Shop TOH on Wayfair.com

Shop Now
2013 Reader-Created Issue

Learn More
Contests and Sweepstakes

See All

- TV Shows
- Magazines
- Books
- Newsletters
  Newsletters
  
  Sign up today for our FREE e-mail newsletters and get helpful tips and timely article links delivered to your e-mail inbox. You may select more than one.
  Home Improvement
  
  Dozens of ideas, loads of how-tos, and the latest advice on the projects and products you need to improve your home today, plus special offers.
  
  See Sample
  
  Kitchen + Bath
  
  From style to tile, find tons of inspirational photos, ideas, and how-tos for brand-new rooms, quick upgrades, and big and small fixes, plus special offers.
  
  See Sample
  
  Yard + Garden
  
  Twice-monthly advice for bringing your home outdoors, from year-round yard upkeep and planning to the wonders of making your garden grow, plus special offers.
  
  See Sample
  
  Green House + Home
  
  Monthly advice on how to make your home eco-friendly, including energy and water saving tips, healthy home products, green remodeling, and more, plus special offer.
  
  See Sample
  
  My Home Ideas
  
  Design solutions, designer interviews, room makeovers, garden tips, video tours, sweepstakes news, and special offers.
  
  See Sample
  
  Special Offers
  
  Be the first to know about This Old House contests, sweepstakes, and events and receive special offers and promotions from your favorite home improvement brands. We'll even send you regular reminders to enter our sweepstakes.
- Kitchens
  Kitchens
  
  Kitchen Cabinets
  
  Kitchen Countertops
  
  Kitchen Sinks
  
  Backsplashes
  
  Islands
  
  Appliances
  
  Kitchen Lighting
  
  Wet Bars
  
  Small Kitchens
  
  Outdoor Kitchens
- Bathrooms
  Bathrooms
  
  Bathroom Sinks
  
  Showers
  
  Tubs
  
  Bathroom Lighting
  
  Small Bathrooms
- Other Rooms
  Living Spaces
  
  Living Rooms
  
  Dining Areas
  
  Hallways + Foyers
  
  Bedrooms
  
  Basements
  
  Mudrooms
  
  Media Rooms
  
  Storage
  
  Pets
  
  Workspaces
  
  Laundry Rooms
  
  Home Offices
  
  Workshops
- Landscaping
  Landscaping
  
  Gardening
  
  Garden Planning
  
  Lawn Care
  
  Patios
  
  Fences + Stone Walls
  
  Trees + Shrubs
  
  Outdoor Structures
  
  Pools, Ponds, + Fountains
  
  Yard + Garden Tools
- Exterior
  Exterior
  
  Decks, Patios + Porches
  
  Curb Appeal
  
  Drainage + Gutters
  
  Driveway + Walkway
  
  Garages
  
  House Styles
- Remodels + Upgrades
  Remodels + Upgrades
  
  Before + Afters
  
  Small Space Solutions
  
  Easy Upgrades
  
  Your New Home
  
  Reader Remodel Contest
  
  Best Old House Neighborhoods
  
  Save This Old House
  
  Salvage
- Money
  Money
  
  Money-Saving Ideas
  
  Home + Real Estate
- How-To + Repair
  
  Interior
  
  Doors
  
  Fireplaces
  
  Cabinets + Shelving
  
  Stairs
  
  Furniture
  
  Drywall + Plaster
  
  Ceilings
  
  House Exterior
  
  Decks
  
  Drainage + Gutters
  
  Porches
  
  Garage How-To
  
  Windows
  
  Roofing
  
  Siding
  
  Molding + Carpentry
  
  Crown Molding
  
  Wainscoting
  
  Trim
  
  Flooring
  
  Carpeting
  
  Wood Floors
  
  All Floors
  
  Yard + Garden
  
  Gardening
  
  Lawn Care
  
  Patios
  
  Trees + Shrubs
  
  Driveways + Walkways
  
  Fences + Stone Walls
  
  Pools, Ponds + Fountains
  
  Yard + Garden Tools
  
  Framing + Insulation
  
  Framing
  
  Insulation
  
  Plumbing, HVAC + Electrical
  
  Heating
  
  Cooling
  
  Plumbing
  
  Toilets
  
  Lighting
  
  Electrical
  
  Ventilation
  
  Water Heaters
  
  Home Technology
  
  Basements + Foundations
  
  Basements + Foundations
  
  Paint + Finishes
  
  Painting
  
  Wallpaper
  
  Tile
  
  Painting + Finishing Tools
  
  Upkeep
  
  Cleaning
  
  Spring Upkeep
  
  Summer Upkeep
  
  Fall Upkeep
  
  Winter Upkeep
  
  Health + Safety
  
  Fire Safety
  
  Healthy Home
  
  Green
  
  Safety + Prevention
  
  Home Inspection Nightmares
  
  Tools
  
  Hand Tools
  
  Power Tools
  
  Workshop Accessories
  
  TOH Pro
  
  Project of the Week
- Video
- Discussions
  
  Discussions
  
  Kitchens
  
  Bathrooms
  
  Painting + Finishes
  
  Interiors + Trim
  
  Doors + Windows
  
  Electrical + Lighting
  
  Insulation + HVAC
  
  Plumbing
  
  Exterior
  
  Yard + Garden
  
  Tools + Products
  
  Safety + Prevention
  
  Green House + Home
  
  New DIY Ideas
  
  Your Home
  
  TV Shows + Projects
  
  Magazine
  
  Deck, Patio + Porch
  
  Walls + Ceilings
- TOH Specials
  
  TOH Specials
  
  Shop Favorite
  TOH Looks
  
  Save This Old House
  
  Home Inspection Nightmares
  
  Reader Remodel Contest
  
  Salvage
  
  Your New Home
  
  Best Old House Neighborhoods
  
  TOH Top 100
  
  Family Projects
  
  Team Saturday
  
  Letter From This Old House
  
  Holidays
  
  Project of the Week
  
  Tool School

Home
Money
Home & Real Estate
How Long Things Last

How Long Things Last

Want to know when your old furnace or washing machine is going to give out? Here's a guesttimate of the life cycle of all sorts of parts of your house

This Old House online

photo: Philip Harvey

« »

Ask TOH users about Home & Real Estate

Discuss

Contribute to This Story Below

Add Comment

More in Money

Home & Real Estate

Money Saving Ideas

Decks
- - Previous
  - Next
- 6 26
Because they are subject to a wide range of conditions in different climates, the life expectancy of wooden decks can vary significantly. Under ideal conditions, they have a life expectancy of about 20 years.
Newsletters

See All Newsletters

See Sample

Home ImprovementWeekly

Dozens of ideas, loads of how-tos, and the latest advice on the projects and products you need to improve your home today, plus special offers.

Sign me up!
This Old House To Go
Most Popular
- Articles

- Subscribe
- Gift
Newsletters

Sign up for FREE e-mail newsletters to get helpful tips and timely advice, plus special offers
- Home Improvement
- Kitchen & Bath
- Yard & Garden
- Green House & Home
- My Home Ideas
- Special Offers
Customer Service
Subscriber Services
Partner Sites:
- MyHomeIdeas
- Real Simple
Friends of TOH:
- Houzz
Contests & Deals
- Contests & Sweepstakes
- Deals & Discounts
TOH Ventures

Shop TOH on Wayfair.com

2013 Reader-Created Issue

Contests and Sweepstakes

Newsletters

How Long Things Last

Want to know when your old furnace or washing machine is going to give out? Here's a guesttimate of the life cycle of all sorts of parts of your house

Contribute to This Story Below

More in Money

Decks

Newsletters

Home ImprovementWeekly

This Old House To Go

Most Popular

Articles

47 Skills You Need to Survive Homeownership

10 Uses for Sandpaper

Ultra-Cheap: Houses for Under $6,000

Fix Now, Save (A Lot) Later

10 Uses for Wax Paper

Subscribe

Gift

Newsletters

Customer Service

Subscriber Services

Partner Sites:

Friends of TOH:

Contests & Deals

TOH Ventures

Home Improvement

Kitchen + Bath

Yard + Garden

Green House + Home

My Home Ideas

Special Offers

Share

Related Content

More in Money

Decks

Home ImprovementWeekly

This Old House To Go

Most Popular

Articles

47 Skills You Need to Survive Homeownership

10 Uses for Sandpaper

Ultra-Cheap: Houses for Under $6,000

Fix Now, Save (A Lot) Later

10 Uses for Wax Paper

Subscribe

Gift

Newsletters

Customer Service

Subscriber Services

Partner Sites:

Friends of TOH:

Contests & Deals

TOH Ventures