Unit One

A modular house
in kit form
for owner-assembly

Shelter-Kit
Incorporated

When we started our business in 1970, our

idea was to produce a simple, yet versatile
modular house in kit form that amateur
builders could assemble in a few days; that
could easily be enlarged by adding other
components; that could be converted from a
seasonal to a year-round home; or could be
built initially as either one, and above all could
be kept low in pice.

UNIT ONE
A 12x12 weathertight shell of post and beam
framing with a shed roof.
PORCH
A 9x12 roofed platform that can be enclosed
to make an additional room.

We think weve accomplished this goal.

DECK

Our products
Shelter-Kit Incorporated manufactures three
basic architect-designed and engineer-tested
houses, each with its own additional components. In keeping with our high standards,
all are made of superior quality materials
that form the basis of three modular systems
of house building designed for ownerassembly. Unit One was the first, followed by
Lofthouse 16 and Lofthouse 20.

A 9x12 unroofed platform.

These three modules can be joined together
in an almost infinite variety of combinations
to create small, medium-size, or large houses.
The choice of plans can be entirely up to the
customer. The house plans included in this
folder are suggested possibilities.

An illustrated catalog for the latter two

buildings is available.

Shelter-Kit Incorporated

22 Mill Street PO Box 1 Tilton New Hampshire 03276 (603) 286-7611

2003 Shelter-Kit Incorporated

Why Unit One is unique

Designed for amateur builders

Consumer-tested Construction Manual

Unit One can be assembled in about four

days by two people with no building skills
or knowledge of blueprint reading.

Written for the owner-assembler, not the

professional builder, the manual illustrates
step-by-step instructions that correspond to
all the labeled parts of the kit and guides
the builders to the completion of the house.
It is the key to successful assembly. Every
purchaser of Unit One receives a manual well
in advance of the kits delivery so he will
have ample opportunity to become familiar
with the materials and construction
procedure.

A complete kit
The kit contains all the materials needed to
construct the Unit One shell. Hand-selected
quality lumber is pre-cut, pre-drilled to
minute tolerances, and labeled. These
materials are bound together with highstrength plastic strapping in individual
bundles weighing approximately 100 pounds.
All required hardware is also labeled and
packed in separate containers.
Portability
The contents of each kit can be carried to
sites inaccessible by truck or heavy equipment, so its not necessary to build an
expensive road.
All tools furnished
No power tools are needed. All necessary
tools are furnished and even include two
stepladders and two carpenters aprons!
(A complete tool list is included with the
Specifications.)

Framing system
The post and beam frame, with its customdesigned heavy aluminum angles and
brackets, makes it possible for the entire
weight of both floor and roof to be carried
by six posts. Thus the walls are non-load
bearing and conventional structural bracing
can be eliminated. This allows for 12x68
sliding glass doors across the entire front
opening, and the placement of other doors
and windows in virtually any location. Nonstructural bracing is used to support the
siding. When two or more components are
joined together, the intermediate walls can
be eliminated.

Foundation and the environment

Building Codes

Minimal disturbance to the environment is

achieved by the simplicity of the foundation
and Shelter-Kits unique construction method.
The post and beam frame of Unit One requires
only a poured concrete pier for each of the six
posts. Site preparation instructions (provided
along with the Construction Manual) explain
in detail where those piers are to be located
and how they are installed. The majority of our
customers have installed the piers themselves
without assistance from professionals.

All Shelter-Kit buildings meet or exceed

applicable National Building Code standards.
(See Specifications for design loads.) Most
towns require building department permits.
This should be ascertained by the owner
before construction begins.

More Information
Price
A price list/order form is included in this folder.
In the interest of improving our products,
Shelter-Kit reserves the right to change prices
and specifications without notice.

Transportation
Unit One is shipped directly from the factory
in Tilton, New Hampshire as soon as possible
after receipt of an order. Shelter-Kit will
deliver to any mainland site within 200 miles
of the factory for the fee shown on the price
list/order form. However, we have found that
the most economical and convenient method
is for us to rent a 16 foot U-Haul truck (or its
equivalent) in the customers name- load it,
then turn it over to you for you to drive to the
site. (The truck can be turned in to the U-Haul
dealer nearest the site.)
Two to three Unit Ones with deck/porch kits
can be loaded in one truck. Because of the
weight and length of the materials in the kit, it
is not possible to use a pick-up truck, van or
trailer.

How to buy a Shelter-Kit house

1

We recommend a planned visit to our office

In Tilton where we can show you actual S-K
buildings, how the modular system works,
and slides of houses that other customers
have designed and built.Specific plans
can be discussed, and block models can
be experimented with in order to create the
Shelter-Kit house youd like.
After we receive your order, we will send
you a confirmation and your building will
then be scheduled for production. If you
have allowed us enough time, the kit will be
ready on the date you specify. Normal
fabrication time is four weeks-somewhat
longer in summer months.
During the interim between ordering and
receiving your kit, the site should be prepared
and the piers installed. Allow at least a week
for the concrete to set before construction
begins. You should also purchase a large
tarpaulin or roll of heavy plastic to protect the
bundles of lumber in each kit after delivery
and during construction.
The payment schedule is explained on the
price list/order form. Unless Shelter-Kit
agrees in writing to a variation in the
schedule, we must ask you to adhere to it
as it is set forth.

Services
Wed rather lose a sale than gain an unhappy
or dissatisfied customer! So we make every
effort to advise you in any way we can to
facilitate the successful completion of your
Shelter-Kit house. Were a small companyso we think were better able to determine
each customers requirements and wishes in
detail before the house is built. Whats more
-we really care whether youre happy with
the results.
We can advise you on how to go about getting
a building permit
We can tell you how to install insulation in
your S-K house.
We can supply information about which
wood stove, among the many on the market,
we think is best.
What should be done about a septic system?
A well for your water supply? We can tell
you what we know. And if we dont know
the answer, or have no opinion on a question
-well tell you that too.

Uses of Shelter-Kit buildings

In addition to seasonal and year round
homes our buildings have been used as:
Warming house for paddle tennis court
Artist studio
Study
Real estate office
Pump room to house snow-making
equipment at ski area
Emergency store for flood victims

Many other uses are possible:

Nursery School
Cabana on the beach or at a pool
Youth hostel
Camp buildings
Storage shed
Carpenters shop
Trail-side shelter
Gift shop

We invite you to look us up in articles and photo/listings in the following publications:

A Design and Construction
Handbook For Energy Efficient
Homes by Alex Wade; Rodale Press,
1977
The Complete Kit House Catalog,
By Frank Coffee; Wallaby Pocket
Books, Simon & Schuster, 1979
Kit Houses By Mail, by Brad McDole
and Chris Jerome; The Stonesong
Press, Grosset & Dunlap, Inc., 1979
30 Energy Efficient Houses, by Alex
Wade; Rodale Press, 1980
The Complete Catalog of Mail
Order Kits, by Anna Sequoia; Rawson,
Wade Publishers, Inc. 1981
Getting a Roof Over Your Head, by
The editors at Garden Way; Garden
Way Publishing, 1983
The Home How-To Source Book, by
Mike McClintock: Charles Scribers
Sons Publishers, 1983

The Best Kit Homes, by Joanna

Wissinger; Rodale Press, 1987

Family Handyman May/June 1985

Workbench July, August 1971

Harrowsmith May/June 1987,

November/December 1989

Science & Mechanics Aplril 1972

Family Circle August 1987

Womans Day September 1972

New York Times 28 June 1971,

20 April 1975

Mechanix Illustrated June 1973,

1975
The First New England Catalogue
1973
House & Garden Guide 1973-74
Edition
The Washingtonian Magazine July
1974
House & Garden January 1976
Popular Science March 1979
Country Journal October 1980,
January/February 1990
Fine Homebuilding October/
November 1981

Boston Globe 31 August 1975

Maine Times 15 May 1981
Christian Science Monitor 11
September 1981
New Hampshire Times 12 May 1982
Pittsburg Press 21 November 1982
USA Today 9 December 1982
New Hampshire Sunday News
11 October 1987
Washington Post 21 January
1988, 1 June 1989

The modular compoments

How the modular system works

UNIT ONE

Unit One with a deck.

PORCH

ENCLOSED PORCH

Add another Unit One

and an enclosed porch.

DECK

Add a Unit One.

Add a Unit One and a deck.

Add two more Unit Ones

and two more decks.

Elevations

Specifications
Rev 3/03

All Shelter-Kit buildings are sold without insulation, partitions, interior finish or fixtures.
S-K reserves the right to substitute materials of equal quality to those listed below.

Unit One
Piers
Six 10 dia concrete piers. 1/2 dia anchor
bolts imbedded in tops.
Design live loads
Roof (snow)
50 lbs sq/ft
Floor
40 lbs sq/ft
Walls (wind)
15 lbs sq/ft
Overall dimensions
12x12 Area 144 sq ft Weight approx 2
tons. Height of floor above piers 2
Ceiling height
Front 92
Frame
Posts
Floor joists
Floor headers
Rafters
Roof Joists
Studs
Sheathing
Siding
Flooring
Roofing
Weather sealing
Roof

Frame
Joints

Rear 710
4x4 Douglas fir, select,
structural.
2x10 spruce, 2 o.c.
2x10 spruce, single
or double as required
2x10 Douglas fir or
southern yellow pine
no. 1.
2x10 spruce, single or
double as required.
2x4 spruce (used as
nailing points on siding).
1x8 pine, t & g
clapboard.
1x8 pine, t & g.
3/4 A-C exterior
plywood, 4x8 sheets.
Double coverage
(mineral surface) roll
roofing. All nails
concealed. Aluminum or
galvanized steel drip
edge.
clear wood preservative,
field-applied.
Caulking compound,
field-applied with
caulking gun.

Doors
One set 12x68 four-panel sliding glass
doors. bronze aluminum frame, 5/8
insulating tempered glass (standard).
Keylock, twoscreen panels included

Windows
One 5x3 two-panel sliding window.
bronze aluminum frame, 1/2 insulating
glass (standard). Full screen included.
Clerestory
1/8 clear plexiglass 16x11 8 (installed
above sliding glass door).
Options
1. Extra 5x3 sliding windows.
2. 3x3 sliding windows.
3. 6x6 8 sliding glass doors.
4. 3x6 8 solid core pre-hung exterior
doors.
Hardware
Bolts
1/2 dia galvanized steel, with
galvanized steel nuts & washers.
Anchor bolts ( for foundation ) not
included.
Nails
All galvanized.
Other
Custom-designed & machined
aluminum angles & brackets.
Galvanized steel joist connectors,
hangers, bridging, post anchors.
Instructions
Site preparation & Construction Manual.
PORCH
Piers
Three 10 dia concrete piers. 1/2 dia anchor
bolts imbedded in tops.
Overall dimensions
9x12 Area 108sq ft Weight approx 1/2 ton.
(When porch enclosed, weight approx 3/4
ton.)
Ceiling height
Front 70

Rear 84

Frame
identical to Unit One, except roof frame
uses short-span 2x6 Douglas fir rafters, 2
o.c.
Sheathing
Siding
None. (Same as Unit One when
porch is enclosed.)
Flooring Same as Unit One.
Roofing Same as Unit One.
Weather sealing
Same as Unit One.

Windows
None.
Doors
None.
Options
Same as Unit One.
Hardware
Same as Unit One.
Instructions
Construction Manual supplement. (When
porch enclosed, also Construction Manual
supplement.)
DECK
Piers
Same as Porch.
Overall dimensions
Same as porch. Weight approx 1/4 ton.
Frame, Flooring, Hardware
Same as Unit One. NOTE: 2x6 spaced
decking is sometimes available as an option.
Instructions
Construction Manual supplement
TOOLS
2 wrenches 3/4
1 saw
1 large screwdriver
1 No. 1 Philips head
screwdriver
1 No. 2 Philips head
screwdriver
2 stepladders 6
2 carpenters aprons
2 pr work gloves
1 caulking gun
1 roofing brush w/pole

2 hammers
1 nail set
1 string level
1 carpenters level
1 paint pail
1 paint brush
1 pc chalk
1 ball string
1 folding rule
1 linoleum knife
Hand cleaner

2 gals clear wood preservative & 3 tubes

caulking compound are included in the Unit
One kit.

Frame One

CONSTRUCTING FRAME ONE

Frame One is a stripped-down

twin of Unit One; same size,
same high quality of design and
materials. But its the frame
only without flooring, roofing,
siding, doors or windows.

KIT 170
1 Unit One frame

The compact kit can be shipped

economically to any part of the
country in five bundles that
include all pre-cut lumber and
all hardware required to complete
the frame.
FRAME ONE COMPLETED

CONSTRUCTING A UNIT ONE

A UNIT ONE COMPLETED

Expansion of a Unit One

BEFORE

AFTER

(198 square feet)

(450 square feet)

BEFORE
Unit One with a deck is the simplest
form of this modular house.

AFTER
The owners more than doubled its
space by converting the deck to a
porch, and by adding another Unit
One and enclosed porch to make
additional rooms.
The Shelter Kit modular system is
designed to make such additions
easy and practical.

Cabin plans

KIT 38
1 Unit One
1 Porch
1 12 sliding glass door
1 5x3 sliding window
1 set tools
Construction Manual

KIT 51
1 Unit One
1 Enclosed Porch
1 Deck
1 12 sliding glass door
2 3x3 sliding windows
1 set tools
Construction Manual

KIT 49
1 Unit One
1 Porch
1 Special Deck
1 12 sliding glass door
1 5x3 sliding window
1 set tools
Construction Manual
Partitions, screens, fixtures & furnishings supplied by owner.

C
Cabin A

Unit One allows ample and comfortable

space for two. Bunks with storage area
beneath, shelves and a drop-table can be
built in. A small wood-burning stove provides adequate heat in the uninsulated shell
even in 20 degree temperatures. Cooking is
satisfactory on a propane stove. An outdoor
toilet is easy to construct.

Cabin B

Unit One with both a porch and an open

deck creates additional space to allow for
the installation of a small bathroom and
kitchenette at the rear.

Cabin C

The addition of an enclosed porch at the

rear to accommodate a bathroom and small
kitchen makes possible the full use of Unit One

1-bedroom plan (454 square feet)

KIT 55
1 Unit One
2 Enclosed Porches
2 Decks (1 Special)
1 6 sliding glass door
1 5x3 sliding window
4 4x3 sliding windows
1 set tools
Construction Manual

Partitions, screens, fixtures & furnishings supplied by owner.

Elevations

1-bedroom plan (450 square feet)

KIT 43
2 Unit Ones
1 Enclosed Porch
1 Deck
1 12 sliding glass door
2 5x3 sliding windows
3 3x3 sliding windows
1 junction kit
1 set tools
Construction Manual

Partitions, screens, fixtures & furnishings supplied by owner.

Elevations

2-bedroom plan (629 square feet)

KIT 89
2 Unit Ones
2 Enclosed Porches
2 Decks
1 12 sliding glass door
2 5x3 sliding windows
3 3x3 sliding windows
1 junction kit
1 set tools
Construction Manual
Partitions, screens, fixtures & furnishings supplied by owner.

Elevations

2-bedroom plan (686 square feet)

KIT 36
2 Unit Ones
3 Enclosed Porches
1 Deck
1 12 sliding glass door
1 5x3 sliding window
6 3x3 sliding windows
1 junction kit
1 set tools
Construction Manual
Partitions, screens, fixtures & furnishings supplied by owner.

Elevations

2 to 4-bedroom plan (895 square feet)

KIT 28
3 Unit Ones
3 Enclosed Porches
2 Decks
1 12 sliding glass door
5 5x3 sliding windows
1 3x3 sliding window
2 junction kits
1 set tools
Construction Manual
Partitions, screens, fixtures & furnishings supplied by owner.

Elevations

3-bedroom plan (730 square feet)

KIT 79
3 Unit Ones
2 Enclosed Porches
1 Deck
1 12 sliding glass door
4 5x3 sliding windows
2 3x3 sliding windows
2 junction kits
1 set tools
Construction Manual

Partitions, screens, fixtures & furnishings supplied by owner.

Elevations

3-bedroom plan (1056 square feet)

KIT 82
4 Unit Ones
3 Enclosed Porches
2 Decks (1 special)
1 3 solid core door
1 6 sliding glass door
3 5x3 sliding windows
5 3x3 sliding windows
3 junction kits
1 set tools
Construction Manual

Partitions, screens, fixtures & furnishings supplied by owner.

Elevations

3-bedroom plan (1171 square feet)

KIT 27
6 Unit Ones
2 Decks
2 6 sliding glass door
6 5x3 sliding windows
1 3x3 sliding window
7 junction kits
1 set tools
Construction Manual

Partitions, screens, fixtures & furnishings

supplied by owner.

Elevations

Unit Ones in multi-modular form

Designed by the owners, the set-back combinations

of nine Unit Ones and seven decks of this house plan
demonstrate the versatility of the Shelter-Kit modular
system. Maximum use of glass doors and deck space
give a real sense of outdoor living.

REAR VIEW

SIDE VIEW
REAR VIEW

FRONT VIEW