Find out how long things last from major home appliances to paint

The National Association of Home Builders gives a general guideline for the life expectancy of home components.

If you’re budgeting or about to become a first-time homebuyer, it’s worth taking a closer look at some of those big ticket items that appear to be humming along just fine but may be closer to breaking down than you think.

For those in the market to buy, after a home inspection, you may be able to negotiate a cash credit from the seller to repair or replace a pricey component that’s on its last leg. Don’t get left in the lurch. See how long appliances and other home essentials are supposed to last.

Appliances

Gas range ovens have the longest life expectancy among appliances at 15 years, followed by refrigerators and dryers at 13 years, washing machines at 10 years, dishwashers and microwave ovens both at nine.

However, the NAHB study found that changes in styling, technology and consumer preferences tend to push major home appliances out the door long before they’re worn out.

For example, earlier this year, GE introduced the Café Series French door refrigerator with a built-in Keurig K-Cup brewing system, available in stainless steel with an MSRP of $3,300.

When there’s a refrigerator that can make a single-serve cup of coffee or tea, well, that sure makes it look like there’s something wrong with your current fridge, right? As in, it doesn’t make coffee or tea. A selling point of the appliance is that it frees up counter space since you’ll no longer need your coffeemaker.

Cabinetry and Countertops

Kitchen cabinets are expected to last up to 50 years, but these too may be replaced much sooner. A recent Houzz survey found 41 percent of respondents are remodeling kitchens 16 to 30 years old. While still functional, cabinets may fall out of style.

New trends emerge each year. Chief among them for 2015 include a clean contemporary look, European-style frameless cabinets, standard kitchen tables replaced by counters or tall gathering tables, TVs and docking stations, along with the rise of steam ovens, outdoor kitchens and wine refrigerators, according to the National Kitchen & Bath Design Trends report.

Also, white is the most common color scheme for kitchens, followed by gray.

Natural stone countertops remain popular, and they’re expected to last a lifetime.

Faucets and Fixtures

Kitchen sinks made of modified acrylic will last 50 years while faucets will work properly for about 15. Bathroom fixtures nearly mirror these numbers with the average life of a bathroom shower enclosure being 50 years. Showerheads should last a lifetime, the study found. Shower doors, on the other handle, will make it to about 20.

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning

These systems need to be properly maintained for maximum efficiency. But even in the best case scenario, most HVAC components only last 15 to 25 years. On average, furnaces last 15-20 years, heat pumps 16 years and air conditioning units 10-15 years. Thermostats usually get replaced before the end of their 35-year lifespan due to technological improvements.

Roofing

The life of a roof depends on local weather conditions, proper building and design, material quality and maintenance. Often unseen in northwest Iowa, copper and clay roofs have the longest life expectancy – over 50 years. Roofs made of asphalt shingles last for about 20 years while roofs made of fiber cement shingles have a life expectancy of about 25 years. Roofs made of wood shakes can be expected to last for about 30 years.

And while you’re outside and looking up, expect to replace aluminum gutters once they’re about 20 years old.

Flooring

All natural wood floorings have a life expectancy of 100 years or more. Tile floors last 75 to 100 years, laminate 15 to 25 years and carpet eight to 10.

Paint

Both interior and exterior points can last for 15 years or longer. Here again, homeowners often paint more frequently than that to keep pace with changing trends.