Consumerism has taught us to think about fast replacement, instead of "making it last".
How long will your house last? Watching the house restoration shows on TV should give some clues, but here's some specifics from a Los Angeles Times article by Calvin Woodward dated 2/16/1997, and more from the a 2006 National Assn of Homebuilders home life expectancy chart:
Dishwasher - 10 years
Microwave - 9-11 years (mine was going strong at 16 years)
Brick, masonry, stone wall - 100 years
Wood decks - 15-20 years
Garage door openers - 10-15 years
Furnaces - 15-20 years
Drywall -
Heat/Smoke detectors - 5-10 years
Natural stone counters - lifetime
Cultured marble counters - 20 years
Kitchen cabinets - 50 years
Garage/laundry cabinets - 100 years
Gas range - 15 years (that depends, too, some are 50-60 years old or more)
Wood flooring - 100 years +
Vinyl floors - 50 years
Carpet - 8-10 years (depends on traffic)
Roof, asphalt or wood shingles and shakes- 15-30 years; slate, 50-100 and more
Gutters - 30 years
Concrete walk - 24 years
Swimming pool - 18 years
PVC piping - 25 years
Polyvinyl fences - lifetime
Asphalt driveway - 15-20 years
These are general guidelines only, because quality of maintenance is a strong factor in the life of any of these items. Geography is the other: a salt-air climate will have a much different impact than a dry desert climate.
Julia Huntsman, Broker Associate, e-PRO®, REALTOR®
All California Brokerage, Inc. 562-896-2609 mailto:ocean@surfside.net http://www.juliahuntsman.com http://www.longbeachrealestate.blogspot.com http://www.longbeachrealestate.listingbook.com
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