"How Long Should it Last?"

February 3, 2009

"How Long Should it Last?" was the title of an article in the February 2009 Realtor Magazine.

Replacing some components of a home can be costly and for a prospective buyer of a resale home, it could be interesting to know what the projected lifetime of these components might be. Obviously the maintenance of the home may positively or negatively influence the longevity of the appliances and building materials.

Here is the information provided in this article:

100 years or more: Brick siding, all wooden floors, cellulose insulation material

50-100 years: Slate, copper, clay and concrete roofs(50+), copper gutters (50+) kitchen cabinets (up to 50), modified acrylic kitchen sinks (50), Vinyl floors (50)

30-50 years: Thermostats (35), wooden windows (30) wood shake roofs (30) french interior doors (30-50)

10-20 years: Built-in audio system (20), aluminum windows (15-20), asphalt shingle roofs (20),

faucets, kitchen sinks (15), gas ranges (15), cultured marble counter tops (20), dryers and refrigerators (13), air conditioning units (10-15), lighting controls (10+), interior and exterior paints (15+), electric or gas water heaters (10) furnaces(15-20)

5-10 years: security systems (5-10), heat and smoke detectors (5-10), dishwashers (9), microwave ovens (9), carpet (8-10).

Many of these items are replaced because of redecorating desires. Others are seldom replaced until they totally fail. The projected time lines came from the National Association of Home Builders and is their estimate presented for homeowners to use in deciding whether to replace an appliance or other component in the home.