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Modular Home History

Modular Home History

From 1908-1940, Sears, Roebuck and Company sold more than 100,000 homes through their mail order program Modern Homes. During that time Sears designed 447 different housing styles, the development multistory Ivanhoe, with its elegant French doors and windows, art glass, the simple goldenrod, which served as a quaint, three bedroom, no bath, home for summer vacationers. (A latrine can be purchased separately for Goldenrod and similar home residents.) Customers can choose a house to suit their tastes and budgets.

Sears was not an innovative home designer. Sears was a very capable follower of popular home designs, but with the added advantage of modifying houses and hardware according to buyer tastes. Individuals could even design their own homes and submit the plans to Sears, which then would for sale out of court and appropriate pre-installed materials, putting the home owner in full creative control. Modern Home customers had the freedom to build their own dream houses, and Sears helped realize these dreams through quality custom design and favorable financing.

Design of a Sears Home

The process of home design began as soon as Sears Catalog Homes Modern came to his door. Over time, modern houses catalogs came to announce three lines of houses, for different customers financial means: Honor Stone, Stone Sectional simple standard.

Honor Bilt homes were the finest quality and most expensive sold by Sears. Beams, posts and beams were to be separated 14 3 / 8 inches. coating cypress and cedar shingles adorned attractive than Honor Bilt exteriors. And, depending on the room interiors occurs (ie, without knots) clear grade floor and interior trim made of pine, oak or maple. Sears catalogs also reported that Standard Built homes were best for warmer climates, it which means they do not retain heat very well. Simple Sectional line, as its name suggests, contains simple designs. simplex houses were frequently only a couple of rooms and were ideal for vacation homes.

While browsing the Image Bank, you can see many houses partially or even closely resemble a house he owns or has seen. Look closely, because the plant can be reversed, an attic may have been added, or that the original buyer opted for brick for lining wood. Plumbing may appear to be added after the construction or storm windows may appear in the house but not in the picture in the catalog.

All this and more is possible, because the Modern Homes program encouraged as the design of houses, even the color of the cabinets of hardware. The difficulty in identifying a Sears house is only a reflection of its unique design and taste of the original purchaser (see FAQs).

Construction

As mentioned earlier, Sears was not an innovator in the techniques of home design and construction, however, modern home designs offered several advantages over other construction methods. The ability of mass production of materials used in Sears homes decreased manufacturing costs, reducing procurement costs from customers. Not only short pre and materials provided to reduce construction time up to 40%, but the use of Sears of "balloon style" framing, drywall and asphalt shingles greatly facilitated the construction of home buyers.

Style balloon framing. These processing systems do not require a team of skilled carpenters, as previous methods did. Balloon frames were built faster and generally requires only a carpenter. This system uses precut wood 2_4s 2_8s mostly standard for framing. precut wood parts, equipment, the convenience of having everything, including the nails, shipped by rail directly to the customer added greatly to the popularity of frame style.

Plaster. Before drywall, plaster and lathe construction techniques for walls were used, which in turn requires carpenters qualified. Sears homes took advantage of the material of new housing construction of gypsum for sending large quantities of inexpensive manufactured goods with the rest construction materials. Plaster offering advantages of lower prices, ease of installation, and added security protection against fire. Also was a good fit for the square design of Sears homes.

Asphalt shingles. It was during the program of modern homes that large quantities of asphalt shingles became available. The alternative roofing materials available include, among others, tin and wood. Tin was noisy during storms, it seemed unattractive and requires a skilled roofer, while wood was highly flammable. Asphalt shingles, however, were cheap to manufacture and ship, as well as easy and inexpensive to install. The asphalt had the added incentive of being fireproof.

Modern amenities

Sears helped to popularize the latest technology available for modern home buyers in the early part of the twentieth century. Central heating, running water and electricity were all new developments in home design modern homes built, but not all houses were designed with these conveniences. No central heating only improves the habitability of homes with little insulation, but also improves fire safety, always a concern in an age homes burning threatened whole cities, in the case of the Chicago Fire. indoor plumbing and electricity cable homes were the first steps towards modern kitchens and bathrooms. Sears Modern Homes program was aware of any technology that could make life easier for home buyers and gave them the option of designing your home with modern comforts in mind.

About the Author

Building Systems Network Awards

Excellence in Marketing & Model Home

DESIGN AWARDS – Grant Smereczynsky takes home 3 First Place Awards!

The Building Systems Council presented the 2003 Excellence in Marketing & Model Home Design Awards on November 3, 2003 at the annual convention held in Hot Springs, Virginia at The Homestead.

Grant Smereczynsky, former builder with Cougar and currently CEO/Builder of the Building Systems Network, LLC accepted three first place awards for his contribution and commitment to the Systems Built industry:

Awards received:

Winner – Associate Member Web Site
Winner – NAHB Builder Member Consumer Publication Print Ad
Winner – NAHB Builder Member CD-Rom/DVD
On October 3, 2003, Grant Smereczynsky officially launched The Building Systems Network, LLC

Smereczynsky says, “As a builder, I believe the systems built home is the best built home in the industry. Period. I’m continuing to market and promote the systems built industry to the homebuyer in a clean, consistent and easy to use manner. Our tagline indicates that “construction is improved through technology” and that is the message we want to promote to site builders and to the homebuyer”.

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