (2 - 10") the end of the member, on the wide dimension of the lumber. (E.g. the 6" dimension of a 2x6 rafter.)
   
   See FRAMING NUMBER STAMP 2
   
   and FRAMING NUMBER STAMP EXAMPLE#3
   
   Lumber for a Sears kit house was pre-cut (you didn't need a saw to build a Sears house).
   
   Lumber was end-stenciled with identifying marks to aid in construction. End stencils will be hard to see on framing lumber in most homes but be sure to check the ends of any visible joists in the basement where they may cross over a center girder.
   
   The stenciled codes on Sears Kit House lumber are about one inch high and will [almost always] include a letter followed by 1 to 3 digits such as A123 or C9.
2. In the basement check the butt ends of floor joists overlapping the main girder -
   
   this is about the only place in a finished home where you may be able to see the end of a framing member, unless you are doing structural repairs or renovations.
3. Framing number stamp size and color:
   
   Thornton says that the Ink may be blue, black, or red, just under 1" high, and the letter, followed by numbers.
   
   We observe that these stamps will often be irregular in alignment and spacing - it appears as if each letter or number was stamped individually when identifying framing members.
   
   On the other hand, words like FINISH [image] which I presume referred to trim boards, appear aligned as if made by a single physical stamp. This example was on a left-over piece of finish lumber used in the attic as eaves blocking between rafters.
4. Identifying marks at plumbing access panels:
   
   Thornton also suggests that inspectors check for these types of marks where you may find marks on wall studs in the bath wall cavity.
5. Framing is square-cut douglas-fir (Doug Fir) or southern yellow pine (SYP) (usually) free of knots and splits.
   
   In some inspections you will find a few rafters or beams which show
   
   MECHANICAL PIT-SAW KERF MARKS, at least on the earlier catalog home kits, but generally lumber
   
   
   is SQUARE-EDGED AND SMOOTH.
6. Framing marks on other kit house brands
   
   and their framing lumber are discussed below at
   
   A LIST OF MANUFACTURERS OF KIT HOMES AND THEIR IDENTIFICATION MARKINGS
3. Sears Catalog House Foundations -
   
   usually masonry block, were not normally shipped with these homes. Sears offered a concrete block kit and suggested a do-it-yourself block making project for your kit home.
   
   MASONRY BLOCKS WITH A DECORATED EXTERIOR FACE such as the ones seen here may have been made by that device.
4. Sears Kit House Shipping Labels -
   
   these will be a pretty rare find unless you are doing remodeling and disassembly and get lucky, they are unlikely to be seen during a non-invasive inspection.
   
   Thornton's book "Finding the Houses" cited below has photos of some of these. We did find shipping labels on an Aladdin kit house.
   
   Details are at ALADDIN KIT HOUSES.
1. Labels may be present on the back of millwork (baseboard, window, door trim, staircase) as Sears used a common supplier
2. "Sears, Roebuck and Company," or "925 Homan Ave. Chicago" may be present on shipping labels
3. Stamps on millwork or labels from "Norwood Sash and Door" (maybe) indicate Sears suppliers.
4. Thornton also cites an "R" either in the cast-iron base of some sinks (kitchen?) and in the enamel of bath tubs in a corner near floor level.
5. Compare the Sears Kit House architecture and general appearance with a guide book -
   
   see the reference book list below. We recommend these books.
6. Watch for Sears Kit Home Paperwork -
   
   cached in attic or basement which may identify the home.
   
   Sears kit houses came with a seventy-five instruction manual which explained the details of construction.
   
   Since these homes were designed to be built by their owner, the instructions were quite detailed, including even details of how many nails were to be used and where they were to be placed when assembling the building framing.
7. Court or county records may also identify the Sears or other kit home and model,
   
   or may identify the home as carrying a Sears mortgage.
8. Examine hardware 
   
   such as these SEARS HOUSE DOOR HINGES
   
   and these SEARS HOUSE DOOR KNOB PLATES. .
   
   In addition to common "Sears" design, some are stamped with the "Sears" name.
   
   We believe that the door hinge examples shown here appeared in a smaller size on kitchen cabinets in some homes as well. In addition to framing lumber, windows, doors, roof shingles, Sears Catalog Homes came complete, with all of the necessary hardware, nails, hinges, paint, and even a doorbell.
9. SearsGoodwall Sheet Plaster.
   
   You may see telltale sheet lines, roughly 4-inch x 4-inch, stamped "Goodwall" on the wall-cavity side (suggestive, not sufficient). Goodwall sheet plaster (basically plasterboard, an antecedent of modern "drywall") was sold by Sears beginning with the 1916 Sears Modern Kit Homes Catalog.
   
   Earlier Sears kit home interior walls and ceilings may have used traditional plaster and lath or in some buildings you may find Beaverboard or other insulating board sheathing on walls and / or ceilings. Often these older surfaces have been covered-over by drywall. If the building interior window and door trim no longer protrudes about 3/4" beyond the wall surfaces we suspect that the original wall coverings have been plastered or re-covered with drywall.
   
   See details at CEILINGS & WALLS, PLASTER TYPES
   
   Goodwall sheet plaster may not contain asbestos, but we have no hard evidence of the presence or absence of asbestos in that product. It's notable that Goodwall sheet plaster was described in Sears promotional material as follows:
   
   Goodwall Sheet Plaster is a fire resisting gypsum rock compositionplaster of even thickness between two sheets of heavy cardboard.
   
   These cardboards are so saturated with the fire resisting gypsum composition that they make Goodwall Sheet Plaster far more fire resistant than regular lath and plaster.
   
   It comes in sheets 32 x 36 inches and other convenient sizes and takes the place of regular lath and plater at less cost and with less labor. Border to the right shows the actual thickness of the 32 x 36 inch size, 5/16 inch. - Sears advertising literature, 1921 Sears -Modern Homes Catalog.
   
   This plaster board could be installed alone and papered-over but it was intended to be top-coated with a 3/8-inch layer of hard plaster and another 1/8 inch layer of top coat hard plaster finish.
   
   Sears Goodwall sheet plaster was sold in the following dimensions and thus might provide telltale lines on any of these intervals:
   
   

   Sears Goodwall Sheet Plaster Dimensions
   Dimension in Inches	Thickness in Inches
   32 x 36	5/16
   32 x 48	5/16
   32 x 72	5/16
   32 x 84	5/16
   32 x 96	5/16
   32 x 108	5/16
   32 x 120	3/8
   48 x 72	3/8
   48 x 84	3/8
   48 x 96	3/8
   48 x 108	3/8
   48 x 120	3/8

   
   Notes to the table above:
   
   

   Notes: this product was sold by Sears beginning in 1916. The thickness dimensions do not include field-applied top coat layers of finished plaster.

   Specially prepared plaster was also sold in bags of the hard plaster and top coat hard plaster to be applied over this Sears plasterboard

   If a property owner finds Goodwall sheet plaster in their home and wants a free test we'll foot the bill (contact us first) as we'd like to know for sure too, but considering that most asbestos-containing products intending to trade on fire resistance advertised asbestos as a feature, it's quite possible that the Sears Goodwall sheet plaster does not contain asbestos.
10. Exterior design components 
    
    and common or recurring Sears details and Sears house architectural themes: (Thornton's text uses examples from the Sears Vallonia and the Sears Sunbeam) - look at:
1. Porch column details:
   
   you'll see a common theme of
   
   Rectangular wood columns e.g. on this FULLERTON KIT HOME also shown in our photo above and SHOWN IN MORE DETAIL - here,
   tapered wood rectangular columns such as
   
   this MARINA KIT HOME, and
   
   "Stick work" which Thornton says was used in about 24 Sears designs (such as the multiple but simple column set on this porch and pergola of
   
   the CORONA KIT HOME, and
   
   more
   complex VALLONIA COLUMNS which are found in similar versions on Americus and longer versions on Langston)
2. CENTER BLOCK UNDER FRONT PORCH ROOF (Vallonia) -
   
   we do not see this on very many other porch headers
3. Stick-design corbels
   
   or eaves brackets (Elmwood Sherburne, or SUNBEAM KIT HOME)
   
   These may be covered with vinyl or aluminum now but may still appear in place as a covered triangular support. Thornton describes these as "5-piece eaves brackets" and indeed brackets were common on a number of Sears catalog or kit home designs.
4. Windows:
   
   Thornton cites double 2^nd floor gable end windows but we do not yet see why this is unique to Sears Catalog homes.
5. Chimney:
   
   Thornton also suggests comparing the current chimney location to original design as chimneys are rarely moved - a good suggestion.
11. Original Building permits 
    
    may be saved with the home - rare in our experience
12. Foundations:
    
    decorative-faced concrete block is suggestive [see our photos of Sears Catalog Homes shown here], where stone or concrete are less likely.
13. Location of Sears Kit Houses:
    
    because the Sears Catalog Houses were shipped by railroad boxcar (typically two boxcars per home) to a rail station near the purchaser, most often Sears houses will be located close to a railway line or station, perhaps within one or two miles.
    
    The buyer would move the 30,000 or more pieces of house material to the building site by horse and wagon or by truck, often storing components in the rail car on a siding until they were needed. Sears packed the materials so that they could be unloaded from the rail car in the order of construction.

Some sources of confusion in Sears House Identification

1. When was the house built?
   
   Sears began selling Building products in 1895 so some Sears materials may be in non-catalog homes.
2. Look alike homes that are not Sears Kits:
   
   There are "look-alike" catalog home models that were not sold by Sears but were sold and on occasion built by others
3. Architectural Designs of Sears Homes are Not Unique:
   
   Sears architectural designs themselves came from existing sources such as magazines. Thornton points out the Del Rey model in 'American Carpenter and Builder' 1922. Sears often made modifications to copied designs.
   
   Stated more elaborately: Sears Roebuck did not necessarily create the designs of their homes from scratch. Rather, the company copied existing popular home designs, adapting them to kit form.
   
   However even when Sears copied an existing house plan, the Sears Kit version can usually be identified by one or more features which were unique to the Sears version of these plans, such as a small upper gable end window or unique hardware such as door hinges that were sold only by Sears Roebuck & Co. for their kit houses.
4. Counterfeit Sears Kit Houses:
   
   Some builders, at customer request, copied an existing Sears design without ordering an actual catalog home.
5. Lack of Key Details on Small Sears Kit Houses:
   
   The smallest, simplest models of Sears Catalog Homes may lack obvious unique details (Winona, Grant, Clyde) but may have been built frequently.

When and Where were Sears Catalog Houses Built? A Brief History of Sears Kits

Sears Roebuck company began selling buildings or components of buildings in 1895. Some early experiments by Sears included selling a kit to build a complete school or office building.

The first complete Sears Kit homes, that is, residences, were marketed by Sears & Roebuck in 1908, and eventually Sears offered 370 different models of residential homes, ranging from small bungalows at $500. (kit cost) to larger homes costing $5000. Buyers of a Sears Kit home saved about one third of the typical construction costs of their era.

Beginning in 1929, and not by coincidence, the volume of Sears Catalog houses sold dropped dramatically. So it's probably true that most of these homes were sold and built before that year, but it is certainly the case that the sale of some models continued to 1940.

In 1940 the last "official" Sears kit house was sold and shipped to its owner. By 1940 home designs, specifications (and building codes) had become more complex, detailed, and demanding, including stricter requirements for electrical wiring and plumbing, and Sears abandoned the dwindling "do it yourself" home market.

After 1940: However some homes could have been purchased around 1939 or 1940 but not completed until several years later, depending on what time and labor the buyer had available to build their house. Thornton cites a Sears house which was completed around 1944.

However other companies may have both purchased remaining Sears kit house stock or copied Sears designs and continued to sell kit homes after 1940.

We have encountered such a home in northern Dutchess County in New York State, one which looks just like a Sears model but which lacks the Sears identifying stencils on framing and other key details. Our client traced the sale and construction of the home to a company which sold it as a kit house in the early 1940's.

Are these Sears catalog homes?

The Barrington Sears Kit Home ca 1929

[Click to enlarge any image]

Any ASHI, NAHI, or other serious home inspector who has been working in the Hudson Valley of New York or for that matter in many other U.S. cities and towns for a decade or more has probably inspected several Sears Catalog homes, even if s/he did not recognize it at the time.

A review of some of our inspection photos came up with a few candidates with an expert like Thornton might see immediately as probable or improbable Sears Catalog Houses.

These along with some houses I photographed which are definitely not Sears Catalog Houses are included in this list as a fun exercise for readers.

1. Worrall Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY, HOME #1
2. Worrall Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY, HOME #2 (Close neighbor of #1 above)
3. Fountain Place, Poughkeepsie, NY, FOUNTAIN PLACE HOME (Same age and similar design as #4 below)
4. 13 No. Remsen Ave., Wappingers Falls, NY REMSEN AVE. HOME is reported to be a Sears Catalog House Kit House as well, but we have n't yet found it in the catalog.
5. 17 No. Remsen Ave., Wappingers Falls, NY REMSEN AVE. HOME#3. The front porch of this home was converted to an office for Dr. Hodder, a local dentist after his village office was taken over by the bank who was his landlord.
6. 28 West St. Wappingers Falls, NY WAPPINGERS FALLS HOME #1 - 1885 "The Bleachery" (previously owned, extensively renovated by the author, DF, sold to present owner)
7. 30 West St. Wappingers Falls, NY WAPPINGERS FALLS HOME #2 - 1885, "The Bleachery" (beware of nasty, extremely hostile owner, stay in your car)
8. Other kit homes, not Sears, include Montgomery Ward Kit homes and Aladdin Kit homes.

Aladdin Kit Houses

This topic has moved to

ALADDIN KIT HOUSES.

A List of Manufacturers of Kit Homes and their Identification Markings

This list and an identification guide have moved to

KIT HOMES, Aladdin, Sears, Wards, Others

...

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2023-11-08 by Stephanie Holcombe

My home was built in 1929 and I found out at closing it was a Sears Home. I have much of the original hinges and hardware, but no markings *yet* have been found. I've tried to search through Mansard Roof plans but no luck. If anyone can help, I'd appreciate it.

I'm in Columbus, MS.

Seems that the back portion was a later add?

On 2023-11-08 by InspectApedia Publisher - 1929 Sears home with mansard roof plan

@Stephanie Holcombe,

If you haven’t already done so, the best procedure would be to go through the Sears Kit House identification steps and details given above on this page.

That includes both finding specific stamps, lumber marks, or hardware in your particular house that confirm it as a Sears kit home and also paging through the Sears kit home catalogs we list to match that roof design.

There are also other manufacturers that built homes similar in design to the Sears kit homes.
Are you sure your home is a Sears kit home? Did you receive any provenance' confirmation from previous owner at closing?

You can read more about some of these other manufacturers at

GUIDE TO KIT HOUSES & HOMES

and find more references for identifying kit and catalog homes at

SEARS CATALOG HOUSE & KIT HOUSES BOOKSTORE

 

On 2023-09-01 by JoVonne - How do I find out if our home was a sears catalog home

How do I find out if our home was a sears catalog home

On 2023-09-03 by InspectApedia Publisher

@JoVonne,

Sure Jo, glad to help: just read through the Sears Kit House identification tips, procedures, and recommendations given above on this page - that's far more complete than if I try making it up off-the-cuff de-novo here again.

Don't hesitate to post photos of your home and to ask questions once you've looked at the answers above.

Thanks, Daniel

On 2023-07-21 by Fred Haversat - Eustace Kit Home - 1940s

Hello. I am trying to find information on a kit home called the Eustace that was built in the 40's. I tried the sears archives to no avail. The house is in Connecticut if that helps. It is a cape deign with a side porch and a set back garage. The chimney is between the porch and end of house.

On 2023-07-21 by InspectApedia DF (mod) - kit home called Eustace that is a cape design

@Fred Haversat,

See our list of kit home manufacturers here

GUIDE TO KIT HOUSES & HOMES
https://inspectapedia.com/Design/Kit_Houses.php

Although we do not have information on all models made by these companies, this list may give you a starting point for your further research. Besides Sears kit homes however, you will find our links to some other manufacturers’ styles.

Also, if you can post a photo or two of the home, that may help in case another reader recognizes it or has more information.

On 2023-07-02 by Ron - Did in 1940s kit homes use metal framing around windows

Did these kits in 1940 use metal framing around windows

On 2023-07-03 by InspectApedia Publisher

@Ron,

Not in those that I've found.

But people have been using metal wall studs and faming members for over 100 years with the very first "cold rolled" steel framing studs dating to the 1850s.

On 2023-06-06 by Terra Ray - Sears model in Fairmont, WV

Hello, I appreciate these amazing websites to help us journeyfolk figure out what we have

I recently bought what might be a kit home (Sears model "The Fairy"?) at 201 Reeves in Fairmont, WV. I am looking forward to digging through all this to find out more!

On 2022-11-13 by Nels - Fresno Craftsman kit home?

@Jessica did you ever find out anything about your Fresno craftsman? My wife’s childhood home is exactly that and we’re looking but your image (attached) is the only one we’ve been able to find

On 2022-09-12 by Rosie - Sears Kit Home in Alabama

Hi hoping for a little guidance. They said my house was a Sear Home that came in on the local train in Alabama. The owners relatives confirmed and stated she had the original receipt from Sears, but she has passed.

I found a name written on the underside of a siding piece that needed to be replaced. But I am unable to find any pictures that are similar to mine. Thanks in advance.

Reply by InspectApedia-911 (mod) - Sears Home that came in on the local train in Alabama

@Rosie,

Best is to page through some of the lengthy Sears catalogs that are dated close to the year in which your home was built.

On 2022-08-25 by Andrew S - Find history of a Sears Kit Home in Spokane WA?

Hey there Sears community!
I recently toured a home in Spokane, WA that is believed to be a Sears kit home that was completed in 1906 (so likely a 1904+/- version?). I

t's a 3-bed (all upstairs) with 2 living spaces and a kitchen on the main floor. Stairwell is directly to the right when walking in through the front door.

Any help finding some history on this beautiful home would be fantastic! Or any advice on where to start digging would be great as well. Thanks all!

On 2022-08-26 by InspectApedia-911 (mod) - in-depth authoritative descriptions of kit houses, history, construction, and identification details

@Andrew S,

Take a look at the Kit House identification clues described above on this page, and perhaps also post some photos of what you saw - one per comment.

In this article series you'll find citations of in-depth authoritative descriptions of kit houses, history, construction, and identification details. Please do take a look and of course post any follow-up questions you may have.

On 2022-07-03 by Sandra Gibbs - Kit Homes in the Canadian Praries 1900-1910

In the Canadian Prairies there were several homes that were built around the 1900-1910 period that looked similar. I am wondering if they were mail order.

On 2022-07-03 by InspectApedia (mod) - a number of companies sold kit houses in Canada

@Sandra Gibbs,

There were indeed a number of companies that sold kit houses in Canada. A good place to start is here

GUIDE TO KIT HOUSES AND HOMES

where you'll find information on various manufacturers, their identifying markings, and links to some of the design books for you to explore.

On 2023-11-21 by Laurie - where to get a copy of the Instruction booklet for Sears Honor Bilt Homes

I'm very interested in seeing the instruction booklet on Sears Modern Home Kits (Honor Bilt homes). I grew up in a Sears kit home. I love the old houses with the lath and plaster. Your website says to ask for a copy. Will you please send me a copy? My e-mail address is thebowens04@icloud.com.

On 2023-11-22 by InspectApedia Publisher

@Laurie,

You will find quite a few free PDF downloads concerning kit houses at

KIT HOMES, Aladdin, Sears, Wards, Others

https://inspectapedia.com/Design/Kit_Houses.php

and at

SEARS KIT HOME IDENTIFICATION (you are on this page now)

https://inspectapedia.com/Design/Sears_Kit_House_Identification.php

You're welcome to take a look and to download copies of whatever you wish.

[this reader question and our response was originally posted on our Contact page]

...

Continue reading at KIT HOMES, ALADDIN, SEARS, WARDS, OTHERS or select a topic from closely-related articles below, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see SEARS KIT HOME IDENTIFICATION FAQs - questions and answers about Sears Kit Houses posted originally on this page.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• AGE of a BUILDING, HOW to DETERMINE
• ALADDIN KIT HOUSES
• ARCHITECTURE & BUILDING COMPONENT ID - home
• BOOKSTORE, SEARS, KIT, CATALOG HOMES
• BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME
• COTTON INSULATION BATTS - includes Sears Cotton building insulation
• HISTORIC HOMES
• HYDROTHERM BOILERS - includes Sears Hydrotherm boilers
• KIT HOMES, ALADDIN, SEARS, WARDS, OTHERS
• OLD HOUSE MYSTERIES & SOLUTIONS
• SEARS / KENMORE HVAC AGE MANUALS & PARTS
• SEARS KENMORE WATER HEATER AGE & MANUALS
• SEARS KIT HOME IDENTIFICATION
• SEARS ROEBUCK VINYL ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE RECOGNITION
• SIGHT GLASS, STEAM BOILER FAQs-3 - includes notes on Sears steam boilers
• VERMICULITE INSULATION - includes Sears Homart pellet-type rockwool insulation
• WATER SOFTENER TROUBLESHOOTING FAQs-3 - includes Sears Water Softener notes

Suggested citation for this web page

SEARS KIT HOME IDENTIFICATION at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to BUILDING ARCHITECTURE

Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Or see

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to BUILDING DAMAGE, DISASTER, REPAIRS

Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

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Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

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