Lindal Cedar Homes by North American Constructors Journal

LINDAL CEDAR HOMES: AN 80-YEAR TRADITION OF UNMATCHED QUALITY

This groundbreaking company embraces continuous improvement and sustainability through three generations.

Written by Dawn Killough

Produced by Oscar Orozco

When Christina Lindal was named president of Lindal Cedar Homes in 2022, she became the third generation to head the almost 80-yearold prefab home manufacturer started by her grandfather, Sir Walter Lindal, at the end of 1944. Christina grew up in the company, working from customer service in the window department to sales and then to the executive team. As the company approached its 80th anniversary in 2024, she was taking the time to remember where they came from and where they wanted to go.

Lindal Cedar Homes began as Colonial Homes in Toronto, Canada, after Walter returned from service in World War II. As a Canadian Army Corps of Engineers member, he became interested in prefabricated housing and had experience working in a lumber mill before he

began his service. By the 1950s, the company was North America’s largest manufacturer of prefabricated cedar homes. It moved to Tacoma in the early 60s, and in 1971 the company landed in Seattle, where it’s still located today.

The company is perhaps best known for its

A-frame house designs, one of which graced the cover of Popular Mechanics magazine in 1966. Its patented, low-cost design quickly made it a market leader. Today over 50,000 Lindal homes have been built across North America and internationally.

A lifetime warranty?

“It’s becoming more about the mission than the jobs.”

Christina Lindal, President

Lindal quickly grew and went public in 1971, followed by international expansion and growth to 180 dealers. The family repurchased the company in 2001, and Walter died in 2011. Now they have 45 employees and 80 dealers around the world.

Through the years, their mission has never changed: providing beautiful, quality homes that will impact the lives of their customers. Christina said, “The sense of purpose and fulfillment is really a big selling point in this marketplace where meaningful work is becoming incredibly important to people. It’s becoming more about the mission than the jobs.”

Lindal relies on local homebuilders to erect and construct their kit homes. Kits are purchased from regional dealers, who can help customers find the right contractor. All of the materials required to build each home are shipped directly to the site, allowing customers to place their homes almost anywhere, including

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internationally. Homes have been shipped to Russia, Japan, Korea, Canada, and throughout the US. The designs are adapted to each location’s specific site and climate, so each is unique. Finishes are available in a palette of colors and materials, most sourced from the Pacific Northwest.

In a Forbes Magazine article from 2020, Sig Benson, then Vice President of Marketing, said, “Lindal is not a modular house with limited material and architectural choices. We are not a developer, a builder, or a starter home.”

The company believes in the quality of its product so much that it offers a lifetime structural warranty. “We probably have the only lifetime structural warranty in the business,” Christina said. “The fact is that our homes don’t fall down. They’re all engineered for specific sites to meet the wind, seismic, and snow loads and are made of incredibly high-quality materials. Frankly, it’s been easy for us to offer a lifetime structural warranty to our clients. As long as they live in that home, we guarantee it will still stand.”

Customized to fit your life

Lindal provides more than just home kits for cookie-cutter houses. Customers can customize each one to meet their needs and desires. Once they pick a site and know their budget, they can choose from one of three levels of design: basic, enhanced, and custom.

The basic level of design allows clients to choose finishes, including siding, millwork, windows, doors, hardware, and other

architectural details, but the structural elements remain fixed.

Enhanced design includes limited structural changes and additions, including moving nonload-bearing walls, adding sunrooms, changing wall heights, and changing the window configuration.

The custom design level includes options inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian homes or customized designs starting from scratch. The company has in-house architects and designers to aid in the process.

“We’re looking to develop more accessible homes, open up new markets, and reach clients who may have previously thought a custom home was out of their reach.”

Christina Lindal, President

No matter which design level a customer chooses, they’ll receive a quality product. “All of our vendors have been with the company for over 30 years now,” Christina said. “We nurture those relationships and help them grow. You need to have communication and trust to ensure a smooth operation and high-quality results.”

Lindal chooses its suppliers and vendors carefully, ensuring their values, mission, and history align. “That alignment has really helped our relationships. We have a lot of respect for each other, and customer satisfaction is

absolutely critical for maintaining our brands.” The company also maintains close relationships with its team of dealers. Christina credits her father as her greatest mentor, who taught her the value of their dealer relationships. “He taught me the importance of building strong relationships with our dealers, emphasizing that their success is integral to our own success. His values, integrity, dedication, and relationship building have influenced how I’ve approached my leadership.”

Sustainable from the Beginning

Sustainability and environmental stewardship have been part of Lindal’s homes since the beginning and now encompass everything

they do. The company works with American Forest Global ReLeaf to plant new trees to replace those harvested for their homes. In the past 20 years, they’ve planted over 100,000 trees. They also use energy-efficient windows, engineered wood, and other sustainable materials. Factory manufacturing optimizes material use, reducing waste. In addition, the company has 18 building technology patents, and they continue to perform research and development for other sustainable improvements. Dealers are trained and certified as green professionals, and home certification services are available.

Award Winning Designs

In 2009, Lindal produced three prefab houses

designed by Marmol Radziner and Turkel Design for Dwell Homes. The homes were the only ones included in The Green Design 100 list compiled by TIME Magazine.

“[My father] taught me the importance of building strong relationships with our dealers, emphasizing that their success is integral to our own success.”

Christina Lindal, President

In 2012, a house designed by Joel Turkel of Turkel Design won Best in American Living Awards from the National Association of Home Builders.

Future: More Customization for Affordable Homes

As Christina looks into the future of her company, she sees expanding customization options while maintaining affordability. “My focus is trying to provide clients with the ability to build dream homes without requiring substantial budgets. I’m looking to further streamline the design and construction processes and leverage cost-effective materials to help us cater to a broader audience. We’re looking to develop more accessible homes, open up new markets, and reach clients who may have previously thought a custom home was out of their reach.”