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When building a new home, you are investing a lot of hard work, time, and money.

But have you given any thought to just how long those things that you’re installing are going to last? I have.

Recently the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) shed some light on the life expectancy of common components inside a home — everything from appliances, cabinetry, and flooring… to roofing, plumbing, and HVAC.

Have a look…

Case In Point: My Washer & Dryer

My mother-in-law and I recently had this same conversation.

I asked her how long she thought a washer & dryer should last. She thought maybe 10 years.

I told her my Kenmore washer & dryer were purchased in 1992, making them 15 years old — and still going strong!

Shock and awe were expressed by all.

Turns out, according to this NAHB study, washers and dryers typically last 10 to 13 years.

…So I guess I’ve gotten my money’s worth!

Results From The NAHB Study: Summarized

What follows are the life expectancies of home components, based on how long items typically last, on average.

That means that some last longer, and others don’t last as long… based on frequency and type of use, as well as routine maintenance and upkeep.

NOTE: There is a wealth of information from the study that is not included here. To view the exact sources, special circumstances, and exceptions see the complete study here.

Appliances Cooktops – electric 13 years Cooktops – gas 15 years Cooktops – magnetic induction 10 years Dishwashers 9 years Dryers – electric 13 years Dryers – gas 13 years Exhaust Fans 10 years Freezers 11 years Garbage Disposals 12 years Microwave Ovens 9 years Range/Oven Hoods 14 years Ranges – electric 13 years Ranges – gas 15 years Refrigerators – compact 9 years Refrigerators – standard 13 years Trash Compactors 6 years Washing Machines 10 years

Cabinetry & Shelving Bathroom Cabinets Lifetime Closet Shelving Lifetime Entertainment Centers 10 years Garage Cabinets 100 years Home Office Desk Units 10 years Kitchen Cabinets 50 years Laundry Cabinets 100 years Medicine Cabinets 20 years

Countertops Cultured Marble Countertops 20 years Natural Stone Countertops Lifetime Tile Countertops Lifetime Wood Countertops Lifetime

Decks Wooden Deck Planks 25 years Wooden Decks 20 years

Doors – Exterior Fiberglass Doors Lifetime Screen Doors – pine 20 years Screen Doors – cedar 40 years Screen Doors – mahogany 60 years Steel Doors Lifetime Vinyl Doors 20 years Wood Doors Lifetime

Doors – Interior Closet Doors Lifetime French Doors 30-50 years

Electrical & Lighting Copper Plated Wiring Lifetime Copper Clad Aluminum Lifetime Bare Copper Wiring Lifetime Electrical Lighting Accessories 10 years Electrical Lighting Controls 10 years

Engineered Lumber Engineered Trim 30 years Floor Lifetime Laminated Strand Lumber Lifetime Laminated Veneer Lumber 30 years Roof Trusses Lifetime

Faucets and Fixtures Accessible/ADA Products Lifetime Faucets, Bar/Hospitality 15 years Faucets, Kitchen Sinks 15 years Faucets, Bathroom 20 years Faucets, Toilets/Bidets 10 years Faucets, Tub/Shower 20 years Saunas/Steam Rooms 15-20 years Shower Doors 20 years Shower Enclosures/Modules 50 years Showerheads Lifetime Sinks – modified acrylic 50 years Sinks – enamel steel 5-10 years Sinks – soapstone 100 years Toilets & Bidets Lifetime Whirlpool Tubs 20-50 years

Flooring Bamboo Flooring Lifetime Brick Pavers 100 years Carpet Flooring 8-10 years Concrete Flooring 50 years Granite Flooring 100 years Laminate Flooring 15-25 years Linoleum Flooring 25 years Marble Flooring 100 years Slate Flooring 100 years Terrazo Flooring 75 years Tile Flooring 75-100 years Vinyl Flooring 50 years Wood Flooring – all natural 100 years Wood Flooring – engineered 50 years Wood Flooring – exotic Lifetime Wood Flooring – other domestic Lifetime

Footings & Foundations Baseboard System 50 years Concrete Block Lifetime Poured Concrete Lifetime Termite Proofing 12 years Waterproofing with Bituminous Coating 10 years

Framing & Structural Systems Floor Trusses Lifetime Poured Concrete Systems Lifetime Roof Trusses Lifetime Structural Insulated Panels Lifetime Timber Frame Lifetime

Garages Garage Door Openers 10-15 years Garage Light Inserts 20 years

Gutters & Downspouts Downspouts – aluminum 30 years Downspouts – copper 100 years Gutters – aluminum 20 years Gutters – copper 50 years Gutters – galvanized steel 20 years

Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) Air Conditioners – room 10 years Air Conditioners – central 15 years Air Quality Systems 15 years Boilers – electric 13 years Boilers – gas 21 years Burners 10 years Dampers 20 years Dehumidifiers 8 years Diffusers, Grilles & Registers 25 years Ducting 10 years DX – water or steam 20 years DX – electric 15 years Furnaces – warm-air, electric 15 years Furnaces – warm-air, gas 18 years Furnaces – warm-air, oil 20 years Heat Pumps 16 years Heat Recovery Ventilators 20 years Humidifiers 8 years Induction & Fan-Coil Units 10-15 years Radiant Heater – electric 40 years Radiant Heater –

hot water or steam 15 years Shell-and-Tube 20 years Thermostats 35 years Ventilators 7 years Water Heaters – electric 11 years Water Heaters – gas 10 years Water Heaters – tankless 20 years

Home Technology Built-in Audio Systems 20 years Heat/smoke Detectors 5-10 years Security Systems 5-10 years Wireless Home Automation Systems 50 years Wireless Home Networks 50 years

Insulation & Infiltration Barriers Batts/Rolls of Insulation Lifetime Cellulose Lifetime Fiberglass Lifetime Foam Lifetime House Wrap Insulation Lifetime Loose Fill Insulation Lifetime

Jobsite Equipment Ladders Lifetime Lifts 8-10 years

Masonry Brick Veneers Lifetime Brick Walls 100 years Chimneys Lifetime Fireplaces Lifetime

Molding & Millwork Custom Millwork Lifetime Stair Parts Lifetime Stairs – attic Lifetime Stairs – circular Lifetime Stairs – prebuilt Lifetime Stairs – spiral Lifetime

Paint, Caulks & Adhesives Exterior paints 15 years Interior paints 15 years

Panels Hardboard Panels 30 years Softwood Panels 30 years Oriented Strand Board (OSB) 60 years Particleboard 60 years Plywood 25-30 years Underlayment – flooring 25 years Wall Panels Lifetime

Plumbing Cast iron Pipes 100 years Concrete Pipes 100 years

Roofing Asphalt Shingles 20 years Aluminium Roof Coating 3-7 years Clay/Concrete Lifetime Coal and Tar 30 years Copper Roofs Lifetime Fiber Cement Shingles 25 years Modified Bitumen 20 years Simulated Slate Roofs 50 years Slate Roofs 50 years Wood Shakes 30 years

Shutters Aluminium Shutters – interior 10 years Wood Shutters – exterior 20 years Wood Shutters – interior 15 years

Siding & Accessories Brick Siding Lifetime Engineered Wood Siding Lifetime Fiber Cement Siding Lifetime Stone Siding – natural Lifetime Stone Siding – manufactured Lifetime Stucco Siding 50-100 years Vinyl Siding Lifetime

Site & Landscaping Asphalt driveways 15-20 years Clay Paving Lifetime Controllers 15 years Polyvinyl fences Lifetime Sprinklers 20 years Underground PVC piping 25 years Valves 20 years

Swimming Pools Cleaning Equipment 7-10 years Concrete Shell 25 years Decking 15 years Interior Finish – pebble-tec 25-35 years Interior Finish – plaster 10-15 years Interior Finish – tile 15-25 years Waterline Tile 10 years

Walls, Ceilings & Finishes Acoustical Ceiling Lifetime Ceiling Suspension Lifetime Ceramic Tile Lifetime Standard Gypsum Lifetime

Windows & Skylights Aluminum/Aluminum Clad 15-20 years Window Glazing 10 years Wood Windows 30 years

For complete details including all sources, special circumstances, and exceptions see the complete NAHB study here (dated February 2007).

Some Surprising Findings, In My Opinion

Of all the items listed here, only a few took me by surprise.

Specifically:

Smoke Detectors only last 5-10 years

Ditto for Home Security Systems

Copper Gutters last 50 years vs Aluminum Gutters 20 years

Copper Downspouts 100 years vs Aluminum Downspouts 30 years

I guess that’s why you’re starting to see so many more copper roofing materials used these days!

And I couldn’t help but wonder… what’s the life expectancy of steel metal or aluminum roofs? You see more and more people choosing this form of roofing for their new home, especially log home owners. Did I just miss it in the report?

All in all, I am so thankful to the National Association of Home Builders for doing this study, as the information is worth its weight in gold for homebuilders and remodelers!

The Chances Of A Breakdown…

Now, what are the chances of various household items breaking down? Do you know which products are most likely to need repaired or replaced?

The following numbers are based on 3- to 4-year old items, beginning with those most likely to need repairs:

Refrigerators (side-by-side with icemaker and water dispenser): 37%



Washing Machines (front-loading): 29%



Washing Machines (top-loading): 22%



Dishwashers: 21%



Refrigerators (top- or bottom-freezer with icemaker): 20%



Ranges (gas): 20%



Wall Ovens (electric): 19%



Cooktops (gas): 17%



Microwave Ovens (over-the-range): 17%



Dryers: 15%



Refrigerators (top- or bottom-freezer with NO icemaker): 12%



Ranges (electric): 11%



Cooktops (electric): 11%

Source: ShopSmartmag

We’ve gone through the entire process of designing and planning every single detail of our dream log home! We have the blueprints… and the land… and the contractor… and the goal for our log cabin home to be our retirement home. Before you build (or buy) a log home, I have a slew of helpful tips for you — to plan, design, build, decorate, and maintain your very own rustic modern log home. When I’m not fine-tuning the log home of my dreams, you’ll find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites). To date, I’ve written nearly 300 articles for current and future log home owners on this site! Many of them have over 50K shares. franklin.thefuntimesguide.com/the_face_behind_the_blog/