Not only are there monthly payments such as the mortgage and the insurance on the home but there are also maintenance expenses that need to be taken into consideration.



While many buyers may be baffled at trying to determine just how much it will cost them, it's helpful to know the life expectancy of some home items. This will provide the homeowner with a general idea of when things will need to be repaired or replaced and how much it will cost them.

Foundations: A foundation that is made from poured concrete block footings should last for eighty to one hundred years. This is also true for slab foundations. Termite proofing, which is applied to the foundation generally lasts for twelve years. A waterproofing coat that contains bituminous coating will last for ten years.

Flooring: Wood flooring will last the longest, about one hundred years with proper care and maintenance. The same is true for marble, slate, and granite floors but these also need care. Vinyl floors will last fifty years, linoleum will stay in good shape for twenty-five years and carpet has the shortest life span, with only about eight to ten years.

Electrical Systems: The actual structure of an electrical system such as wiring that is copper plated, copper clad aluminum, and bare copper wiring will be good for one hundred years. However, things like outlets and light switches will need to be replaced after ten years.

Outside Materials: There are many components outside the home that may or may not need replacing. The actual materials used to build the home such as brick, vinyl, wood, or stone will stay with the house for its lifetime.

Wood shutters will last for twenty years, the amount of time gutters last will depend on what they are made from. Copper can last up to fifty years while aluminum will only last about twenty. The same is true for downspouts as well. Copper will last one hundred years and aluminum will last about thirty.

Doors: Outdoor doors that are constructed from wood, steel, or fiberglass will last about one hundred years. Screen and vinyl doors can last anywhere from twenty to forty years. Closet doors will generally also last for one hundred years and French doors have thirty to fifty years of life in them.

Windows: If the homeowner wants the window to last for as long as possible, wood is the way to go, as they last twice as long as other types.

HVAC Systems: These systems need very careful care and maintenance. Furnaces have twenty years max, heat pumps have fifteen or sixteen years, and air conditioners only have ten to fifteen years. Tankless gas water heaters are best as they will last about twenty years.

Appliances: If homeowners want to keep their appliances for their lifetime, gas stoves will last about fifteen years. Dryers and refrigerators only have about thirteen years and dishwashers and microwaves have the shortest lifespan with only nine years.

Roofing: Typically slate, copper, clay, and concrete roofs are best with life spans of fifty years. Wood shake roofs last about thirty years, fiber cement shingles are good for twenty-five years, and asphalt shingles will deteriorate the most quickly at about twenty years.