Guide to Kit Home Manufacturers in North America and other locations.

FAQs about the manufacturers of kit or catalog homes sold in the United States and links to additional references, kit home identification, kit or catalog home restoration and repairs, and kit home architectural and hardware details, markings, and stencils.

Page top: an example of "The Fairy" Sears kit home in Fairmont, WV.

 

Manufacturers of Kit Homes & their Identification Markings

These questions & answers or comments about kit home manufacturers and their identification features were posted originally

at KIT HOMES, Aladdin, Sears, Wards, Others - be sure to read that article.

 

Which kit homes manufacturers are still in business today?

Can you please let me know which of the manufacturers of the kit homes you have listed are still in business today? 2025-04-25 by R.M.

Reply:

@R.M.,

None of them.

However there are a few current kit home companies, mostly log kit homes and some Amish kit homes.

American Made House Kits, an Arizona company at 1100 Pace Road - Pocahontas, AR 72455 USA, Tel: 870-609-1900 - Web: https://www.americanmadehousekits.com/house_kits - offers over fifty kit home designs. These "kits" are actually "panelized" homes delivered in sections; they're not "stick built" as were most of the original kit homes that we describe in our Kit House article on this page.

That's the modern or contemporary nature of today's "kit homes" and it's also used by

Amish Built Cabins, 677 S. Cardinal Lane, Scottsburg, Indiana 47170 USA, Tel: (800) 513-1675 Web: https://amishbuiltcabins.com/

Amish Built Cabins offers panelized construction kit homes and also kit log homes ranging in cost (for just the kit or home itself) from about $85,000 to $250,000 U.S. Below is an image of one of their models, their Gatlinburg Cabin.

On the Continent there are various kit home companies as well. And some such as the Estonian company Avarme, Riia tn 181A
Riia tn 181A, 51014 Tartu, Estonia, also sell kit homes in the U.S. ( https://www.avrameusa.com/contact/ )

Even the big online retailers (Amazon) offer some kit homes and also the big box building supply stores get into the current kit home game: Home Depot offers tiny house kits ($15,000 to about $40,000) including some steel framed models.

Aladdin kit home Parkway model rafter

I have an Aladdin kit home. You can find the stamps on staircases, attic rafters, sheeting etc. Another tell sign is Rockwool insulation which came standard with their houses. I was able to find the model number on an attic rafter. 2025-02-12 by Bell

Reply:

@Bell,

Nice going, and thank you for the photo.

It would be helpful if you would also post a photo of your home from the front to show other readers and example the of the
Aladdin Parkway home model.

Daniel Friedman

1964 California mountains log kit home

We have an 1100 square foot log cabin, built in 1964 in the mountains of Southern California. We’re pretty sure it’s a kit log cabin, because the logs are machined in an interlocking shape and none of them are over 4 feet long. The short logs would have allowed people to assemble their own cabin, like building with Lincoln logs. It has a solid log shell, but then interior, dividing walls built on normal framing. The cabinets, etc are obviously hand crafted.

I’m trying to find out what companies offered log home kits in the mid-1960s. Any insight would be appreciated. 2024-10-19 by Deidre Vail

Reply:

@Deidre Vail,

Log home kits were being sold in the 1960s, though I don't think they really took off until the early 70's.

Indeed the first log home I helped build was a log home kit assembled in Hughsonville New York. Below is a photo from that job. But our logs varied in length - they weren't restricted to 4 ft or less - not a design I'd prefer.
A photo from that job is shown below.

From our home page on log homes LOG HOME GUIDE https://inspectapedia.com/structure/Log_Home_Troubleshooting_Guide.php

we have:

After 1970 most log homes constructed in the U.S. used factory-cut and milled logs and log kit homes.

Kit home logs, unlike their more rough ancestors, are milled to consistent diameters and use various spline and gasket methods to seal joints between horizontal and vertical members.

Examples and details of the logs in these log home kits are at SPLINE & GASKET DESIGNS for LOG HOMES https://inspectapedia.com/structure/Log_Home_Wall_Splines.php

This Vintage Log Cabin Kit catalog dates from 1976 and is (the catalog, not the log home kits) currently for sale over at Etsy.

I'm still looking but haven't found a 1960s Log home kit catalog. If you come across one first, let me know.

Post some photos here, showing the home's exterior, then interior details such as hardware and trim, log joints, and look carefully in basement and attic for stencil or pencil marks or even paper bills or cards stapled to framing or sheathing that may provide more details.

One photo per comment

Daniel

 

Use construction details and features to identify kit house

Can anyone tell me if this is a kit house? 2023-08-03 by Kelly DeBolt

Reply:

@Kelly DeBolt,

Our best advice is to look through the kit house ID details we suggest in this article series, and through the catalogs whose PDF links we also give. You'll find very basic drawings such as floor plans.

Some of them will also have details on kit house identification features such as hardware details and lumber stampings.

Baltimore Arts & Crafts stick style with front and side porch

We are trying to find drawings that would assist a Structural Engineer. The house is catalog/kit Arts & Crafts stick style with front and side porch NW Baltimore Windsor Hills. Curious of finding any trade catalogs or comparable property. It’s not conclusive but has all the interior features of a Stickley Craftsman kit house. 2023-07-07 by Amanda A

Reply:

@Amanda A,

Beautiful house and photo.

Best bet is to look through the kit house ID details we suggest in this article series, and through the catalogs whose PDF links we also give. You'll find very basic drawings such as floor plans. You wont' usually find detailed architectural plans.

West Virginia Sears Fairy kit home

Hello, I recently purchased 201 Reeves Ave in Fairmont, WV. The 1922 (not yet confirmed) bungalow resembles "The Fairy" Sears kit home. However, the ceilings on the main level are higher than the standard issue, and our attic room is quite large - it has been converted into a master bedroom. There is a Kitchen add-on from recent days. There is an original full-size unfinished basement w/ 7' celling. The neighbors have been there 40+ years and say the house is a kit. Now, I am on the hunt for more information! 2023-06-06 by Terra Ray

Reply:

@Terra Ray,

Nice photo; you can add others of other house details, one per comment, if you like, and other readers may comment on what you've got.

Also be sure to read through this article series where you'll find specific details on kit house identification features such as hardware details and lumber stampings.

 

Who produced the historic register John Carson house in Morgantown, KY?

Kit home built in 1890. Looking for name of company. Believed to have shipped from St. Louis to KY via barge,
On historic register as John Carson house, Morgantown, Ky. 2023-01-16 by Glenda

Reply:

@Glenda,

Really very nice; we'll keep the data with this page, and when migrating up into the page we'll rotate the photos upright and square them up.

Thank you.

 

World War II doubled gabled military housing

I am looking for info on < 1000 sq foot houses built after WWII. these are referred to as doubled gabled military housing. 2 br 1 bath. had to meet va requirements.

small cover porch at the front door. these may have been kits - american homes or marsh kit homes. about 50 of these homes were built after wwii in morehead city, nc. there are military bases in jacksonville,nc and havelock, nc. would appreciate any info on these homes. 2023-01-13 by Lynda

Reply:

@Lynda,

Examples of details that you should look for to identify a kit home are given at

SEARS KIT HOME IDENTIFICATION - https://inspectapedia.com/Design/Sears_Kit_House_Identification.php

and pertain to other kit home manufacturers as well.

Need a public speaker on kit houses

Hi,
I am looking for someone who could make a presentation in 2023 for the public on kit houses for our architectural preservation organization. We are near Syracuse NY. Can you recommend any? 2022-09-24 by Anne

Reply:

@Anne,

I don't know if she's even still alive but the best presenter you might find on old kit homes would be Rosemary Thornton

Sears Houses: Finding the Houses that Sears Built, A Guide to the 60 Most Popular Designs, Rosemary Thornton, Email: magnolia2047@gmail.com. Thornton's books are listed at Searshomes.org

Kits for small utility buildings & garages?

I am working on a two car garage which has stamped redwood siding boards about 11" by 10'. This is actually a beautiful building. Mt landlord wanted to smash it down and cart to the dump. I'm hand stripping all the parts that made it look bad, slapdash add on sheds and crappy drywall, etc.

Does anyone know of when these buildings were sold as kits? I suspect no later than 1950s? Has some encased rockwool batts used. Will add a photo or too if wanted. Colorado carpenter. 2022-08-02 by Lee

Reply:

@Lee,

Yes there were some kit projects sold for small utility buildings and garages. Do attach some photos of your building, one per comment.

Oceanport, NJ, kit house?

Definitely a kit house... I think? Town says built 1939? Cannot ID it. I have researched it a lot for similar images. Heavy gauge metal exterior studs, metal cross beams, trusses in attic. Put on a slab. Maybe its a trailer? 2022-07-22 by Mike

6 Centennial Ave., Oceanport, NJ, USA

Watertown NY kit home, circa 1950s

Good morning. I live in what I believe to be a "kit Home", (ca. 1950's - 60's) in Watertown, NY. Our home is a one-story, 3-BR, 2 1/2 bath ranch with attached two-car garage, stone chimney and fireplace in front, on a 2/3 CMU basement.

The floor joists over the basement bear on structural steel, and all framing I have seen so far, floors, walls and roof trusses are Douglas fir.

I would like to find a resource to view pictures or drawings/renderings of homes by kit manufacturers to ascertain the brand, etc. Your assistance would be appreciated. 2022-06-22 by Edward G. Olley RA AIA

Reply:

@Edward G. Olley RA AIA,

Take a look at the kit home Identification suggestions at

SEARS KIT HOME IDENTIFICATION https://inspectapedia.com/Design/Sears_Kit_House_Identification.php

as you'll have better results looking for documentation if you make a guess at the kit home brand and maybe then model

Trying to identify my bungalow

I am desperately trying to identify my bungalow. Here is what I know: built in 1929 in the Greenway place neighborhood of winston salem , Nc 1680 sq feet. It includes a bookcase colonade (Pictured) The main load bearing walls are along a hallway that splits the house in two.

I have found some markings on wood in greenish blue grease pencil, but have yet to find stencils the walls are made out of that prototypical drywall that seems to be gypsum and concrete sandwiched (as opposed to plaster and lathe

The general layout is: right side: Living room, Dining Room, Kitchen, Left Side: Bedroom, Bedroom, Bathroom, Bedroom. At the end of the central hallway are stairs to a large attic

As I can only include one picture, here is a link to the house that includes more pics (message reposted by moderator without dis-allowed link)

Thank you so much for your time Tim 2022-09-16 by tim nolan

here are more pictures of the house im trying to identify

Reply:

@tim nolan,

Nice; I've seen similar homes in New York - that were Sears Kits.

You might look through some of the catalog sources given at

SEARS KIT HOME IDENTIFICATION https://inspectapedia.com/Design/Sears_Kit_House_Identification.php

Shotgun shack with original deadlocks in Albuquerque, New Mexico built in 1926

Hello I am conducting research on my home for an architectural project, I live in a shotgun shack in Albuquerque new Mexico built-in 1926 , my landlord has suspicion that it is a kit or remanufactured home, there are three identical homes on the lot .

I cannot find stamped lumber or markings on lumber in the attic and the city assessors and the city planning office don't have records of my property ,

the landlord heard from a previous owner these houses were used on the railroad and shipped from elsewhere in the united states but other than that I don't know , there are still the original deadlocks on many of the doors. 2022-04-21 by Anonymous

Reply:

@Anonymous,

I'd like to see photos of the house and of those original deadlocks.

They are American hardware corporation brand .

The photo of the stamped lumber with "partitions" on it is a Aladdin Homes marking

The photo of the stamped lumber with "partitions" on it is a Aladdin Homes marking. I should also add that almost all lumber after the turn of the century was marked whether it was a kit house or not.

Also, there are national lists of kit homes that have been located nationwide. (I run Sears Homes of Chicagoland). 2022-03-25 by Lara

Reply:

@Lara,

Thank you for your confirmation of our response to that reader, and the added information about lumber markings. This will help other readers as well.

Indeed in this article series you'll find extensive photos of Aladdin kit homes that I have taken during inspections of an Aladdin home in Tivoli, NY,

Working together makes us better informed than any one individual working alone.

 

Kit home lumber marked in grease pencil with RR car number

My house in an assumed kit house. As all joist and beams were painted white, the only marking that I can find is a blue grease pencil in the attic "Car #C.N 42848". Because kit homes were shipped in box cars, I assume that's the box car that it was shipped in. CN = Canadian National Railway ?

I am located in Massachusetts. Does anyone have any ideas or info? Thanks! 2022-03-19 by Ethan H.

Reply: Canadian National railway shipped kit house

@Ethan H.,

I agree that the kit house grease-pencil mark you found in your attic appears to be a railway car identification notice.

To be clear, the CN number you report is probably a car or shipment number and thus may not be a kit home ID number.

That kit home shipment number or railway reporting code might have been used by a kit home buyer to contact the kit home seller with questions such as about missing or unidentified kit home components that were or should have been packed in the freight car.

Wikipedia defines what are called "Reporting Codes"

A reporting mark is a code used to identify owners or lessees of rolling stock and other equipment used on certain rail transport networks. The code typically reflects the name or identifying number of the owner, lessee, or operator of the equipment. - Wikipedia 2022/03/19

and modern reporting codes are more complex, such as those described by Canadian Pacific in a modern document you can read at

• CP EDI 404 Guidelines for Carload Customers (Version 7010) [PDF] - at www.cpr.ca/en/customer-resources-site/EDIDcouments/CP EDI 404 guidelines(Carload)-v7010.pdf
  

where "CP" would be a modern equivalent.

You're right that CN most likely indicated Canadian National Railway.

Excerpt from the Canadian Encyclopedia:

Canadian National Railway Company, incorporated 6 June 1919, is the longest railway system in North America, controlling more than 31,000 km of track in Canada and the United States.

It is the only transcontinental rail network in North America, connecting to three coasts: Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf of Mexico. Known as Canadian National (CN), the former Crown corporation expanded its holdings to include marine operations, hotels, telecommunications and resource industries.

However, the core of CN was still its railway system, which had its origins in the amalgamation of five financially troubled railways during the years 1917–23: the Grand Trunk and its subsidiary, the Grand Trunk Pacific; the Intercolonial; the Canadian Northern; and the National Transcontinental.

In 1995, CN was sold to private investors. CN is primarily a rail freight company and transports approximately $250 billion worth of goods annually. In 2016, it earned over $12 billion in revenue and employed over 22,000 people in Canada and the US. - original source: thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadian-national-railways

So it's certainly possible that your kit originated in or was shipped through Canada.

Please take a look in the article above on this page and you'll see references to Canadian kit homes.

Eg:

In Canada Aladdin kit homes were sold by the Canadian Aladdin Company (originally the Sovereign Construction Company), Canada's largest mail-order kit home company in Toronto with offices in St. John, Winnipeg and Vancouver and with production lumber mills in Ontario, New Brunswick, and B.C..

So you might want to compare your home with some of the Aladdin kits (or other Canadian kit homes cited in the article above).

Our article SEARS KIT HOME IDENTIFICATION

includes examples of additional kit home identification clues beyond simply looking for stenciled or written numbers or codes on house parts.

The CN code is still in use by the Canadian National Railway, though there are

- additional CN reporting codes using more letters that are also part of that rail system, such as CNA or CNZ

- other CN reporting codes from other rail lines such as CNJ (Central Railroad of New Jersey), and CNOR (Cincinnati Northern)

1926 Kit home in Chicago?

1926 Massachusetts home. We found inside the kitchen plaster writing said Chicago 1926. Would love to know if this is a kit. Thanks. 2022-01-16 by Colleen Connor

Reply: key details and markings help identify kit house

@Colleen Connor,

It's possible. Because kit homes made wide use of already popular house styles you cannot be sure of a kit status from the photo alone.

You want to look for additional key details such as those given at

SEARS KIT HOME IDENTIFICATION

Is this a kit house?

We may have a kit house, pic from the 30's, abandoned for 35 years, have more pics if needed. What do you think so far? 2021-11-05 by Ben Edwards

Reply:

@Ben Edwards,

Can't see much but certainly there could be a kit house. You will read in this article series the clues and details to look forward to identify kit built homes.

See more of your photos that we think is a discussion of this same house, that you sent to us by private email, found in the on page reader Q&A

at SEARS KIT HOME IDENTIFICATION

Photo of possible Sears Kit House in Northern Virginia

Hi- We just purchased a small home in the Northern Neck of VA. A neighbor says it's a Sears house. While I couldn't find evidence, I do believe the house could possibly be a kit house. The county has it listed as being built in 1930.

The front porch was enclosed at some point. A bathroom(the only one) may have been added at a later date. I was hoping someone on here could point me in the right direction! 2021-11-01 by Janet M Yandle

Reply:

@Janet M Yandle,

See

SEARS KIT HOME IDENTIFICATION

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

What kit home manufacturers existed in 1907?

Hi! My home was built in 1907 and a previous owner claims it is a Sears kit home. Given it was built in 1907 and Sears didn’t start selling kits until 1908, I have always doubted the story. However, we just found an identical home in a nearby town, so I’m again curious whether my home is indeed a kit home. I’m in the Midwest. What other companies would have been operating here in 1907? 2021-08-31 by Em

Reply:

@Em,

As a complete Sears kit home 1908 is a good starting point, but in fact the company was selling home building materials and designs for years earlier.

See details at

SEARS KIT HOMES

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

Follow up:

@inspectapedia.com.moderator, Thanks so much for the response. Do you recognize this home at all? I’ve searched and searched for evidence of it being a kit home and can’t find any.

Reply:

@Em,

That was and remains a popular home design;

Take a look at the identification clues and suggestions of details for which to check found at

SEARS KIT HOME IDENTIFICATION

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

 

Ray H. Bennett pre-built home from pre-assembled parts is Cape Cod style home built around 1937-1942 on Sweeney St. in North Tonawanda

I am looking for a Cape Cod style home built around 1937-1942 on Sweeney St. in North Tonawanda across from Majors park. My parents owned this home in 1943. I would like a picture of it. They bought it in 1943 for $4000.

This home was a Ray H. Bennett pre-bilt home from pre-assembled parts. 2021-07-28 by Elaine Thielke Steinbach

Reply:

@Elaine Thielke Steinbach,

This note is from the page above

Sources of information for Bennett Kit homes include

Forgotten Buffalo Website, Ray H. Bennett Homes of North Tonawanda NY, photos of Ray H. Bennett homes, Web page: http://www.forgottenbuffalo.com/forgottenbflofeatures/rayhbennetthome.html

Harris, Richard. "The talk of the town: kit manufacturers negotiate the building industry, 1905-1929." Journal of urban history 36, no. 6 (2010): 868-896.

North Tonawanda History Museum, Ray Bennett Lumber Co., 712 Oliver Street, North Tonawanda, NY 14120 USA, at Niagara Falls, Website: https://www.niagarafallsusa.com/directory/north-tonawanda-history-museum/ The current museum website is not much help, hard to find, poor online presence, but this museum previously hosted photographs and historical information about the Ray Bennett Lumber Co.

Identify this Washington D.C. home

What type of kit home is this? This is in Washington, DC, built in 1926. 2021-04-21 by Angelica

Reply:

@Angelica,

Could be any of several kit manufacturers, or could even have been stick built. You'd need to look for some of the clues that we give in the article series above.

Stencils help identify a kit home

We are renovating a wood frame house and it has stenciled descriptions as to what the boards are used for. Can anyone identify the company that sold this house, if it is a “kit home”? 2021-03-21 by Michael D

Reply:

@Michael D, That looks like stencils I've seen on Aladdin kit homes and possibly some sears kits. But that wood-lath plaster base behind it may not be from a kit -

It would be helpful to know more about the house: what is the country and city of location of this house, when was it built, and what do its internal hardware and other kit house clues (given above on this page) look like?

 

Brass number plaque on 1920s bungalow - does it ID a kit home?

Our bungalow was built sometime between 1925 and 1927. In the rear entry door threshold, there is a weathered metal circle about the size if a dime with the number 46 in it. Does this type of medallion help to identify the house, what is it? 2021-02-08 by Annette Ross
Thank you.

Reply:

Annette,

How interesting; I have not come across that particular kit house detail but it's certainly possible that the 46 was an ID number; Knowing the country, city, and perhaps seeing a photo of the medallion you describe may help us do some research.

Follow up:

Thank you. Our house is in Gulfport, Florida. I attached a pic. Let me know what other info would be helpful. Thank you!

Reply:

I tried to see if we could find find anything about the use of brass number plaques on kit homes, but it's a particularly difficult search because millions of homes use brass numbers or number plaques to identify the house number or street number; we're overwhelmed by those in any search result.

I tried searching for "antique or kit house with brass number for model ID or number plaque" - no cigar.

I also tried "antique kit house model number by brass tag" -indeed there were some brass style or model identification tags used on antique thins: equipment, machines, motors in particular.

These Woodall oval brass tags came up in our search. The example below is copied from numbered brass Woodall tags for sale on Etsy.com (2021/02/12) We don't know if these are actually house ID tags or key tags or something else.



That oval brass number plaque with number 46 is not and never was the street number of this house, right?

Follow up: #46 stamped in the small brass circle in our 1920s rear exterior threshold

Following up about the #46 stamped in the small brass circle in our 1920s rear exterior threshold: It is not in relation to our house number or street number. We are near corner of 29th Avenue and crossroad 52nd Street. This is baffling, and we appreciate the effort to figure out what it is.

Reply: "PARTITIONS" Stamp may indicate an Aladdin Home

OK thanks; We'll keep the discussion live here.

2022/03/25 update: Lara, who "runs Sears Homes of Chicagoland" tells us that the photo of lumber stenciled with the word "PARTITIONS" on it is an Aladdin Homes Marking.

 

Locations where kit homes were built in Washington State?

Is there a list of locations were kit homes were built? Specifically, were any kit homes built in Washington state, and if so, which manufacturers? Thanks! 2021-01-14 by Anonymous

Reply:

Anon:

Thanks that's a pretty interesting question, but we don't have a list of all of the locations in which kit homes were built around the world nor even just in North America. In the article above and in the other articles in the series we do list named locations for cute home manufacturers but we have no reason to know that that is all of them.

I'll continue to watch for opportunities to add more manufacturing sites. But you should understand that you could have a kid home constructed or that is assembled in Washington state that may have been built and shipped from another state as was often the case.

For example the Tacoma Washington historical society discusses kit homes built in your state.

Is this ripped label or tag from a sears house kit from the 1920's?

Do you recognize this? Is it from a sears house kit from the 1920's? Which one? Thanks. 2020-12-20 by Cat

Reply: cannot ID Sears Kit house model by small paper fragment

Sorry, no Cat.

But the article series given here has lots of excellent references you might scan to compare with your house design, and we include suggestions for other ways to identify the kit home model and brand.

 

Box joist found in 1942 Kit home in Albany NY

Hi
I have stumbled on a number of kit homes over the years. One recent home from 1942 has a very curious construction.

4 foot wide panels, built over top of "hollow box joists" they are made from 2x4's and 1/4" plywood. (Glue visible at joints). This is in Albany NY. Dave 2020-11-30 by Dave

Reply:

Dave

Thank you for the interesting box-beam photo and report of 4 ft. panelized kit construction.

Indeed in North America as well as Europe there have been several generations of panel-construction methods that including shipping a kit of pre-fab panels built in a factory and assembled on-site.

I describe box joist and related construction methods and include photos of panelized construction homes we've inspected

at PANELIZED CONSTRUCTION https://inspectapedia.com/Design/Panelized_Construction.php

If you have more photos of the house sporting this box beam (consistent with panel-constructed homes) it'd be wonderful to see them posted over at that article - you can add one image per comment but as many comments as you like.

Information on Bennett kit homes

I am trying to compile a list of all known (and unknown) Bennett homes in the US. I was wondering about the online discussion re the 1926 Bennett home in Clarence, NY. I've found at least 4 on one block in Clarence, along with authenticating a Sears, and another Bennett on Main St in Clarence.

Can you point me in the right direction? So far my list has over 200 houses, but I have a lot more to add. Thank you and regards, 2020-11-28 by Sarah

Reply:

Sarah

That's a wonderful project, cataloging all known Bennett Kit homes in the U.S.

I've added all the details we have on information sources for Bennett homes.

Beyond that you may want to try simple Google searching followed by reviewing each of those results.

Some of those bear fruit, while some that I've pursued in the past, such as Pinterest postings, are fraught with inaccuracy and strange politics that mean those listings are unreliable.

 

Do blue grease pencil marks identify framing or kit house?

I am wondering if anyone has information on how to find this home/cottage/garage built between 1906 and 1925? It looks to me that is states X14-0-5 in the blue grease pen. 2020-07-16 by Tumblin

Reply:

Not coding I've seen, Tumblin, but we'll keep the photo here to invite reader comment.

Trying to identify dad's early 30s home model

Please help with this house. ...link blocked... My dad has described the house he lived in as a child in Hicksville NY-it has 2 br, 1 bath, kitchen, LR-built around 1933- I can't find it on the Sears Roebuck Kit catalog.

Would appreciate so much what company made this kit and the indoor layout plan Thank you so much Diane 2020-06-08 by DIANE R. THOMPSON

I am unable to post a photo-I live in CO, my dad is in CA- I can only show the assessors page with address and date of home build and the assessors picture.

Please make a suggestion so that someone with knowledge on the home kits could help
Thank you so much!
Diane

Reply:

Diane, please see the kit home identification methods suggested at

SEARS KIT HOME IDENTIFICATION https://inspectapedia.com/Design/Sears_Kit_House_Identification.php

You'll see that there are quite a few things one can examine.

 

Do lumber yard stamps identify a kit house?

If some of the trim boards are stamped with a local lumberyard's stamp, does that then rule out being a kit home? 2020-04-29 by Marnette

Reply:

Marnette

Thank you for an interesting question.

I don't think that a lumber yard stamp necessarily rules out kit homes considering that accept manufacturer in fact may have used lumber that had such stamps.

However it's not common in my experience.

I would rely on a collection of other clues to decide whether or not the building in question is a kit home.

Look for other stamps or markings or code numbers on lumber or on sheathing.

Also you'll see other clues in this article series, such as hardware details.

 

1946 Oregon Sears kit home

Address 31790 Peoria road, Albany Oregon.

Trying to identify this 1946, 2+1 home. I was told that it's a Sears house, but they stopped selling in the 1930s.

There are two bedrooms on the right side. Living room in the front left and kitchen in the back left corner. The bathroom is squeezed into the back center. 2019-11-26 by dseemiller@gmail.com

Reply:

Nice little house, DS.

Take a look at SEARS KIT HOME IDENTIFICATION https://inspectapedia.com/Design/Sears_Kit_House_Identification.php

where we give some tips on where to look to identify a Sears kit home.

Let me know what you find and don't hesitate to ask follow-up questions.

1929 Home, Cleveland OH - possible kit home

Trying to figure out the model of my 1929 home - it's similar to the Bennett Fulton and Harriet, but is definitely not those.

Specs: 6 room, 1 bath; 26x28 sf footprint.

Year: 1929 (according to deed; Garage was built in 1930)

Location: Cleveland, OH 2019-10-27 by Rosie

Reply:

Rosie,

You might want to draw out the floor plan of your home, then look through some of the kit home catalogs listed in the article above.

Follow up:

Thanks! I did - I went through all of them. The closest I can find are those two Bennett models. I'm trying to dig up other Bennett catalogs in the local libraries here in Cleveland, but curious as to whether y'all may have access to non-digitized versions that might match my wee house.
Thanks!!

Reply:

I've got some of the books we cite but frankly the volume of reader questions prevents us from paging through all of them. You may do best by looking through kit home catalogs that date the year before and the year of construction of your home.

http://www.antiquehome.org/House-Plans/1920-Bennett/ which cites that "Bennett Homes are concentrated in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states, as well as into the upper Midwest."

Post more photos of your home, perhaps a sketch of its floor plan, and any photos you can have the patience to take of key details such as stencil or other markings on framing lumber or sheathing, hinges, hardware, etc (one photo per comment) as that may help us or other readers find your home.

 

Is this a Bennett Catalog Home?

Trying to identify the maker of our home.

Built in 1904. We are thinking it is a Bennett Catalog kit home. If anyone can help us we would really appreciate it. 2019-08-22 by Justin Davis

Reply: look for identifying stencils, marks, numbers to identify a kit home - 1904?

Justin

You might want to look in the attic and basement for (and post photos of) any stamps or markings on framing lumber and sheathing such as crayon or pencil letters and numbers or painted stenciled letters or numbers.

Also sometimes closeups of window and door hardware can be useful in identifying a kit home.

The play and layout are helpful but not sufficient, both because many kit homes copied already-popular designs and because they also may have copied one another.

Nice house by the way.

 

Possible 1911 Wardway Home

HI -- I believe -- through oral history -- that I have a Wardway home from 1911. The problem is I cannot find the house plans for it anywhere. I have looked at all the Wardway house plans and Sears plans and any other plans that I can find on the internet. Nothing.

My home looks like one of the two story four squares, but it isn't because the first floor isn't square. The main floor has two bedrooms, a parlor, a main dining room, a kitchen and a large pantry.

The stair way is in the middle of the house and is straight up with no turns. Upstairs there are four bed booms and a bathroom and a hallway that ends at a window that you can put a twin bed under.

There are two dormers out of the roof line. I'll try to post a photo. But, boy I'm stumped. 2019-08-11 by JMH

Reply: photos that help identify a kit home

Thanks for the note about a possible Wardware home, JM.

If you attach some photos (one per comment) perhaps we or other readers can offer further information.

IN addition to a front photo of the entire home (other side photos welcome too), pictures of

- any lumber stampings or markings

- hardware details such as cabinet and window latches, doorknobs, door latches

- a photo of a sketch of the floor plan

would be most helpful

Look in the attic and basement at

- under-side of floor sheathing

- interior side of roof and wall sheathing (probably tongue and groove boards)

- sides of rafters and floor joists and studs

for stampings, markings, even crayon-marked numbers or letters

 

Question: Identify this Kit Home on Chatauqua Lake NY?

My wife and I bought a cottage on Chautauqua Lake here in NY state.

After performing some work on the home it started to become apparent that this cottage may be a kit home.

The walls and roof rafters all measure in at 4’ OC. I removed some boards to run electrical and observed some pinkish wax numbering on the back side of the boards.

I do know that this structure was moved across the lake from the Chautauqua Institute circa 1985

. I have contacted them, along with the Chautauqua Historical Society with no success.

There is also a marking on the back of the lumber from a mill in Washington state (I do not have that name with me at the moment).

I have included some photos of the structure for your review. Any assistance you could provide is greatly appreciated.

As you can see there has been an addition to the structure. The original interior is made completely from cedar.

- Anonymous by private email 2019/05/28

Moderator reply:

Certainly the numbering is suggestive - I'd like to see photos of those marks, and of course also it'd help to know the actual age of the home you can provide.

Depending on just what was done to move the home, numbers could date from that event too.

Reader follow-up:

I will try to obtain a photo of the numbers. I’ll also get you a photo of the wood markings. Here in lies the issue.... nobody knows how old the structure is.

It was moved onto the property in 1985 from the Chautauqua Institute.

[Above] I was able to take some photos of the branding on the back of the tongue and groove exterior cedar boards.

I was able to locate some numbers and stamping on the back side of a 2x4. See below:

Moderator Reply:

We'll keep your photos here to invite comment from readers who may be familiar with these stamps or the home.

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