What’s included in a kit home? It’s the question I get asked more than any other, and honestly, it’s the most important one. Because when two kit prices look wildly different, it’s usually not about who’s cheaper. It’s about what’s actually on the truck. So let’s open the box (well, the trailer) and walk through it.
01The Short Answer: Your Kit Is the Shell
A Zip Kit is the full structural shell of your home. In other words, it’s everything you need to get the house framed and ready for framing inspection.
From there, you and your local crew take it the rest of the way: roofing, windows, siding, plumbing, electrical, insulation, drywall, and all the pretty stuff.
Think of it this way
We build the skeleton. You pick the skin, the guts, and the personality.
02What’s On the Truck
Here’s what comes with every panelized kit:
Included in your kit:
- ✓Pre-framed exterior wall panels, sheathed in ZIP System with the tape
- ✓Pre-framed interior wall panels
- ✓Roof panels and trusses
- ✓Beams, stairs, and the lumber to tie it all together
- ✓Synthetic roof underlayment (plus Ice & Water Shield if your county requires it)
- ✓The upper floor system on two-story homes
- ✓An engineering package, including foundation plans
- ✓Numbered panels and a step-by-step assembly guide
- ✓Phone support from our team the whole time you’re building
Tip: Our foundation plans aren’t stamped. So if your soils report comes back with surprises, you’ll need a local civil engineer to draw an official foundation plan.
03What Changes With Your Foundation
Every plan works on a slab, a crawlspace, or a basement. However, what we send for the floor depends on which one you pick.
Our plans are standardized for slab on grade, so you pour it and we build right on top.
We supply the subfloor system.
We supply the subfloor, load-bearing support, and stairs. Basement partition walls are available if you ask for them.
04What’s Not Included
This is the part people skip, and then it surprises them later. So let’s be super clear about it.
You’ll handle (or hire out):
- •Land, permits, and site work
- •The foundation
- •Utilities to the house
- •Roofing (shingles or metal)
- •Windows and exterior doors
- •Siding and exterior finishes
- •Plumbing, electrical, and HVAC
- •Insulation and drywall
- •Cabinets, flooring, and fixtures
- •The crane on delivery day
That might look like a long list. But here’s the thing: those are the parts that are best handled locally. Your local crew knows your codes, your weather, and your suppliers. Plus, you get to pick every finish yourself.
Tip: Before you buy any land, call your local building department. They’re the ones who decide what you can build and what permits you’ll need.
05Add-Ons You Can Choose
Want a little more help? These are quoted separately, so you only pay for what you need.
Our crew stands up your kit for you. Available in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Arizona, and Nevada.
Quoted by the mile from our shop in Cedar City, Utah, straight to your site.
Move a wall, add a room, stretch the garage. Modifications start at $2,500.
Swap in ZIP System R-6 sheathing for built-in insulation on your exterior walls.
Building with steel instead? Our steel kits follow the same idea: steel-framed panels with ZIP sheathing, steel trusses, and all the hardware and connectors. And they ship nationwide.
06How to Compare Kit Prices (Fairly)
Not every kit company includes the same stuff. So when you’re comparing quotes, line them up apples to apples.
Ask every kit company:
- ✓Are the walls pre-framed panels, or a pile of lumber?
- ✓Are interior walls included, or just the exterior?
- ✓Are roof trusses and beams included?
- ✓Is sheathing included and already installed?
- ✓Is engineering included?
- ✓What about freight and the crane?
- ✓Who do I call when I’m stuck mid-build?
Once you’ve got the answers side by side, the “cheap” kit and the “expensive” kit usually start looking a whole lot closer.
Want to See What Your Kit Would Include?
Every home is a little different, so the best way to know exactly what’s on your truck is to talk to us. Pick a plan, tell us where you’re building, and we’ll walk you through your kit line by line. No surprises, pinky promise.
