Component life expectancy and estimated repair/replacement costs

Home Inspection• Prelisting Inspection• New Construction Inspection• Warranty Inspection• Commercial Building Inspection

Certified Arizona Home Inspector Phoenix AZ

Component Life Expectancy
and
Component Replacement Costs

A well-built home can last for hundreds of years, but many of its parts must be replaced or renovated regularly. Here's a sampling of life expectancies for different products and materials used in the home, as listed in a report titled "1997 Housing Facts, Figures and Trends" published by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) based in Washington, D.C.

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APPLIANCE / LIFE SPAN (in years)

Compactor / 10 years
Dishwasher / 10 years
Garbage Disposer / 10 years
Dryer / 10 years
Freezer (compact) / 12 years
Freezer (standard) / 16 years
Microwave oven / 11 years
Range (freestanding and built-in, electric) / 17 years
Range (freestanding and built in, gas) / 19 years
Range (high oven, gas) / 14 years
Refrigerator (compact) / 14 years
Refrigerator (standard) / 17 years
Washer (automatic and compact) / 13 years
Exhaust fan / 20 years

BATHROOMS

Cast iron bathtub / 50 years
Fiberglass bathtub and shower / 10-15 years
Shower door (average quality) / 25 years
Toilet / 50 years

CABINETS

Kitchen cabinets / 15-20 years
Medicine cabinet/bath vanity / 20 years

COUNTERTOPS

Laminate / 10-15 years
Ceramic tile (high-grade installation) / Lifetime
Wood/butcher block / 20+ years
Granite / 20+ years

DOORS

Screen / 25-50 years
Interior (not perfect hollow core) / 30 years to life
Interior (solid core) / 30 years to life
Exterior (protected overhang) / 80-100 years
Exterior (unprotected and exposed) / 25-30 years
Folding / 30 years to life
Garage door / 20-50 years
Garage door opener / 10 years

FINISHES (Used for waterproofing)

Paint, plaster and stucco / 3-5 years
Sealer, silicone, and waxes / 1-5 years

FLOORS

Oak or pine / Lifetime
Slate flagstone / Lifetime
Vinyl sheet or tile / Minimum 20-30 years
Terrazzo / Lifetime
Carpeting / 11 years
Marble / Lifetime

FOOTINGS AND FOUNDATIONS

Poured footing and foundation / 200 years
Concrete block / 100 years
Cement / 50 years
Waterproofing (bituminous coating) / 10 years
Termite proofing / 5 years
Baseboard system / 20 years

HEATING, VENTILATION AND AC

Air conditioning unit (central unit) / 15 years
Air conditioning unit (window unit) / 10 years
Humidifier / 8 years
Water heater (electric) / 14 years
Water heater (gas) / 11-13 years
Forced air furnace, heat pump / 15 years
Furnace, gas or oil fired / 18 years

HOME SECURITY APPLIANCES

Intrusion system / 14 years
Smoke detector / 12 years
Smoke/fire/intrusion system / 10 years

LANDSCAPING

Wooden deck / 15 years
Brick and concrete patio / 24 years
Tennis court / 10 years
Concrete walk / 24 years
Gravel walk / 4 years
Asphalt driveway / 10 years
Swimming pool / 18 years
Sprinkler system / 12 years
Fence / 12 years

PAINTS AND STAINS

Exterior paint-wood, brick and aluminum / 7-10 years
Interior wall paint / 5-10 years
Interior trim and door / 5-10 years
Interior wallpaper / 7 years

PLUMBING

Waste pipe (concrete) / 50-100 years
Waste pipe (cast iron) / 75-100 years
Sinks (enamel steel sink) / 5-10 years
Sinks (enamel cast iron sink) / 25-30 years
Sinks (porcelain sink) / 25-30 years
Faucets --low quality / 13-15 years
Faucets-- high quality / 15-20 years

ROOFING

Asphalt and wood shingles and shakes / 15-30 years
Tile / 50 years
Slate / 50-100 years
Sheet metal / 20-50 years
Built-up roofing (asphalt) / 12-25 years
Built-up roofing (coat and tar) / 12-30 years
Asphalt composition shingle / 15-30 years
Asphalt overlap / 25-35 years

SIDING

Gutters and downspouts / 30 years
Siding (wood) / 10-100 years
Siding (steel) / 50 years to life
Siding (aluminum) / 20-50 years
Siding (vinyl) / 50 years to life

WINDOWS

Window glazing / 20 years
Wood casement / 20-50 years
Aluminum casement / 10-20 years
Screen / 25-50 years

Component Costs

Roofing - Flashings - Chimneys

Install conventional asphalt shingles over existing shingles / $1.25 - $2 / sq. ft.
Strip and re-shingle with conventional shingles / $2 - $3 / sq. ft.
Strip and re-roof with cedar shingles / $5 - $7 per sq. ft.
Strip and replace built-up tar and gravel roof / $4 - $6 / sq. ft.
Strip and replace single-ply membrane / $4 - 6 / sq. ft.
Reflash typical chimney / $300 - $500
Reflash typical skylight / $300 - $500
Rebuild typical chimney above roof line / $100-$200 / lin. ft.
Repoint typical chimney above roof line / $20-$30 / row
Install galvanized or aluminum gutters and downspouts / $3 - $5 / lin. ft.

Soffits - Fascias - Repointing - Water Proofing

Install aluminum soffits and fascia / $8 - $12 / lin. ft.
Install aluminum or vinyl siding / $3 - $4.50 / sq. ft.
Repoint exterior wall (soft mortar) / $3 - 4.50 / sq. ft.
Repoint exterior wall (hard mortar) / $6 - $8 / sq. ft.
Parge foundation walls / $3 - $4 / sq. ft.
Damp proof foundation walls and install weeping tile / $60-$120 / lin. ft.

Garages - Decks - Retaining Walls - Foundation

Install a deck / $12- $20 / sq. ft.
Rebuild exterior basement stairwell / $3500 - $5000
Build detached garage (single) / $8000 and up
Build detached garage (double) / $12000 and up
Build retaining wall (wood) / $20 - $25 / sq. ft.
Build retaining wall (concrete) / $30 - $40 / sq. ft.
Structure underpin one corner of house / $3500 and up
Underpin or add foundations / $300 + / lin. ft.
Lower basement floor by underpinning or bench footings / $150-$300 / lin. ft.
Replace deteriorating sill beam with concrete / $60 and up / lin. ft.
Install basement support post with proper foundation / $200 - $400
Perform chemical treatment for termites / $500 and up
Repair minor crack in poured concrete foundation / $400 - $800

Electric Repairs - Upgrades

Electrical Upgrade electrical service to 100 amps / $1200-1800
Upgrade electrical service to 200 amps / $1500 - $2000
Install new circuit breaker panel / $500 - $700
Add 120 volt circuit / $150 - $250
Add 240 volt circuit / $250 - $350
Add conventional receptacle / $75 - $150
Replace non-GFCI receptacle with ground fault circuit receptacle / $60 - $90
Rewire elect. outlet w/ reversed polarity if electrician is there / $5 - $10 ea.
Install conventional alarm system fire- burglar / $1000 and up