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Houses of Steel: 6 Lustron Homes Still Standing Tall

We all dream of a maintenance-free home. But with a Lustron house, it’s the selling point. These prefab houses from the 1940s are practically indestructible.

Made of porcelain-coated stainless steel—inside and out—they can be cleaned with a power hose, don’t require paint, won’t be damaged by termites, and are immune to decay, rust, and rodents.

The brainchild of Carl Strandlund, founder of Lustron Corp., the concept was to quickly assemble homes for returning World War II veterans. An Ohio factory mass-produced some 3,000 parts per home, including the bathtub, cabinets, and vanities.

They were then loaded onto a truck, taken to their site, and assembled by the contractor in less than a week, according to the Wilmette Historical Museum. Twelve tons of steel went into each home.

Despite a plan to produce thousands of structures, production fell far short of the goal, with only about 2,500 built, leading to the demise of the company in 1950.

But true to their original promise, many of these houses still stand, impervious to wear and tear, including this 1,021-square-foot single-story model in Wilmette, IL. It’s on the market for $375,000.

“They’re very unique homes,” says listing agent Kevin Rutherford. Not that the gray interiors (the walls can’t be painted) will impress decor fiends.

“Aesthetically, they’re nothing spectacular.” But they are, he says, “a slice of Americana, a little piece of history.”

Rutherford notes the home he’s listed is 90% original.

“It did age well,” he says. “It’s what they said it was going to be, low-maintenance.” Features include two bedrooms, one bath, a living room, a kitchen with a pass-through to the dinette, plus a covered patio and backyard.

The 1949 home looks to be in great shape with its stainless-steel walls, original flooring, and fixtures. This is great, because renovations are … prohibitive. Another challenge? Hanging wall art. Unless you have really strong magnets. (Some Lustrons have updated with drywall.)

The desirable location could make this property a great starter home. Or, as it has been for the past 18 years, an ideal rental. “Zero maintenance” are words that would make most landlords swoon.

While you’re busy swooning, here are a few other homes we found billing themselves as Lustron steel currently for sale.

626 S Fairfield Ave, Lombard, IL

Price: $197,900
Steely personality: This charmer from 1949 offers two bedrooms, one bath, updated drywall and wood cabinets, plus a built-in desk and cabinets in the bedroom. There’s also a covered porch and detached garage.

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100 Truckey St., Saint Ignace, MI

Price: $135,000
Steely personality: It’s spacious yet efficient! This compact 2,100-square-foot home from 1950 shines. It features two bedrooms, two baths, a lower level with a den, and storage. It’s located blocks from downtown, the football field, and the Lake Huron boardwalk.

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425 E Main St, Peotone, IL

Price: $114,900
Steely personality: Set on a large wooded lot, this newly updated two-bedroom ranch includes new outlets and new siding on the garage.

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515 Woodlawn St, Mexico, MO

Price: $59,500
Steely personality: This cutie is a “little cream puff,” according to the listing. The pastel-blue steel home located on a tree-lined street has two beds, one bath, a spacious living room, a dining room, and a main-floor laundry. There’s also an unfinished basement.

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413 Willard Ave, Lincoln, IL

Price: $68,900
Steely personality: This bungalow includes a bay window in the living room, two bedrooms, one with an entire wall of closets and built-ins. The bathroom has been updated with tile flooring. Plus, there’s a dining room, a kitchen with breakfast bar, and a laundry and mud room in the back.

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