If you're a homeowners then its good to know how long you can expect your house to stand against time. Since there are different construction materials, different quality appliances, flooring, and utilities, some houses have shorter lifespans than others.
Overall, the median age of a home in the U.S is 37 years, which means that most properties will need to be repaired at some point. Make sure to include a home inspection contingency in an offer when considering buying a house. This allows you to get the home professionally inspected.
According to the National Association of Home Builders and the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, these are the lifespan of some features of a typical American home.
Countertop life expectancy depends on the material. For instance, concrete counters, marble, and laminate last about 50 years, 20 years and 20 to 30, respectively. On the other hand tile, natural stone, and wood countertops last 100 years or more.
Flooring in a house has an approximate lifespan very variable, while wood floors usually last a century or longer, linoleum, vinyl and laminate only last a maximum of 25 years. Bamboo, brick, marble, slate, and tile can last upwards of 100 years as well.
Exterior Features
- Roof: 20 to 50 years.
- Brick: 100-plus years.
- Veneer: Lifetime.
- Caulking: 2 to 10 years
- Stucco: 50 to 100 years
- Wood decking: 10 to 30 years
- Doors: 20 years to a lifetime, depending on the material
- Poured foundation: Lifetime.
- Garage door openers: 10 to 15 years
- Paints and stains: 15 years
- Shutters: 15 to 20 years.
- Gutters: 20 to 100 years.
- Asphalt driveway: 15 to 20 years.
- Windows: 10 to 30 years.
Appliances
Appliances have a shorter lifespan than other home components. Elements like dehumidifiers, microwaves, other kitchen appliances, and trash compactors last a short period of time compared with other home features, requiring replacement within 9 to 10 years, depending on the quality and brand. Longer-lasting appliances are gas boilers, and furnaces, with a lifespan of a reported 21 years and 20 years.
*more appliances plus their life expectancy.
- Trash compactors: 6 to 10 years.
- Dishwashers: 9 years.
- Washers: 10 years.
- Dryers: 13 years.
- Freezers: 11 years.
- Refrigerators: 9 to 13 years.
- Water heaters: 10 to 11 years.
- Furnaces: 15 to 20 years.
- Window air conditioners: 5 to 7 years.
Household Systems
Electrical systems have the longest lifespans in most of the cases, though security systems, air conditioners, and air ducting seem to need replacement the soonest.
- Security: 5 to 10 years.
- Air conditioner: 10 to 15 years.
- Smoke detectors: 10 years.
- Thermostats: 35 years.
- Air ducting: 10 years.
- Solar panels: 20 to 30 years.
- AFCI & GFCI circuit breakers: 30 years.
- Electrical service panel: 60 years.
- Propane generator: 30 years.
Plumbing
Most plumbing features have a fairly significant lifespan. A sink's life expectancy depends on the material, and there a hand full of them. Soapstone sinks last 100 years at least. Enamel steel ones last just 5 to 10 years.
- Faucets: 10 to 20 years.
- Toilets: Lifetime.
- Whirlpool tubs: 20 to 50 years.
- Sinks: 5 to 100 years.
- Showerheads: 100 years.
- Underground PVC piping: 25 years.
- Well pumps: 15 years.