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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.

Component Life Expectancy

  • 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 Replacement 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

Heating Systems - Air Conditioning

  • Heating install mid-efficiency forced-air furnace / $1700 - $2500
  • Install high-efficiency forced-air furnace / $2500 - $3500
  • Install drum-type humidifier / $200 - $300
  • Install electronic air filter / $500 - $800
  • Install mid-efficiency boiler / $2500 - $4000
  • Install high-efficiency boiler / $5000 - $9000
  • Rebuild firepot (refractory) on boiler / $500 - $800
  • Install circulating pump / $400 - $600
  • Install chimney liner / $300 - $700
  • Install set-back thermostat / $100 - $300
  • Remove oil tank from basement / $200 - $400
  • Remove abandoned underground oil tank / $3500 and up
  • Replace radiator valve / $75 - $150
  • Add electric baseboard heater / $150 - $250
  • Convert from hot water heat to forced-air (cape) / $8000 - $10000
  • Convert from hot water heat to forced-air (2 story) / $15000 - $20000
  • Clean ductwork / $250 and up
  • Add central AC on existing forced-air system / $2000-$3000
  • Add heat pump to forced-air system / $3000-$4000
  • Replace heat pump or air conditioning compressor / $800 - $1400
  • Install independent air conditioning system / $8000 - $15000

Insulation

  • Insulation Insulate open attic to modern standards / $1 - $1.50 / sq. ft.
  • Blow insulation into attic, cathedral ceiling or wall / $2 - $3.50 / sq. ft.
  • Improve attic ventilation / $40 - $50 per vent

Plumbing

  • Replace galvanized piping with copper (2 story+1 bath) / $2000 - $2500
  • Replace water line to house / $1500 - $3500
  • Replace toilet / $300 and up
  • Replace basin / $200 and up
  • Replace bathtub, including ceramic tile / $1500 and up
  • Install whirlpool bath / $3000 and up
  • Retile bathtub enclosure / $800 - $1200
  • Replace leaking shower stall pan / $1000 - $1600
  • Rebuild tile shower stall / $1500 - $2500
  • Replace laundry tubs / $250 - $500
  • Remodel four-piece bathroom completely / $6000 and up
  • Connect waste plumbing system to municipal sewers / $3000 and up
  • Install submersible pump / $800 and up
  • Install suction or jet pump / $400 - $600
  • Install modest basement bathroom / $4000 and up

Carpentry - Finish Work

  • Sand and refinish hardwood floors / $1.50 - $3 / sq. ft.
  • Interior add drywall over plaster / $1.50-$2.50 / sq. ft.
  • Install replacement windows / $200 - $400 ea.
  • Install storm windows / $75 - $200 ea.
  • Install skylight / $500 and up
  • Remodel kitchen completely / $8000 and up
  • Painting (trim only) / $1500 - $2500
  • Painting (trim and wall surfaces) / $3000 and up

Fireplaces - Stoves

  • Repoint chimney (2 story) / $700 and up
  • Convert coal-burning fireplace to wood-burning unit / $800 and up
  • Install masonry fireplace (if flue already roughed in) / $2000 and up
  • Install zero-clearance fireplace (including chimney) / $2500 and up
  • Install glass doors on fireplace / $300 and up
  • Install gas insert into existing fireplace / $2500 and up

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