I get asked all the time about how long certain parts of a home will last. How long will the tile roof last? At what point does the air conditioner need to be replaced due to the Florida climate?
Whether your buying a new home or an old home we all have the same concerns. I thought I would share the following article with you. It is filled with great information on the life expectancy of all household components. Many factors affect the life expectancy of housing components and this needs to be considered when making replacement decisions, including the quality of the components, the quality of their installation, their level of maintenance, weather and climate conditions, and intensity of their use.
Conversely some components remain functional but become obsolete because of changing styles and tastes or because of product improvements. The following material was developed for the National Association of Home Builders based on a survey of manufacturers, trade associations and product researchers.
LIFE EXPECTANCY OF HOUSEHOLD COMPONENTS
| APPLIANCES | YEARS |
| Compactors | 10 |
| Dishwashers | 10 |
| Dryers | 14 |
| Disposal | 10 |
| Freezers, compact | 12 |
| Freezers, standard | 16 |
| Microwave ovens | 11 |
| Electric Ranges | 17 |
| Gas ranges | 19 |
| Gas ovens | 14 |
| Refrigerators, compact | 14 |
| Refrigerators, standard | 17 |
| Washers, automatic and compact | 13 |
| Exhaust fans | 20 |
| source: appliance statistical review, April 1990 | |
| BATHROOMS | YEARS |
| Cast iron bathtubs | 50 |
| Fiberglass bathtub and showers | 10 to 15 |
| Shower doors, average quality | 25 |
| Toilets | 50 |
| source: Neil Kelly Disigners, Thompson House of Kitchens and Bath | |
| CABINETRY | YEARS |
| Kitchen cabinets | 15-20 |
| Medicine cabinets and bath vanities | 20 |
| sources: kitchen cabinet manufacturers association, Neil Kelly Designers | |
| CLOSET SYSTEMS | YEARS |
| Closet shelves | Lifetime |
| COUNTERTOPS | YEARS |
| Laminate | 10 to 15 |
| Ceramic tile, high-grade installation | Lifetime |
| Wood/butcher block | 20+ |
| Granite | 20+ |
| source: AFPAssociates of Western Plastics, Ceramic Tile Institute of America | |
| DOORS | YEARS |
| Screen | 25-50 |
| Interior, hollow core | 30 |
| Interior, solid core | 30+ |
| Exterior, protected overhang | 80-100 |
| Exterior, unprotected and exposed | 25-30 |
| Folding | 30+ |
| Garage doors | 20-50 |
| Garage door opener | 10 to 15 |
| sources: Wayne Dalton Corp., National Wood Window and Door Assoc, Raynor Garage Doors | |
| ELECTRICAL | YEARS |
| Copper wiring, copper plated, copper clad aluminum, and bare copper | 10-15+ |
| Armored cable (BX) | Lifetime |
| Conduit | Lifetime |
| source: Jesse Aronstein, Engineering Consultant | |
| FINISHES USED FOR WATERPROOFING | YEARS |
| Paint, plaster, and stucco | 3 to 5 |
| Sealer, silicone, and waxes | 1 to 5 |
| FLOORS | YEARS |
| Oak or pine | Lifetime |
| Slate flagstone | Lifetime |
| Vinyl sheet or tile | 20-30 |
| Terrazzo | Lifetime |
| Carpeting (depends on installation, amount of traffic, and quality of carpet | 11 |
| Marble (depends on installation, thickness of marble, and amount of traffic) | Lifetime |
| sources: Carpet and Rug Institute, Congleum Corp., Hardwood Plywood Manufacturers Assoc., Marble Institute, National Terrazzo and Mosaic Assoc., National Wood Flooring Assoc., Resilient Floor Covering Institute | |
| FOOTINGS AND FOUNDATION | YEARS |
| Poured footings and foundations | 200 |
| Concrete block | 100 |
| Cement | 50 |
| Waterproofing, Bituminous coating | 10 |
| Termite proofing (may have shorter life in damp climates) | 5 |
| source: WR Grace and Company | |
| HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING (HVAC) | YEARS |
| Central air conditioning unit (newer units should last longer) | 15 |
| Window unit | 10 |
| Air conditioner compressor | 15 |
| Humidifier | 8 |
| Electric water heater | 14 |
| Gas water heater (depends on type of water heater lining and quality of water) | Nov 13, 2011 |
| Forced air furnaces heat pump | 15 |
| Rooftop air conditioners | 15 |
| Boilers, hot water or steam (depends on quality of water) | 30 |
| Furnaces, gas-or oil-fired | 18 |
| Unit heaters, gas or electric | 13 |
| Radiant heaters, electric | 10 |
| Radiant heaters, hot water or steam | 25 |
| Baseboard systems | 20 |
| Diffusers, grilles, and registers | 27 |
| Induction and fan coil units | 20 |
| Dampers | 20 |
| Centrifugal fans | 25 |
| Axial fans | 20 |
| Ventilating roof-mounted fans | 20 |
| DX, water, and steam coils | 20 |
| Electric coils | 15 |
| Heat Exchangers, shell-and-tube | 24 |
| Molded insulation | 20 |
| Pumps, sump and well | 10 |
| Burners | 21 |
| sources: Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute, Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration News, Air Movement and Control Association, American Gas Association, American Society of Gas Engineers, American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers, Inc. Safe Aire Incorporated | |
| HOME SECURIY APPLIANCES | YEARS |
| Intrusion systems | 14 |
| Smoke detectors | 12 |
| Smoke/fire/intrusion systems | 10 |
| sources: Insulation Contractors Assoc. of America, North American Insulation Manufacturers Assoc. | |
| LANDSCAPING | YEARS |
| Wooden decks | 15 |
| Brick and concrete patios | 24 |
| Tennis courts | 10 |
| Concrete walks | 24 |
| Gravel walks | 4 |
| Asphalt driveways | 10 |
| Swimming pools | 18 |
| Fences | 12 |
| Sources: Associated Landscape Contractors of America, Irrigation Assoc. | |
| MASONARY | YEARS |
| Chimney, fireplace, and brick veneer | Lifetime |
| Brick and stone walls | 100+ |
| Stucco | Lifetime |
| source: Brick Institute of America, Architectural Components, National Assoc. of Brick Distributors, National Stone Assoc. | |
| MILLWORK | YEARS |
| Stairs, trim | 50-100 |
| Disappearing stairs | 30-40 |
| PAINTS AND STAINS | YEARS |
| Exterior paint on wood, brick, and aluminum | 7 to 10 |
| Interior wall paint (depends on the acrylic content) | 5 to 10 |
| Interior trim and door paint | 5 to 10 |
| Wallpaper | 7 |
| sources: Finnaren and Haley, Glidden Company, The Wall Paper | |
| PLUMBING | YEARS |
| Waste piping, cast iron | 75 to 100 |
| Sinks, enamel steel | 5 to 10 |
| Sinks, enamel cast iron | 25-30 |
| Sinks, china | 25-30 |
| Faucets, low quality | 13 to 15 |
| Faucets, high quality | 15 to 20 |
| sources: American Concrete Pipe Assoc., Cast Iron Soil and Pipe Institute, Neil Kelly Designers, Thompson House of Kitchens and Baths | |
| ROOFING | YEARS |
| Asphalt and wood shingles and shakes | 15 to 30 |
| Tile (depends on quality of tile and climate | 50 |
| Slate (depends on grade) | 50 to 100 |
| Sheet metal (depends on gauge of metal and quality of fastening and application) | 20 to 50 |
| Built-up roofing, asphalt | 12 to 25 |
| Built-up roofing, coal and tar | 12 to 30 |
| Asphalt composition shingle | 15 to 30 |
| Asphalt overlag | 25 to 35 |
| Source: National Roofing Contractors Assoc. | |
| ROUGH STRUCTURE | YEARS |
| Basement floor systems | Lifetime |
| Framing, exterior and interior walls | Lifetime |
| Source: NAHB Research Foundation | |
| SHUTTERS | YEARS |
| Wood, interior | Lifetime |
| Wood, exterior (depends on weather conditions) | 4 to 5 |
| Vinyl plastic, exterior | 7 to 8 |
| Aluminum interior | 35 to 50 |
| Aluminum, exterior | 3 to 5 |
| Sources: AC Shutters, Alcoa Building Products, American Heritage Shutters | |
| SIDING | YEARS |
| Gutters and downspouts | 30 |
| Siding, wood (depends on maintenance) | 10 to 100 |
| Siding, steel | 50 to lifetime |
| Siding, aluminum | 20 to 50 |
| Siding, vinyl | 50 |
| Sources: Alcoa Building Products, Alside, Inc, Vinyl Siding Institute | |
| WALLS AND WINDOW TREATMENTS | YEARS |
| Drywall and plaster | 30 to 70 |
| Ceramic tile, high grade installation | Lifetime |
| Sources: Assoc. of Wall and Ceiling Industries International, Ceramic Tile Institute of America | |
| WINDOWS | YEARS |
| Window glazing | 20 |
| Wood casement | 20 to 50 |
| Aluminum and vinyl casement | 20 to 30 |
| Screen | 25 to 50 |
| Sources: Best Built Products, Optimum Window Manufacturing, Safety Glazing Certification Council, Screen Manufacturers Assoc | |
printable pdf – life expectancy
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