Welcome - Inspector Homes

Every component of your home has a limited life span. A concrete foundation
may last upwards of 100 years, but your gas water heater may need to be
replaced after 8 or 9 years.

For many items, regular maintenance can make a drastic difference in life expectancy. A
neglected ceramic tile shower stall can develop leaks after only a couple of years but with a few
dollars spent annually replacing the silicone and sealing the grout you can extend the life to 25
years and beyond.

The figures listed here are generalizations only. Life expwctancy is a factor of initial quality,
proper maintenance, operating environment and many other factors. Wise homeowners build a
factor into their household budget for the replacement of major components to avoid financial
surprises.

Being proactive in the replacement of items like water heaters is advisable. If you have a
"catastrophic failure" of a water heater (which is not uncommon) not only will you suddenly have
40-50 gallons of hot water flooding onto your floor but the supply lime will continue to feed 6-10
gallons per minute onto your basement floor. You will likely negotiate a better price on replacing
your furnace in the spring or summer rather than once the weather gets cold and demand rises.
Replacing your roof before it leaks will save damage to your house and allow you to research
and shop around for the best value when choosing a roofer.

Roofing
standard asphalt/fibreglass shingles
premium asphalt/fibreglass shingles
wood - untreated pine
wood - treated pine
wood - cedar
concrete tile
built-up tar and gravel
continuous membrane

Exterior
aluminum siding
vinyl siding
wood siding
fibreboard siding
fibre cement siding
masonry stucco
EIFS (acrylic or synthetic stucco)
aluminum gutters, fascia, soffit
wood trim, fascia and soffit
exterior paint
untreated wood deck
treated wood deck
deck finish - sealer/stain
concrete driveway
asphalt driveway

Plumbing
galvanized water lines
copper water lines
poly-B water lines
PEX water lines
galvanized drain lines
copper drain lines
ABS drain lines
gas water heater
sump pump
toilet
sink
tile tub/shower enclosure
one piece fibreglass/acrylic tub surround
multipiece plastic shower surround
faucets

Heating / Ventilation
mid-efficiency gas furnace
high-efficiency gas furnace
humidifier
elecrtonic air cleaner
air conditioner condenser

12 - 20 years
18 - 30 years
5 - 12 years
12 - 20 years
20 - 30 years
indefinite
15 - 20 years
15 - 25 years

indefinite
25 - 30 years
highly maintenance dependent
highly maintenance dependent
30 - 50+ years
maintenance dependent 20 - 50 years
maintenance/quality dependent 15 - 30 years
25 - 40+ years
highly maintenance dependent
4 - 7 years
maintenance dependent 8 - 20 years
maintenance dependent 15 - 25 years
1 - 3 years
indefinite
10 - 20 years

40 - 50 years
50+ years
10 - 30 years
indefinite/unproven
30 - 50 years
50+ years
indefinite
6 - 12 years
2 - 5 years
30 - 40 years
12 - 20 years
10 - 35 years
20 - 40 years
5 - 10 years
10 - 20 years

25 - 30 years
20 - 25 years unproven
5 - 10 years
10 - 15 years
10 - 15 years