While a builders’ warranty period may be for 6 years from the date of practical completion, the life of your house will be significantly longer. Guarantees only relate to minimum performance and you can expect far longer.
Outlined below are typical working lives for various building components. Note that many of the structural items such as bricks, footings, timber can have an effective life of well over 100 years.
Of course you can maximise the working life of your asset by regular upkeep and maintenance. Just like a motor vehicle, houses need regular services and the installation, include use and servicing of each building component is important. Regular cleaning and painting of gutters and termite inspections on a periodic basis, and other ongoing maintenance eg tile replacement is important.
Printed below are the likely service lives you can expect from various building materials and components according to sources sited:
| Footings/Foundations | 200 years |
| Concrete Pad | 100 years |
| Bricks | Lifetime |
| Exterior Paint | 7 – 10 years |
| Roof Tiles | 50 years |
| Ceramic Tiles | Lifetime |
| Timber | Lifetime
|
|
Floor Surfaces: – Vinyl – Timber |
20 – 30 Years Lifetime
|
| External Door
(Unprotected Exposed) |
30 Years |