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Comment by rtpg | Hacker News Reader

I'd be really interested in what these "kit homes" end up arriving as to the customer. Are you shipped a bunch of wood and materials at a spot and you start building? Is there some prefab stuff going on?

Very interested in knowing what the user experience is on this sort of product, so to speak

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They actually came in railway boxcars. Roughly 10,000 to 30,000 numbered pieces (depending on the model) with detailed instructions. You would then haul them on horse wagons or motorized wagons to the lot.

Sears homes were common up to the 40's as well. More advanced last-mile transportation existed.

True. Wagons were the only reference I could find. I had researched this and seriously considered applying to YC with a idea for mailorder-homes that could be move-in ready in 7 days. Not DIY but DI4U (Do it 4 U) and done with mostly aircrete and steel. Its actually quite easy due to the advances in material tech and equipment.

Prototyping was engineering heavy and costly and ended up back in India due to Visa issues :-( . Used the money to validate another startup. Turns out it is easier to sell ads than build houses.

Interestingly, many new homes around me have pre-built sections which are assembled/attached at the site.

The most common I've seen are wall sections which are studded and sheathed in a warehouse, sometimes with exterior covering as well (Hardie board most commonly), then delivered via crane truck. Trusses are also common.

Depends on the builder, really. Also the lumber supplier. There are many around me, they seem to offer this service as an advantage.

Builders who do this pre-assembly have a significantly quicker completion time, especially considering the weather, and their ability to get the roof and windows/doors in before the rains come.

Another interesting thing I noticed about this (our neighbor's house is being assembled in this way, and a couple more in the neighborhood) is that they'll hold off on window openings until after the roof is put up. So these wall sections are framed for windows inside, then sheathed as if there is no window there. After the roof goes up and shingles go on, they'll cut out the opening and throw the windows in. It's pretty genius as far as waterproofing a construction site goes.

These questions are hilarious because all of us are just a bunch of young "know it alls" and all the old timers would be able to tell you all about these sears homes....too bad no one here is older on this site.

They ship you a bag of acorns and a coupon for a chainsaw redeemable in 20 years.

The youngest person to have conscious memory of these things would have to be 82 or 83, and wouldn't be much of a help in building them. The 95 year old adult in 1940 is even rarer still.

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