Many factors affect the life expectancy of housing components and need to be considered when making replacement decisions, including the quality of the components, the quality of their installation, their level of maintenance, weather and climatic conditions, and intensity of their use. Some components remain functional but become obsolete because of changing styles and tastes or because of product improvements.
Refrigerators: On average 13 years
The compressor on refrigerators work hard and run often. Add complications, such as automatic icemakers and there’s more to go wrong. That they last as long as they do is a tribute to their generally high quality.
Gas Ranges: On average 15 years or more
With no motor or many moving parts, gas ranges are the most trouble free of appliances.
Dishwashers: On average 9 years
This appliance gets widely varying amounts of use, depending on the household. Big families may have them running a few times a day while a bachelor may keep his sitting empty most of the week.
Cabinets: 50 years
Good quality cabinets are built to last a long time but styles go in and out of fashion. Many homeowners replace cabinets after a fraction of their useful life.
Countertops: 20 years to forever
Granite could outlast you – by a long shot, absent of a destructive child with a five pound hammer. Cultured marble has a life span of about 20 years.
Electrical: 10 years to a lifetime
You shouldn’t have to replace good quality copper wiring but switches and other controls may have to be updated every 10 years or so.
Plumbing fixtures: 15 to 50 years
A kitchen sink has a life of 50 years or more but faucets go bad after about 15. Shower heads should last a lifetime but whirlpool baths, which get widely differing amounts of use, can last 20 to 50 years.
Forced Air Furnaces / Heat Pumps: On average 18 to 25 years
Depending on the quality of the unit and whether or not it’s been properly cared for and maintained a furnace or heat pump will tend to last around 15-25 years.
Air Conditioning Units: On average 15 to 20 years
Newer units are not only more energy efficient but they are also built to last longer. Depending on the quality of the unit and whether or not it’s been properly cared for and maintained a A/C Unit will tend to last around 15 to 20 years.
Water Heater: On average 12 to 16 years
Units are usually warrantied for nine to twelve years however, life expectancy will be impacted by water hardness, the amount of usage, the temperature at which the unit is set (units should be set to 120 degrees or less), care (the unit should be drained once a year to flush mineral deposits which will accumulate at the bottom of the tank and corrode the tanks lining over time), and the type of unit purchased.
Floors: 25 to 100 years
Hardwood is good for 100 years or more, as is stone. Expect 50 years out of vinyl and 25 from linoleum, but you’ll probably tire of the pattern long before that.
Siding and Accessories: 20 to 50 years
Brick, stone, engineered wood and fiber cement siding should last a lifetime. Wood shutters should give 20 years of use and copper gutters 50 years and aluminum ones 20.
Windows: 15 to 30 years
Think wood, which lasts upwards of 30 years while aluminum windows have a life span of 15 to 20 years.
Roofing: 20 to 50 years
Local weather conditions are critical but, on average, slate, copper and clay/concrete tile roofs last the longest, 50 years or more. Figure wood shake roofs for 30 years, fiber cement shingle 25 and asphalt shingle 20.
Concrete and masonry: 100 years plus
Concrete foundations, including chimneys and fireplaces, should last a lifetime and brick walls have a life span of 100 years or more.
Decks: Up to 20 years
With wooden decks the key is the weather. In moist climes, decks will rot much quicker than in ones that expose decks only to dry conditions. In ideal weather, figure 20 years. In monsoon conditions, you can’t count on much more than half that.
Exterior Paint: 7 to 10 years
Gutter and Downspouts: Up to 30 years
Carpeting: 5 to 15 years
In need of home maintenance or general repairs? Looking to remodel or update your home? Contact EveryTrade Integrated Home Solutions at 614.943.4933. EveryTrade provides high quality improvements, remodeling, repairs & preventative maintenance service for your most valuable investment – your home.
If you, or someone you know is considering Buying or Selling a Home in Columbus, Ohio please give us a call and we’d be happy to assist you!
The Opland Group Specializes in Real Estate Sales, Luxury Home Sales, Short Sales in; Bexley 43209 Columbus 43201 43206 43214 43215 Delaware 43015 Downtown Dublin 43016 43017 Gahanna 43219 43230 Grandview Heights 43212 Galena 43021 Hilliard 43026 Lewis Center 43035 New Albany 43054 Pickeringto, 43147 Polaris Powell 43065 Upper Arlington 43220 43221 Westerville 43081 43082 Worthington 43235
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