November 16, 2007

Built for a lifetime

I'm living in a construction site right now. Keeper and I were finally forced to address a problem we were aware of when we bought the house-the deck on the back has exceeded its natural life span. It was near death when we bought it, but we've kept it on life support for nine years by carefully sealing it, re-nailing loose boards, treating spots of dry rot, and gently coaxing every last breath of life out of our rickety redwood structure.

Alas, it breathed its last breath on Wednesday and the body was pried off the house, chopped up and dumped unceremoniously in a debris bin. It was a noisy autopsy, I must say.

Houses wear out, just like people do. Their component parts need maintenance and replacement on a regular schedule as well. I know this in my head. Still, I take it personally when my house lets me down. I want to be able to count on it.

According to a study by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), a deck should last 20-25 years, which, as luck would have it, is about how long Keeper and I should last.

The study revealed that home appliances die relatively young. Your gas range will probably outlive your dryer, and your microwave and dishwasher will undoubtedly precede them both in death, probably by the age of nine.

Kitchen cabinets, on the other hand, are expected to last up to 50 years. They begin to look dated after 20 years or so, so most people replace them or at least spruce them up once in a while. That is our next home improvement project, along with stripping the cutesy gingham wallpaper in the kitchen. I am over the country look that the previous owners were so fond of.

You will be glad to know that toilets have an unlimited lifespan, although their inside parts need to be maintained. I can live with dishwasher demise. Commode collapse is another story.

I am not thrilled to discover that carpet lasts between eight and ten years. We bought our house nine years ago, and the carpet was already worn. Once we get the deck paid off, this will be the next big expense. We're considering installing hardwood, because it will last longer than we do.

We're at the age when we look seriously at the life expectancy of big ticket items, because of how expensive and disruptive their replacement is. When we talk about the new deck, which is costing more than Keeper's first house, we say, "Well, at least we won't have to do it again."

Some of our stuff is elderly. Our washer and dryer are at least ten years old, which, according to the NAHB, is over 60 in human years. Our sink is middle-aged. Our range hood is awaiting a decent burial.

On the plus side, some things last forever. Tile or wood floors? They last a lifetime. Cooper roofing? Never needs replacing. Stone countertops? A once-in-a-lifetime investment.

And here's something else that lasts forever: home improvement projects.

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Mary Hanna is writing to the sound of hammering in San Carlos. Write to her at P.O. Box 7093, San Carlos, CA 94070 or e-mail mary@maryhanna.net