Michael Emilio

From Florida Association of Realtors:

How long will a home improvement actually remain an improvement? How long do new wood floors last? New stoves? A new countertop?

A study sponsored by Bank of America Home Equity and conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) attempts to quantify lifespan, with a nod to the fact that many factors – use, maintenance, climate, advances in technology and simple consumer preferences – can have a dramatic effect on product longevity. The National Association of Home Builders/Bank of America Home Equity Study of the Life Expectancies of Home Components was conducted in the summer of 2006.

“By polling experts in a wide range of fields, we learned that many home components are expected to last for the life of the house,” says Gopal Ahluwalia, staff vice president for research and surveys in NAHB’s Economics Group. “Among them are toilets, wood floors, all types of insulation, and fiberglass, steel and wood exterior doors. On the other hand, some components have a much shorter life expectancy. Wood decks should last about 20 years, depending on climate, and kitchen faucets should last about 15 years. Linoleum floors have a life expectancy of about 25 years, and furnaces can be expected to last 15 to 20 years.”

“It’s important to remember that the life expectancies for materials included in this study are averages,” says Ahluwalia. A number of other factors can influence it. “For example, the practical life expectancy of kitchen cabinets is about 50 years. However, many people buying a 15- or 20-year-old house would make installing new, updated kitchen cabinets a priority. Likewise, some home owners paint their homes every year or two, even though interior paint has a practical life expectancy of about 15 years.”

According to the study, the life expectancy of a typical appliance varies. Of the major appliances in a home, gas ranges have the longest life expectancy: 15 years. Dryers and refrigerators last about 13 years. Some of the appliances with the shortest lifespan are: compactors (6 years), dishwashers (9 years) and microwave ovens (9 years).

Kitchen cabinets are expected to last up to 50 years, medicine cabinets for 20-plus years, and garage/laundry cabinets for 100-plus years. Closet shelves are expected to last a lifetime.

Natural stone countertops, which are less expensive than a few years ago, are gaining in popularity and are expected to last a lifetime. Cultured marble countertops have a life expectancy of about 20 years.

Exterior fiberglass, steel and wood doors will last as long as the house exists, while vinyl and screen doors have a life expectancy of 20 and 40 years, respectively. Closet doors are expected to last a lifetime, and French doors have an average life of 30 to 50 years.

Copper plated wiring, copper clad aluminum, and bare copper wiring are expected to last a lifetime, whereas electrical accessories and lighting controls are expected to last 10+ years.

Kitchen sinks made of modified acrylic will last 50 years, while kitchen faucets will work properly for about 15 years. The average life of bathroom shower enclosures is 50 years. Showerheads last a lifetime, while shower doors will last about 20 years. Bath cabinets and toilets have an unlimited lifespan, but the components inside the toilet tank do require some maintenance. Whirlpool tubs will function properly for 20 to 50 years, depending on use.

All natural wood floorings have a life expectancy of 100 years or more. Marble, slate, and granite are also expected to last for about 100 years, but can last less due to a lack of 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).

The complete study is free and available in PDF format at NAHB.org.

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