Why remodel your house or perform a bathroom or kitchen remodel? How long do things last in a house? Eventually, things stop working and must be replaced. Below is a list of life expectancies.
Air Conditioners
Whole house 10-15 years
Window 8-15 years
Appliances
Dishwasher 10 years
Dryer 10-12 years
Microwave 10 years
Freezer 15+ years
Refrigerator 10+ years
Range 15+ years
Cooktop 17-20 years
Oven 15+ years
Washer 10-12 years
Coatings – Wood floors
Polyurethane 3-5 years
Shellac 3-5 years
Varnish 3-5 years
Coatings – Interior Doors and Trim
Polyurethane 15-30 years
Shellac 8-10 years
Varnish 15-30 years
Chimney
Chimney 15-20 years
Flue . . . life of the house
Deck
Wood 15-20 years
Plastic/Composite 30+ years
Driveways
Concrete 20-30 years
Asphalt 10-15 years
Gravel 10-15 years
– Adding gravel every 5 years
Exterior walls
Aluminum siding 20-30 years
Asbestos shingles 15-30 years
Asphalt siding 20-40 years
Brick 100+ years
Cedar siding 40-75 years
Hardboard siding 10-25 years
Redwood siding 40-100 years
Stone 100+ years
Stucco 30 years
Vinyl siding 30 years
Faucets 10-15 years
Fences
Plastic 50 years
Stone 100 years
Wood 5-30 years
Wrought iron 50-100 years
Fire Extinguisher 12 years
Flooring
Carpeting 10-15 years
Cork 50+ years
Ceramic tile 50-100 years
Vinyl 5-25 years
Wood 50+ years
Furnace
15-30 years
Garage-door opener
10-20 years
Garbage disposal
10 years
Grout
10-15 years if sealed
Gutters
Aluminum 20 years
Galvanized steel 60-70 years
Copper 60-70 years
Hot tub
15-20 years
Light fixtures
In-ceiling fixtures 7-25 years
Motion lights 1 year
Paint, Latex
High Quality 15-20 years
Med Quality 7-10 years
Low Quality 3-5 years
Oil paint 15-20 years
Acrylic paint 20-50 years
Plumbing, Pipe
Copper 50 years
PEX 50 years
Plastic 25+ years
Galvanized steel 15 years
Gas 50 years
Roof
Asphalt shingles 15-20 years
– Interlocking 15-25 years
Asphalt rolls 10 years
Clay tiles 20 years
Cement tiles 20 years
Metal roofing 15-40 years
Slate shingles 30-100 years
Wood shingles 10-40 years
Showers
Fiberglass 5-15 years
Acrylic 10-15 years
Ceramic Tile 10-50 years
Sewer Line
ABS 100+ years
Cast iron 70-90 years
Cement 100 years
Ceramic 40-50 years
Plastic 25 years
Sink
Kitchen 50 years
Bathroom 35-50 years
Smoke & Carbon Monoxide alarms
10 years
Toilet
35-50 years
Tub
Cast iron 50 years to lifetime
Acrylic 10-20 years
Fiberglass 5-20 years
Vent fan (exhaust fan)
15-20 years
Walkways
Brick 25-100 years
Concrete 30-35 years
Concrete steps 30+ years
Stone indefinitely
Wallpaper
10-20 years
Water heater
Tank 8-12 years
Tankless 12-20 years
Waterlines, exterior below grade
Galvanized steel 25-40 years
Copper 40-50+ years
PVC 100+ years
Plastic 20 years
Whirlpool/Jet/Air tub
20 years
Windows
Aluminum-clad 30 years
Vinyl 30 years
Vinyl-clad 35-40 years
Wood 25-30 years
Wiring
Switches 10-25 years
Outlets 15-20 years
Circuit breaker 15-30 years
Electric panel 20-30 years
The estimated longevity of items in this list assumes proper maintenance.
These estimates were gathered from a variety of associations, retailers, manufactures and repair services. These figures should be viewed as the maximums. The country where manufactured plays a big part in how long a product will last along with how it was installed. The best products will fail prematurely if installed incorrectly, especially if the installer was inexperienced and/or used substandard materials and installation methods.
In my over 45 years in remodeling, important factors such as temperatures, humidity and moisture, dirt, plants, rodents, insects, proximity to the ocean, maintenance, frequency of use, and the quality of the originally installed item have a significant impact on how long things last.
Regarding how long things last in a house, are the figures always accurate?
No. There are exceptions. For example, in Orange County, I have never seen residential new home builder installed outlets last 15-20 years as noted in the above table – except those hidden behind a piece of furniture. Most are damaged or broken within 5 years and become fire and electrocution hazards. Only a few contractors, such as DAD’s Construction, install high quality outlets that are much stronger, safer, and reliable than standard outlets. What is the difference in cost between a low quality and high quality 15amp duplex outlet? It’s about $0.10 – ten cents!
A final note on appliances (this includes washers and dryers). Truth be told, over the last 20 years, appliances have steadily fallen in their life expectancy. Regardless of brand, price paid, or who installed it, consider yourself extremely lucky if you get 10 years before calling for repairs. I highly recommend purchasing an extended warranty on all appliances.
I hope this helps you answer the question “How Long Do Things Last In A House?”
