Here’s How Often You Need to Replace Everything in Your Home

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Roof

The life expectancy of your roof really depends on where you live, along with building design, materials and how much work you put into maintaining it. According to the National Association of Home Builders, a tile, copper or slate roof can last more than 50 years. Wood shake roofs should last about 30 years, while you’ll get about 25 years out of fibre cement. Asphalt shingles will give you about 20 years of reliable service. Here are five home maintenance tips for winter that can protect your biggest investment.

Refrigerator

You’ll get about six to 15 years out of your refrigerator, according to Angie’s List. The most common refrigerator repairs include ice maker failure, main control board failure and a clogged drain. Check out these mistakes everyone makes with their kitchen appliances.

Dishwasher

Consumer Reports asked manufactures of 13 dishwasher brands to weigh in on the lifespan of the appliance, and 10 years is about the norm. All manufactures noted it’s important to follow the owner’s manual and regularly clean out your dishwasher to keep it running properly. Psst—this is the ingredient you should always be adding to your dishwasher.

Washing Machine

Angie’s List reports the average life of a washing machine is eight to 12 years. If the repair exceeds $500, it may be worth considering a new machine. The most common repairs include gasket replacement, a switch failure and valve issues. Believe it or not, you can clean these dirty items in a washing machine!

Clothes Dryer

Ten years is the average life expectancy of a clothes dryer, according to Consumer Reports. To help increase your dryer’s life, keep the dryer vent clean and consider air drying when possible. Check out the surprising things your dryer can do.

Cooktop and Oven

When it comes to your kitchen cooktop and oven, how long it lasts depends on the type and how often you use it. According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, you can expect to get 10 to 18 years out of your gas oven and 15 to 17 years out of your gas range. An electric range will last 13 to 15 years. Here are 10 things you should never do to your oven.

HVAC System

Your home’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems should last you 15 to 25 years with proper upkeep, with furnaces averaging about 15 to 20 years. However, according to Comfort Pro, Inc., an HVAC company, many homeowners choose to update their furnace after 10 to 15 years for a more efficient model.

Investing in an HVAC upgrade? These are the sure signs you’re about to hire a bad contractor.

Deck

Like your roof, your deck’s life expectancy depends greatly on climate and maintenance. The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors estimates decks made from wood planks will last about 15 years, while structural wood will give you 10 to 30 years. Composite decking will last anywhere from eight to 25 years.

Toilet

When it comes to your home’s toilet, it can be hard to say how long it will last. However, there are some things that can tell you when it needs to be replaced. If you’re rebuilding the toilet guts regularly, it has recurring clogs or a crack in the porcelain, it may be time for a new toilet. Psst—making this mistake with a clogged toilet can make things worse.

Water Heater

A rule of thumb for water heaters—according to Angie’s List— is that those older than 10 years should be considered for a replacement. Some signs that your water heater is about to die include rusty water, rumbling noises and leaks.

Outside Materials

Many homeowners will never have to replace their home’s exterior materials such as brick, stone, vinyl and fibre cement—all should outlast you. HomeAdvisor notes you should expect to replace both your aluminum gutters and your wood shutters after about 20 years.

Flooring

You can expect your wood flooring to last about 100 years, or even more with proper upkeep. Vinyl flooring will last about 50 years, while you’ll get about 10 years out of your carpet. When it comes to tile flooring, life expectancy depends on the type of tile, maintenance and amount of foot traffic.

Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets should last around 50 years, but you can always update them so they look modern. Medicine cabinets have a shorter shelf life of 20 years while garage and laundry cabinets should last more than 100 years. Your closets should last the life of the house.

Considering a gut-job? Don’t swing a sledgehammer until you’ve consulted Bryan Baeumler’s kitchen reno tips.

Masonry

Brick fireplaces should last the life of a house and brick walls should extend past 100 years. Here’s what you need to know before buying a new fireplace.

Countertops

Stone countertops should last a lifetime while marble countertops typically last around 20 years. Laminate countertops have a shorter lifespan of 10 to 20 years because of the wear and tear they take on.

Doors

Exterior doors are expected to last the lifetime of a house while screen doors and vinyl doors typically last 20 to 40 years. French doors usually last 30 to 50 years.

Wiring/Electrical

Most wiring should last a lifetime whereas electric components like, lighting controls typically last a little more than a decade. (You can’t help but laugh at these hilarious electrical fails!)

Faucets and Sinks

Faucets will work properly for an average of 15 years while most sinks will last around 50 years. Shower enclosures typically remain in good condition for 50 years but shower doors usually last around 20 years. Whirlpool tubs have a lifespan of 20 to 50 years.

Foundations

You shouldn’t have to worry about your foundation but if you termite and waterproof foundations, expect those things to last around 10 to 12 years before you’ll have to reapply. (Here’s how to get rid of the most common house bugs.)

Paint

Interior and exterior paint will typically last around 15 years before you’ll need to apply new coats or repaint. (Find out the most popular paint colours in Canada.)

Windows

Aluminum windows have an average lifespan of 15 to 20 years while wooden ones run a little longer at 30 years.

Garbage Disposal

Your garbage disposal is expected to last around 12 years.

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Plus, check out how to prep and maintain your oven in the video below.