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CALL (734) 748-9584

EMAIL US

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Estimated Life Expectancy Chart

The following chart details the predicted life expectancy of household materials and components. 
 
Interior and exterior paints can last for 15 years or longer, however homeowners often paint more frequently. Surface preparation is likely the most important determiner of paint life expectancy.
 
ADHESIVES, CAULK AND PAINTS
YEAR
Caulking
5-10
Paint  
7
Roofing Adhesives  
15+
 
Appliance life expectancy depends to a great extent on the use it receives. Furthermore, consumers often replace appliances long before they become worn out due to changes in styling, technology and consumer preferences. Of a home’s major appliances, gas ranges have the longest life expectancy.
 
APPLIANCES      
YEARS
Air-Conditioners    
8-15
Boilers
20-35
Compactors
6
Dehumidifiers
8
Dishwashers
9
Disposers, Food waste
12
Dryers
13
Exhaust Fans
10
Freezers   
10-20
Furnaces   
15-25
Gas Ovens
10-18
Heat Pumps
16
Humidifiers
8
Microwave Ovens
9
Range/Oven Hoods
14
Electric Ranges
13-15
Refrigerators
9-13
Washing Machine
5 -15
Water Heaters
10-11
 
 
BATHROOM
YEARS
Cast Iron Bathtub 
50
Fiberglass  Bathtub and Shower
10-15
Shower Door
25
Toilet
50
Kitchens are in the process of becoming larger and more elaborate, and together with the family room, modern kitchens now form the “great room.”
Great rooms are a place to cook as well as a space where people gather to read, talk, eat, do homework, surf the Internet, and pay bills.
 
CABINETRY & STORAGE   
YEARS
Bath Cabinets 
100+ 
Closet Shelves  100+
Entertainment Centers/Home Office 10
Garage/Laundry Cabinets 100+
Kitchen Cabinets 50
Medicine Cabinets 20+
Modular/Stock Manufacturing Type
50 
 
 
Walls and ceilings last the full lifespan of the home.
 
CEILINGS, WALLS & FINISHES
YEARS
Acoustical Ceiling
100+
Ceiling Suspension    
100+
Ceramic Tile
100+
Standard Gypsum
100+
 
Natural stone countertops, which are less expensive than they were just a few years ago, are becoming more popular and one can expect them to last a lifetime. Cultured marble countertops have a shorter life expectancy, however.
 
COUNTERTOPS
YEARS
Cultured Marble   
20
Natural Stone
100+
Laminate Countertops
20 – 30
Tile
100+
Wood
100+
 
Decks are exposed to a wide range of conditions in different climates, from wind and hail in some areas to relatively consistent, dry weather, in others. Under ideal conditions, they have a life expectancy of about 20 years but they can fail much sooner.
 
DECKS
YEARS 
Deck Planks
25
Wood
10-30
 
Exterior fiberglass, steel and wood doors will last as long as the house, while vinyl and screen doors have a shorter life expectancy. Closet doors may last a lifetime, but French doors will fail sooner.
 
DOORS
YEARS
Closet (Interior) 
100+
Fiberglass (Exterior) 
100+
Fire-Rated Steel (Exterior)
100+
French (Interior) 
30-50
Screen (Exterior)
40
Vinyl (Exterior) 20
Wood (Exterior)
100+
Wood (Hollow Core Interior)
20 – 30
Wood (Solid Core Interior)
30 – 100+
 
Floor and roof trusses and laminated strand lumber are durable household components, and engineered trim may last 30 years.
 
ENGINEERED LUMBER
YEARS
Engineered Trim
30
Laminated Strand Lumber
100+
Laminated Veneer Lumber
80+
Trusses
100+
 
 
FIXTURES & FAUCETS
YEARS
Accessible/ADA Products
100+
Enamel Steel Kitchen Sinks
5-10
Faucets
15-20
Modified Acrylic Kitchen Sinks
50
Saunas/Steam Rooms
15-20
Shower Doors
20+
Shower Enclosures/Modules
50
Shower heads
100+
Soapstone Kitchen Sinks
100+
Toilets/Bidets
100+
Whirlpool Tubs
20-50
 
Natural wood floorings may last as long as the house. Marble, slate, and granite are also expected to last for about 100 years, but require more maintenance. Vinyl floors last up to 50 years, linoleum about 25 years, and carpet between 8 and 10 years (with appropriate maintenance and normal traffic).
 
FLOORING
YEARS
All Wooden Floors
100+
Bamboo
100+
Brick Pavers
100+
Carpet
8-10
Concrete
50+
Engineered Wood
50+
Exotic Wood
100+
Granite
100+
Laminate
15-25
Linoleum
25
Marble
100+
Other Domestic Wood
100+
Slate
100
Terrazo
75+
Tile
75-100
Vinyl
25
 
 
Concrete and poured block footings and foundations will last a lifetime, assuming they were properly built. Termite proofing of foundations will last about 12 years if the chemical barriers put in place during construction are left intact. Waterproofing with bituminous coating lasts 10 years, but if it cracks it is immediately damaged.
 
FOOTING & FOUNDATIONS
YEARS
Baseboard System
50
Bituminous Coating Waterproofing
10
Cast Iron Waste Pipe (Above Ground)
60+
Cast Iron Waste Pipe (Below ground)
50 – 60
Concrete Block
100+
Concrete Waste Pipe
100
Poured Footings and Foundations 
100+
Pumps, Sumps, and Wells
5-12
Termite Proofing
12
 
 
Framing and structural systems have extended longevities; poured-concrete systems, timber frame houses and structural insulated panels will all last a lifetime. Wall panels and roof and floor trusses will also last a lifetime. Hardboard, softwood, and plywood last an average of 30 years, while OSB and particleboard are expected to last twice that long.
 
FRAMING & OTHER STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS
YEARS
Poured-Concrete Systems
100+
Structural Insulated Panels
100+
Timber Frame Homes
100+
 
 
Garage door openers are expected to last 10 to 15 years, and light inserts will last slightly longer.
 
GARAGES
YEARS
Garage Doors
20-25
Garage Door Openers   
10-15
Light Inserts
20
 
 
Home technology systems have diverse life expectancies. While a built-in audio system will last 20 years, security systems and heat/smoke detectors have life expectancies of 5 to 10 years. Wireless home networks and home automation systems are expected to work properly for more than 50 years.
 
HOME TECHNOLOGY
YEARS
Built-in Audio
20
Home Automation Systems
100+ 
Security Systems
5-10
Smoke/Heat Detectors 
Less Than 10 
Wireless Home Networks
50+
 
 
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems require regular maintenance in order to work properly, but even well-maintained systems only last 15 to 25 years. Furnaces, on average, last 15-20 years, heat pumps last 16 years, and air conditioning units last 10-15 years. Tankless water heaters last more than 20 years, while an electric or gas water heater has a life expectancy of about 10 years. Thermostats may last 35 years but they are usually replaced before they fail due to technological improvements.
 
HVAC
YEARS
Air Conditioners
10-15
Air Quality Systems
15
Attic Fans
15 – 25
Boilers
13-21
Burners
10+
Central Air Conditioning Unit
12-15
Dampers
20+
Dehumidifiers
8
Diffusers, Grilles, and Registers
25
Ducting
10
DX, Water, Or Steam
20
Electric
15
Electric Radiant Heater 
40
Furnaces
15-20
Heat Exchangers, shell + tube
10-15
Heat Pumps
16
Heat Recovery Ventilators
20
Hot Water or Steam Radiant Heater
40
Induction and Fan-Coil Units
10-15
Molded Insulation
100+
Shell and Tube
20
Thermostats
35
Ventilators 7
Water Heaters
20+
 
 
As long as they are not punctured, cut, or burned and are kept dry and away from UV rays, cellulose, fiberglass, and foam insulation materials will last a lifetime. This is true regardless of whether they were installed as loose fill, house wrap, or batts/rolls.
 
INSULATION & INFILTRATION BARRIERS
YEARS
Batts/Rolls
100+
Cellulose
100+
Fiberglass
100+
Foam
100+
House Wrap
100+
Loose Fill
100+
 
 
Ladders are expected to last a lifetime, but life expectancy of lifts is significantly shorter.
 
JOB SITE EQUIPMENT
YEARS
Ladders
100+
Lifts
8-10
 
 
Copper plated wiring, copper clad aluminum, and bare copper wiring are expected to last a lifetime, whereas electrical accessories and lighting controls may need to be replaced after 10 years.
 
LIGHTING & ELECTRICAL
YEARS
Accessories
10+
Bare Copper
100+
Copper Clad Aluminum
100+
Copper Plated
100+
Lighting Controls
10+
 
 
Masonry is one of the most enduring household components. Fireplaces, chimneys, and brick veneers can last the lifetime of a home.
 
MASONRY & CONCRETE   
YEARS
Brick
100+
Sealer Caulking 
2-20
Stone
100+
Veneer
100+
 
 
Custom millwork will last a lifetime, and all stairs – circular and spiral stairs, prebuilt stairs and attic stairs – are expected to last a lifetime.
 
MOLDING & MILLWORK
YEARS
Attic Stairs   
100+
Custom Millwork
100+
Prebuilt Stairs
100+
Stair Parts
100+
Stairs, Circular & Spiral
100+
 
Lifetime of any wood product depend on level of moisture intrusion
PANELS
YEARS
Flooring Underlayment 
25
Hardboard
30
Particleboard
60
Plywood
60
Softwood
30
Oriented-Strand Board
60 
Wall Panels
100+
 
 
The life of a roof depends on local weather conditions, building and design, material quality, and adequate maintenance. Slate, copper, and clay/concrete roofs have the longest life expectancy while roofs made of asphalt shingles, fiber cement or wood shakes will fail sooner.
 
ROOFING
YEARS
Aluminum Coating
3-7
Asphalt Shingles (3 – tab)
20
Asphalt (Architectural)
30
BUR (Built-up Roof)
30
Clay/Concrete
100+
Coal and Tar
30
Copper
100+
EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) Rubber
15 – 25
Fiber Cement
25
Modified Bitumen
20
Simulated Slate
50
Slate
50+
TPO
7 – 20
Wood
30
 
 
Outside materials typically last a lifetime. Brick, vinyl, engineered wood, stone (both natural and manufactured), and fiber cement will last as long the house. Exterior wood shutters are expected to last 20 years, depending on weather conditions. Gutters have a life expectancy of more than 50 years if made of copper and for 20 years if made of aluminum. Copper downspouts last 100 years or more, while aluminum ones will last 30 years.
 
SIDING & ACCESSORIES
YEARS
Aluminum Downspouts
30
Aluminum Gutters   
20
Aluminum/Interior Shutters
10+
Brick
100+
Copper Downspouts
100
Copper Gutters
50+
Engineered Wood
100+
Fiber Cement
100+
Galvanized Steel Gutters/Downspouts
20
Manufactured Stone
100+
Soffits/Fascias
50
Stone
100+
Stucco
50 – 100
Trim
25
Vinyl 100+
Wood/Exterior Shutters 20
Wood/Interior Shutters 15+
 
 
Most landscaping elements have a life expectancy of 15 to 25 years. Sprinklers and valves last about 20 years, while underground PVC piping has a lifespan of 25 years. Polyvinyl fences are designed to last as long as the house, and asphalt driveways should last between 15 and 20 years. Tennis courts can last a lifetime if they are recoated; most coatings last 12 to 15 years. The concrete shell of a swimming pool is expected to last more than 25 years, but the interior plaster and tile have life expectancies of about 10 to 25 years.
 
SITE & LANDSCAPING
YEARS
American Red Clay
100+
Asphalt Driveway
15-20
Asphalt with Acrylic Coating or Cushion
12-15
Brick & Concrete Patios
15-25
Clay Paving
100+
Cleaning Equipment(Swimming Pool)
7-10
Coating
5-7
Concrete Shell (Swimming Pool)
25+
Concrete Walks
10-20
Controllers
15
Decking(Swimming Pool)
15
Fast-Dry Green Tennis Court 100+
Fast-Dry with Subsurface
100+
Gravel Walks
4-6
Interior Finish (Swimming Pool)
10-35
Polyvinyl Fences 100+
Sprinklers 10-14
Underground PVC Piping 60+
Valves
20
Waterline Tile (Swimming Pool)
10
 
 
Aluminum windows are expected to last between 15 and 20 years while wooden windows should last nearly 30 years.
 
SKYLIGHTS & WINDOWS
YEARS
Aluminum/Aluminum Clad
15-20
Window Glazing 10+
Vinyl Windows
20 – 40
Wood
30+

Note: Life expectancy varies with usage, weather, installation, maintenance and quality of materials. Items listed as lasting 100+ years, especially those that open and close, often fail prematurely due to misuse or overuse. This list should be used only as a general guideline, not as a guarantee or warranty regarding the performance or life expectancy of any product.

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