{"id":20863,"date":"2022-04-29T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-29T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/?p=20863"},"modified":"2026-01-09T09:00:45","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T14:00:45","slug":"how-long-does-a-house-last","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/how-long-does-a-house-last","title":{"rendered":"Lifespan of a Home: How Long Does a House Last?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

How long will your home last? There isn’t an easy answer to that question. Many factors impact the lifespan of a home and its components, plus not all products, materials and appliances are built to the same standards or durability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, you can apply a few rules of thumb\u2014and these are the same estimates and guidelines used by many home inspectors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In general, the overall life expectancy of your home depends largely on the quality of the installation, the level of maintenance<\/a>, weather and climate conditions, and the intensity of use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, even with these uncertainties, the general life expectancy of a wood frame house with a concrete foundation is 100 years or more\u2014assuming the home has been properly maintained and cared for over that lifespan. This is good news since 38% of homes built in the U.S. are now more than half a century old (built before 1970). In Canada<\/a>, 29.7% of homes were built between 1961 and 1980 and another 22.2% were built before 1960.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have An Emergency Fund? It Still Pays to Learn How Long a House Last<\/strong>s<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Out-of-sight-out-of-mind is a bit of a default position for most homeowners\u2014at times, even myself. This is not problematic if you have emergency money set aside. However, there are other reasons to consider the lifespan of your home and its components. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, if you plan to add a central air conditioner to your home, you’ll want to budget for that expense. However, if you consider the age of your furnace and the internal ductwork\u2014and find these components are nearing the end of their life expectancy\u2014you\u2019ll save yourself time, money and aggravation shopping for all these components at once. (It\u2019s still expensive, but buying more than one HVAC component will usually trigger some deals.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Knowing the lifespan of all your home and its appliances and keeping track of their performance can help you avoid unpleasant hits to your maintenance budget. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To help you plan for the direct replacement costs of standard housing components, here’s a brief idea of the life expectancy of typical housing components.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Long Will Your Home Last?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By and large, a newer home or one that was extensively renovated in the last 10 years will probably require far fewer repairs and replacements than a home built a few decades or a century ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each of your home\u2019s major components, appliances, and all the interior and exterior facets have a lifespan\u2014a timeframe before significant repairs and complete replacement become necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a greater likelihood of a component, appliance or fixture failing, prompting either a repair or replacement for older homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, gas or electric water heaters only last about 10 years, according to the Life Expectancy of Home Components study collected and compiled by the National Association of Home Builders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Plan When It Comes to Your Home’s Life Expectancy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A smart homeowner knows their home’s systems and appliances won\u2019t last forever. Unfortunately, everything has a lifespan, and as things get older and parts stop working, you’re bound to face costly repairs and pricey replacements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If these costs crop up unexpectantly, they can wreak havoc on your budget. To avoid surprises, you need to: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Have an emergency fund<\/li>
  2. Budget for home maintenance and repair costs<\/li>
  3. Know how to strategically time updates and remodels (to avoid expensive repairs<\/a> or unnecessary costs).<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    To help, here’s a life expectancy snapshot of some of the more significant household components, along with a lifespan list of standard appliances. Use this cheat sheet to help plan your remodel and renovation projects or estimate when you need to set aside a bit more for a potentially more extensive repair or replacement bill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Life Expectancy of Home’s Foundation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"how<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    We tend to think of our home’s foundation as a solid, infinite structure that will last until the end of days. But as homes age, so do foundations, and even the best foundation may need upkeep and repair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To help you determine if there is a need to repair or replace, here’s a list of common foundation materials and builds and their estimated life expectancy. Remember, quality workmanship goes a long way, with properly built foundations lasing indefinitely.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n