InterNACHI's Estimated Life Expectancy Chart
The following chart details the
predicted life expectancy of household materials and components.
Although the chart may seem to vary greatly one must remember that the price one pays for a product or service often relays a type of quality and also the maintenance it receives in its lifetime would help the product extend its variable life .
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+
|
|
Solid Surface
|
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 Enclosures/Modules
|
50
|
|
Shower heads
|
100+
|
|
Soapstone Kitchen Sinks
|
100+
|
|
Toilets/Bidets
|
100+
|
|
Whirlpool Tubs
|
20-50
|
Natural wood floorings may las 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 Unite
|
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
|
40- 50
|
|
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.