How Old Is My House?
How can you tell the approximate age of many household components and appliances?
- Dishwashers
Look at the vinyl-covered wire racks in the dishwasher. The vinyl generally starts to wear off of the tips of the wire rack after about 7–8 years of usage. The unit could be a little younger or older, depending on the frequency and care of the user. Excessive vinyl wear would suggest 12–15 years old, and close to the end of its dependable life expectancy. - Storm windows
Flat-framed windows that are not self-storing are from the 1940s and early 1950s. Mill finished self-storing windows are from the early 1950s to the early 1960s. White self-storing windows had numerous design patterns that started in the early 1960s and continued through the early 1980s. White self-storing windows with a center mullion, used to hold or stabilize the width, started in the early 1980s. Learn more about windows.
- Electrical service cables (on the exterior of the house)
Electrical service cables tend to last 27–30 years on the south side of the house and 33–36 years on the north side. East and west exposures land somewhere in the middle. Learn more about electrical service.
- Standard asphalt composition roofing
South-facing, dark colored, low-sloped roofs will fail much sooner than north-facing, light colored, high-sloped roofs. In southern states, this may be 12–15 years on the south side and 15–18 years on the north side. In northern states, this may be 17–20 years on the south side and 20–25 years on the north side.The most significant clue when determining the condition of asphalt composition shingles is the condition of the granules between the joints or slots in the tabs. If the granules are intact, the roofing will not leak. If the granules are missing, to the point that the matrix is exposed, the shingle is failing. Curling and cupping may be indications of age, however, if the granules are intact, the roof has some remaining life. Learn more about asphalt shingles.
- Stucco
Hard coat stucco is made of Portland cement, sand and lime. If stucco is not painted, it will last about 60 years on the southern exposure. After approximately 25 years of exposure, the sand starts to loosen. It becomes progressively worse until it exhibits excessive deterioration at about 60 years. Painted stucco, if done properly and timely, will last 200 or more years. Learn more about stucco.
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