CONSUMER REPORTS - June, 1948

Here is the complete text and photos from the CONSUMER REPORTS magazine for June, 1948

New houses
CU's consultant reports on three and finds the Lustron a "Best Buy"

The spring brought with it a spate of "Dream Houses." In the movies, Mr. Blandings (who should know better) has been offering a strong plug for home building and ownership, while in many large cities groups of real estate and building materials interest have been drumming up box office trade by erecting models of the Blandings' $30,000 suburban retreat.

More significant than Hollywood's solution to the housing shortage, however, are three outstanding examples of what the small house industry has to offer for 1948: the Look house, the Lustron house, and Small Homes Guides' "Home of the Year," which was on view at the National Home Exposition in New York during April.

Of the three, "Home of the Year" most nearly resembles Mr. Blandings' famous house. It is an individually built small house, and a good example of what is available on a non-industrial basis these days. As designed by two Jamaica, N.Y., architects, Rudolph A. Matern and Herman H. York, the house is larger and more flexible than either the Look or the Lustron houses. It has one more room, which can be used as either a bedroom or a dining room, and, since you have the house built locally, the construction materials could be better - or worse - than those used in the smaller houses.

But because it is built locally, CU's housing consultant estimates that it would cost a good $23,000, without the garage and the terracing shown in the sketch and excluding the cost of the lot. The house requires a lot at least 100 x 100 feet, and would probably cost about $30,000 complete, or about what Mr. Blandings' house cost him; The Blandings house must have cost almost twice the $17,000 casually mentioned in the film. The "Home of the Year" is well designed, but for most families its cost makes it a dream house in a true sense of the word.

This architect's sketch shows the "Home of the Year" complete with a fenced-in garden and garage - but building it and buying the large lot required would bring the cost of this "$17,000 house" up nearer $30,000

The Look and Lustron houses, on the other hand, are factory produced, and in part factory assembled. The Lustron house is prefabricated, the Look house partialy so. The latter was designed by industrial designer Walter Dorwin Teague, and is manufactured by Adirondack Homes; it is being handled by distributors in some 70-odd cities and promoted by Look magazine. It is made of conventional materials, locally finished, and cost $7,500.

The Lustron house is made almost entirely of metal; the floors are asphalt tile and only the built-in shelving and cabinets are wood. The house is being manufactured by the Lustron Corporation of Columbus, Ohio, will be distributed nationally, and is tentatively priced at about $8,000. Both the "turnkey" houses, complete from roof to foundation, delivered and erected, ready for you to move in. Both are well designed and engineered, mechanically supior to an individually built house, and under present circumstances at least, represent much better buys.

The Look house (above) has a conventional "Cape Cod" style combined with modern, wrap-around windows. Exterior is painted locally to suit your taste. Makers of Lustron house (below) say they found current trend toward modern "ranch" style. Porcelain enameled metal exterior comes in choice of six colors

It is possible that large-scale speculatively built housing developments could offer a house comparable to the Look house. A house of this size, designed and supervised by an architect and tailor-made for you on your own site would serve your special needs and perhaps be of better quality, but it would certainly cost at least $5,000 more than the Look house does - and would certainly not give you $5,000 worth of added livability if your budget is limited.

Wooden furniture units built into Lustron house are well designed; Unit in large bedroom (above) should provide sufficient storage space for two people. The main objection to the Lustron house lies in the reflectant interior walls and ceiling (below) which gleam in spite of their dull finish.

Conventional interior of Look house (below) is more pleasing, but harder and more expensive to keep in repair

Of the two, the Lustron house is the better buy. The materials and construction are excellent mechanically; the added floor space - it contains 1000 square feet as against 762 square feet for the Look house - makes for better flexibility in furniture arrangement, especially in the bedrooms. It has a supior heating system, and the steel construction with its porcelain enamel finish needs little in the way of maintenance or repair. The house is rustproof, and, insofar as any house containing furnishings can be, it is fireproof.

In addition, the Lustron house contains several pieces of well-designed and well-made built-in furniture, including a dressing table and cupboards in the master bedroom; shelf space, drawers and serving space in the dinette; and bookshelves in the living room.

Unfortunately, however, neither house holds out any sort of real relief for the desperate small home shortage. Look's announcement of its contribution (in the April 27 issue) was prefaced thus: "If you are one of the 30,000,000 Americans who need a place to live...this is one of the most important messages you will read this year." All very fine, but how many people, even among 30,000,000, can afford an undertaking of this size? The Look house cost $7500; buying a lot and doing some grading, etc., would bring the cost up close to $10,000; the LustronLook or Lustron house might mean going dangerously overboard, too, unless the family income approximates at least $100 a week. According to 1946 Federal Reserve Board statistics, only 6,000,000 families in the entire nation at that time had incomes of $5000 or more per year.

Even if you do have the money, you are likely to run into zoning restrictions or local building codes that rule out the prefabricated or partially prefabricated house. Most urban building codes do not permit them within city limits, and the same restrictions apply to many suburbs as well. Obviously, therefore, the prefab offers no solution for the family which prefers or needs to live in a large city. Families having members who work in a large city would probably find that the purchase of a prefab would necessitate their communting from some distance.

But in small cities or outlying districts where these restrictions do not exist, and especially for individual sites in small towns where large-scale building is not feasible, either the Look or the Lustron house would be way out of the where-to-live dilemma and a good value.

All three plans are good but Lustron gives you the most for your money

Lustron house - 1000 square feet

The Lustron house (above) contains over 200 sq. ft. more than the look house (below) does, and this extra space is distributed where it is needed most: around the dinette and the kitchen. The extra space in the Lustron house also gives leeway in furniture arrangement, especially in the bedrooms.

Look house - 762 square feet

The "Home of the Year" (below), which has one extra room - and which cost one third again as much per square foot as the factory-assembled house - contains many of the features sacrificed in the Look and Lustron houses, such as the front hall which keeps the living room from doing double duty as a passageway.

"Home of the Year" - 1275 square feet

The Look House

COMPARE

The Lustron House

$7500 delivered and erected; price was guaranteed on orders received before June 1 but has not been raised. Includes unfinished attic; cellar extra. Also includes piping and connections to sewer system, water, gas and electricity up to 20 ft. from front of foundation line. Includes plumbing, heating, lighting, kitchen and bathroom equipment. Lot and grading would bring cost up to about $10,000.

HOW DO THE COST COMPARE?

Tentatively priced at $7500 to $8000 depending on location. Price not guaranteed. No cellar or attic. Includes piping and connections as for Look house, and all bathroom and kitchen fixtures except stove and refrigerator; also includes automatic combination clothes and dishwasher and some built-in furniture. Total costincluding lot, etc., about $10,5000.

About $75 per month, including taxes (figured at $250 per year); interest (4 1/2% on $5000); heating ($100 per year); maintenance and repairs ($120 per year); amortization.

CARRYING COST

About $70 per month, including taxes, interest on mortgage, heating and amortization as estimated for Look house; repairs and maintenance would probably not run over $50 per year.

At least 50 x 100 ft.; this leaves room for a garage.

THE LOT

At least 50 x 100 ft.; this leaves room for a garage.

Adirondack Homes guarantees shipment on first-come-first-served basis to any area served by one of their distributors within 30 days after approval by the distributor of site and financing arrangements.

DELIVERY

Lustron homes plans full production starting this summer; first deliveries promised for early summer.

Two to three weeks; local finishing requires most of this time. Adirondack Homes guarantees erection within 30 days after delivery to site.

ERECTION TIME

Three to five days.

Conventional materials; prefabricated wood frame comes to site in large panels. Factory-assembled mechanical core utility unit contains heating equipment, plumbing, ect., or these can be made up of standardized units. Materials of interiors locally available: walls either plywood or plasterboard, floors hardwood, usually oak. Fully insulated.

BUILDING MATERIALS

Steel framing, factory welded into wall sections and interlocking porcelain enameled panels for inside and outside walls and roof. Concrete floor slab with waxed asphalt tile finish. Fireproof insulation 1 1/2" thick between porcelain enameled panels.

Enlarged rooms, garages, wings, an expansion attic and cellar available at extra cost. Sectional construction makes expansion relatively easy.

EXPANSION

Larger models are being planned; steel construction makes expansion practically impossible.

Fairly well designed. 762 sq. ft. Location of front door means living room must serve as passage; dinette barely accommodates four; large bedroom would take twin beds but not easily; small bedroom has room for one bed only. Convenient kitchen but no space for washing machine or ironing board.

GENERAL DESIGN

Very well designed. About 1000 sq. ft. Living room serves as passage; dinette accomodates six; twin beds could be fitted in either bedroom. Washing machine comes with kitchen and there is space for ironing in utility room.

Closet in each bedroom approximately 3 x 2 1/2 ft.; coat closet 3 1/2 x 2 1/2 ft.; linen closet, broom closet in kitchen, storage space about 8 x 2 1/2 ft.; attic provides additional space, accessible only by ladder or disappearing stair. Cupbords to ceiling in kitchen.

STORAGE SPACE

Sliding door closet 6 x 2 ft. in each bedroom. Additional closet space, cupboards and drawers (sufficient for two people) in built-in dressing table unit in master bedroom. Coat broom and linen closets. Some storage space in utility room. Drawers and shelf space in dinette unit; cupboards to ceiling in kitchen.

Gas or oil burner, forced hot air. Heating system only fair.

HEATING SYSTEM

Radiant heat supplied by oil-burning boiler unit suspended from ceiling of utility room; warm-air heat distributed from ceilings. Should be efficient and economical. 275-gallon oil tank.

A 20-gallon gas water heater, which is hardly adequate (see REPORTS, MAY). A 40- or 50-gallon electric water heater is available at extra cost.

WATER HEATER

Gas or oil fired 30-gallon water heater, located in utilty room.

Walls painted in colors of your own choosing; repainting inside and out would probably be necessary every few years.

UPKEEP

Choice of six pastel colors for interior. Porcelain enameled finish, advertised as "dull" is highly reflective. Can be cleaned with soap and water; chips can be retouched with paintbrush. May need repainting after 10 or 15 years.

Plenty of electric outlets; wall switches in each room; eleven lighting fixtures; overhead lights in kitchen, bathroom, etc. ELECTRIC FIXTURES Plenty of electric outlets, wall switches, etc. Hardware supperior to that in Look house.

Poor. Wood, far from weather tight, cheap hardware, hard to open and close. No provisions for weather stripping and apparently no provision for screens, although manufacturer claims they can be put on from the inside. Windows open from bottom out. WINDOWS Excellent. Aluminum frames, weather tight, good hardware, and provisions for putting on screens which are provided with house.

The Look House	COMPARE	The Lustron House
$7500 delivered and erected; price was guaranteed on orders received before June 1 but has not been raised. Includes unfinished attic; cellar extra. Also includes piping and connections to sewer system, water, gas and electricity up to 20 ft. from front of foundation line. Includes plumbing, heating, lighting, kitchen and bathroom equipment. Lot and grading would bring cost up to about $10,000.	HOW DO THE COST COMPARE?	Tentatively priced at $7500 to $8000 depending on location. Price not guaranteed. No cellar or attic. Includes piping and connections as for Look house, and all bathroom and kitchen fixtures except stove and refrigerator; also includes automatic combination clothes and dishwasher and some built-in furniture. Total costincluding lot, etc., about $10,5000.
About $75 per month, including taxes (figured at $250 per year); interest (4 1/2% on $5000); heating ($100 per year); maintenance and repairs ($120 per year); amortization.	CARRYING COST	About $70 per month, including taxes, interest on mortgage, heating and amortization as estimated for Look house; repairs and maintenance would probably not run over $50 per year.
At least 50 x 100 ft.; this leaves room for a garage.	THE LOT	At least 50 x 100 ft.; this leaves room for a garage.
Adirondack Homes guarantees shipment on first-come-first-served basis to any area served by one of their distributors within 30 days after approval by the distributor of site and financing arrangements.	DELIVERY	Lustron homes plans full production starting this summer; first deliveries promised for early summer.
Two to three weeks; local finishing requires most of this time. Adirondack Homes guarantees erection within 30 days after delivery to site.	ERECTION TIME	Three to five days.
Conventional materials; prefabricated wood frame comes to site in large panels. Factory-assembled mechanical core utility unit contains heating equipment, plumbing, ect., or these can be made up of standardized units. Materials of interiors locally available: walls either plywood or plasterboard, floors hardwood, usually oak. Fully insulated.	BUILDING MATERIALS	Steel framing, factory welded into wall sections and interlocking porcelain enameled panels for inside and outside walls and roof. Concrete floor slab with waxed asphalt tile finish. Fireproof insulation 1 1/2" thick between porcelain enameled panels.
Enlarged rooms, garages, wings, an expansion attic and cellar available at extra cost. Sectional construction makes expansion relatively easy.	EXPANSION	Larger models are being planned; steel construction makes expansion practically impossible.
Fairly well designed. 762 sq. ft. Location of front door means living room must serve as passage; dinette barely accommodates four; large bedroom would take twin beds but not easily; small bedroom has room for one bed only. Convenient kitchen but no space for washing machine or ironing board.	GENERAL DESIGN	Very well designed. About 1000 sq. ft. Living room serves as passage; dinette accomodates six; twin beds could be fitted in either bedroom. Washing machine comes with kitchen and there is space for ironing in utility room.
Closet in each bedroom approximately 3 x 2 1/2 ft.; coat closet 3 1/2 x 2 1/2 ft.; linen closet, broom closet in kitchen, storage space about 8 x 2 1/2 ft.; attic provides additional space, accessible only by ladder or disappearing stair. Cupbords to ceiling in kitchen.	STORAGE SPACE	Sliding door closet 6 x 2 ft. in each bedroom. Additional closet space, cupboards and drawers (sufficient for two people) in built-in dressing table unit in master bedroom. Coat broom and linen closets. Some storage space in utility room. Drawers and shelf space in dinette unit; cupboards to ceiling in kitchen.
Gas or oil burner, forced hot air. Heating system only fair.	HEATING SYSTEM	Radiant heat supplied by oil-burning boiler unit suspended from ceiling of utility room; warm-air heat distributed from ceilings. Should be efficient and economical. 275-gallon oil tank.
A 20-gallon gas water heater, which is hardly adequate (see REPORTS, MAY). A 40- or 50-gallon electric water heater is available at extra cost.	WATER HEATER	Gas or oil fired 30-gallon water heater, located in utilty room.
Walls painted in colors of your own choosing; repainting inside and out would probably be necessary every few years.	UPKEEP	Choice of six pastel colors for interior. Porcelain enameled finish, advertised as "dull" is highly reflective. Can be cleaned with soap and water; chips can be retouched with paintbrush. May need repainting after 10 or 15 years.
Plenty of electric outlets; wall switches in each room; eleven lighting fixtures; overhead lights in kitchen, bathroom, etc.	ELECTRIC FIXTURES	Plenty of electric outlets, wall switches, etc. Hardware supperior to that in Look house.
Poor. Wood, far from weather tight, cheap hardware, hard to open and close. No provisions for weather stripping and apparently no provision for screens, although manufacturer claims they can be put on from the inside. Windows open from bottom out.	WINDOWS	Excellent. Aluminum frames, weather tight, good hardware, and provisions for putting on screens which are provided with house.