Most sellers and buyers know that certain components to a home such as the roof or windows are some of the more costly replacement items. While some components will outlast your ownership, others will need more immediate replacement.
The National Association of Home Builders guide can be helpful to owners considering what items are worth replacing before a move and to prospective buyers who can factor potential replacement costs into an offer. The NAHB does caution that the true longevity of any household material depends on maintenance, use, quality of installation, and climate conditions, so use these averages as a general guide.
100 Years or More
Brick siding: Lifetime of the home
All wooden floors: Lifetime of the home
Cellulose insulation material: 100-plus years
50-100 Years
Slate, copper, and clay and concrete roofs: 50+ years
Copper gutters: 50+ years
Kitchen cabinets: Up to 50 years
Modified acrylic kitchen sinks: 50 years
Vinyl floors: 50 years
30-50 Years
Thermostats: 35 years
Wooden windows: 30 years
Wood shake roofs: 30 years
French interior doors: 30-50 years
10-20 Years
Built-in audio system: 20 years
Aluminum windows: 15-20 years
Asphalt shingle roofs: 20 years
Faucets, kitchen sinks: 15 years
Gas ranges: 15 years
Cultured marble countertops: 20 years
Dryers and refrigerators: 13 years
Air conditioning units: 10-15 years
Lighting controls: 10+ years
Interior and exterior paints: 15+ years
Electric or gas water heaters: 10 years
Air conditioners: 10-15 years
Furnaces: 15-20 years