Normal Life Expectancy

[John McKenna]

There was once a posting about the
Normal Life Expectancy Of Housing Components
& Systems... but I lost the link.

Does anyone remember where that page can
be located? Thanks for your help.

[Michael R. Boyett]

I use one with data from the NAHB:

Life Expectancies.PDF

[Bruce A. King]

The below listing is a sampling of life expectancies for different products and materials used in homes, as listed in a report titled "1997 Housing Facts, Figures and Trends" published by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), Washington, D.C.

APPLIANCES
Compactor - 10 years.
Dishwasher - 10 years.
Garbage Disposer - 10 years.
Dryer - 10 years.
Freezer (compact) - 12 years.
Freezer (standard) - 16 years.
Microwave Oven - 11 years.
Range (freestanding and built-in, electric) - 17 years.
Range (freestanding and built-in, gas) - 19 years.
Range (high oven, gas) - 14 years.
Refrigerator (compact) - 14 years.
Refrigerator (standard) - 17 years.
Washer (automatic and compact) - 13 years.
Exhaust Fans - 20 years.

BATHROOM FIXTURES
Cast Iron bathtub - 50 years.
Fiberglass bathtub and shower - 10-15 years.
Shower door (average quality) - 25 years.
Toilet - 50 years.

CABINETS
Kitchen cabinets - 15-20 years.
Medicine cabinet/bath vanity - 20 years.

COUNTERTOPS
Laminate - 10-15 years.
Ceramic tile (high grade installation) - Lifetime.
Wood/butcher block - 20+ years.
Granite - 20+ years.

DOORS
Screen - 25 - 50 years.
Interior (not perfect hollow core) - <30 years to life.
Interior (solid core) - 30 years to life.
Exterior (protected overhang) - 80-100 years.
Exterior (unprotected and exposed) - 25-30 years.
Folding - 30 years to life.
Garage door - 20 - 50 years.
Garage door opener - 10 years.

FINISHES (Used for waterproofing)
Paint, plaster and stucco - 3-5 years.
Sealer, silicone, and waxes - 1-5 years.

FLOORS
Oak or pine - Lifetime
Slate flagstone - Lifetime
Vinyl sheet or tile - minimum
Terrazzo - Lifetime
Carpeting - 11 years
Marble - Lifetime

FOOTINGS & FOUNDATIONS
Poured footing & foundation - 200 years.
Concrete block - 100 years.
Cement - 50 years.
Waterproofing (bituminous coating) - 10 years.
Termite proofing - 5 years.

HEATING, VENTILATION & AIR CONDITIONING
Air conditioning unit (central) - 15 years.
Air conditioning unit (window) - 10 years.
Baseboard heat units - 20 years.
Humidifier - 8 years.
Water Heater (electric) - 14 years.
Water Heater (gas) - 11 - 13 years.
Forced air furnace, heat pump - 15 years.
Furnace, gas or oil fired - 18 years.

HOME SECURITY APPLIANCES
Intrusion system - 14 years.
Smoke Detector - 12 years.
Smoke/fire/intrusion system - 10 years.

LANDSCAPING
Wooden deck - 15 years.
Brick and concrete patio - 24 years.
Tennis court - 10 years.
Concrete walk - 24 years.
Gravel walk - 4 years.
Asphalt driveway - 10 years.
Swimming pool - 18 years.
Sprinkler system - 12 years.
Fence - 12 years.

PAINTS & STAINS
Exterior paint on wood, brick and aluminum - 7-10 years.
Interior wall paint - 5-10 years.
Interior trim and door paint - 5-10 years.
Interior wallpaper - 7 years.

PLUMBING
Faucets (low quality) - 13-15 years.
Faucets (high quality) 15-20 years.
Sinks (enamel steel sink) - 5-10 years.
Sinks (enamel cast iron sink) - 25-30 years.
Sinks (Porcelain sink) - 25-30 years.
Waste pipe (concrete) - 50-100 years.
Waste pipe (cast iron) - 75-100 years.

ROOFING
Asphalt and wood shingles and shakes - 15-30 years.
Asphalt composition shingle - 15-30 years.
Asphalt overlag - 25-35 years.
Built-up roofing (asphalt) - 12-25 years.
Built-up roofing (coat and tar) - 12-30 years.
Gutters and downspouts - 30 years.
Slate - 50-100 years.
Sheet metal - 20-50 years.
Tile - 50 years.

SIDING
Aluminum Siding - 20-50 years.
Steel Siding - 50 years to Life.
Vinyl Siding - 50 years.
Wood Siding - 10 - 100 years.

WINDOWS
Aluminum casement - 10-20 years.
Screens - 25 - 50 years.
Window glazing - 20 years.
Wood casement - 20-50 years

[John McKenna]

Thanks guys...!

[waksell]

I don't give life expectancy's, I let them determine on their own.

In may report;
Life expectancies of systems and components are difficult, if not impossible to predict. Some items may well exceed expected life spans, while others may fail much sooner than anticipated. There are many factors that can influence the life expectancy of a roof. The type and grade of material used, installation, design, pitch, ventilation, weather, environmental conditions, orientation, impact damage, maintenance, etc. Items such as the water heater and the HVAC system can depend on, grade of equipment, installation, power-water-air supply, location, maintenance, etc., or it could have sat in a warehouse and been two, three, or more, years old when it was installed. A home inspector can only report their condition at the time of the inspection.
There are many sites on the Internet that address life expectancies, here are a few;
http://www.oldhouseweb.com/stories/Detailed/267.shtml
http://www.oldhouseweb.com/stories/Detailed/10382.shtml
http://www.demesne.info/Home-Maintenance/Home-Systems-Life.htm
http://www.demesne.info/Home-Maintenance/Appliance-Life-Expectancy.htm

[Marcel R. Cyr]

I have the same listings as you guys on the life expectancy.

I refrain from advising on how long their average life is based on by my own record.
An example;

Dishwasher 1 in 14 years was still running when I left.
2 in next 18 years

Microwave Montgomery ward, purchase 1972, died 2006

Range 1 in 14 years was still running when I left.
1 in 18 years and still running. Bought a new one.

Refrigerator 1 in 14 years and still running when I left.
1 in 16 years and still running.

Fiberglass tub 2 in 18 years.

toilet 50 years, you have got to be kidding.
three in 18 years.

So, you see, depending on the use, wear and tear, abuse, upkeep, ugliness, and old, you can not really expect to have an average that will work for everyone.

At the least, one would be safer to estimated how old something is and let the client (buyer) run his or her own expectations as to how long something will last. I suppose one could give them a list of these averages and let them decide on their own.

Marcel


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[Bruce A. King]

I agree, I do not use the list either.

I do warn clients that hvac units can fail and in the case of non R410 split systems, both will have to be replaced at a high cost.