How Long do Houses Last Built with Popular Materials?

Last Updated: 2022-02-16By Steven H.

On average newly built house lasts between 80 and 110 years. Lifespan depends on materials used for construction, quality of work and continuous maintenance of the house. Commercial buildings survive 20-40% longer than residential homes.

As it turns out every decade new built homes are built with less lifespan. Construction materials used and workmanship is aimed at speed production instead of increasing of making houses last longer.

Every year our planet spends enormous amount of resources for construction of new houses and renovation of old buildings. Unfortunately our technology has not reached the level of construction where we can recycle and reuse resources.

Types of Home Compared for Lifespan:

Timber Homes
Concrete Homes
Steel Frame Homes
Log Cabins
Brick or Stone Homes

Not every construction will last exactly as our table predicts. There are timber frame homes that can last over 150 years and we have seen brick houses that fall within first 15 – 20 years. Our statistics are just average numbers to understand material selection.

Type of Material Used in Construction	Average Lifespan of Structure
Timber Homes	70 Years
Concrete Homes	85 Years
Steel Frame Homes	100 Years
Log Cabins	60 Years
Brick or Stones Homes	90 Years

How long do houses last chart

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How Long do Timber Frame Houses Last?

Timber frame homes are thought to last less than any other houses built with different top 5 materials. In some sense it is true, but as we say it all depends. On average timber frame homes last 70 years and we took a lot of data to come up with this number.

As you may know there are timber frame homes in northern and central Europe that were able to withstand over two centuries of time. However newer construction methods are not as firm and meant to last just over 50 years.

The worst timber frame homes have lifespan of just over 30 years. Adding all of it together we get somewhere in between. Of course quality contractors using good materials and engineered specs with precautions can build homes that will last 70-90 years.

How Long do Concrete Homes Last?

It is believed that concrete structures are more durable and require less maintenance than wood homes. This statement is false, even though average of concrete home lifespan is 85 years.

Main reason why concrete home on average lasts more than timber is simply because there are more mistakes done during regular framing and less building codes involved. Typically we see concrete homes built with professional and experienced contractors with instructions of engineers or architects.

To make structure last loner rebar is put inside concrete. It tightens the structure that wraps around spirals of steel. Temperature and weather can definitely impact stability of concrete and to save it, major repairs are necessary.

How Long do Steel Frame Houses Last?

We hardly see residential homes being made of steel, but it is out there. Modern homes with full open floors and floor to ceiling windows can be built with steel frame. It is a long process and costs way more than regular timer or concrete wall construction, but steel frame houses last for over 100 years without a problem.

Steel frame has to be properly wrapped around without leakage of air and possibility of water getting through. Appropriate construction method helps prevent steel from rusting.

The benefit of steel frame homes is that they can withstand more of structural load and open up the space completely. Steel construction is easier to maintain and replace parts of structure when absolutely necessary.

How Long do Log Cabins Last?

If you live near mountains or forest area than most logical construction material to select would be logs and natural wood. On average log cabins last 50 years due to harsh weather conditions and surrounding area affecting lifespan.

For some people it may be cottage home as secondary residence where you spend weekends and holidays, while other home owners may happen reside in area where long homes and cabins are considered to be only option.

Similar to timber frame homes, log cabins has wide range of possibilities to collapse sooner than supposed to or stand for more than 100 years without major issues.

We had to take into consideration poorly made and prefab homes that don’t last long time. They are the main factor the lifespan of log home drags down. Large homes with logs like you see in Montana or similar can be a residence for over 60-70 years if constructed properly.

How Long Brick or Stone Homes?

For many centuries brick and stone were main materials for building homes around the globe. It definitely makes strong walls and helps to protect from weather. Stone and brick homes should last for at least 90 years, but can go way above that number in perfect conditions.

This natural resource was available in every continent and people have learned how to carve perfect stones for home construction. It is not flammable can could protect from rain, high winds, animals and even enemies during wars.

Nowadays it is used less and less due to high expenses and complicated building technique. Home owners that are willing to spend extra and create traditional looking homes still prefer bricks and stone over timber or concrete.

Other Materials Used in Home Construction

We have listed five materials mainly used in home construction. Less developed countries or experimental projects have variety of other materials that can become new home structure.

Companies around the world try to recycle material and even print homes with 3d printers. Melted and compressed plastic formed as large bricks used for exterior and interior walls.

Poor countries with lack of resources and import build homes with cinder blocks, wood sticks, roofing metal sheets and literally anything they can get hands on.

Location dictates the material and natural resources for building. Northern countries can even make walls for their home out of snow and ice. While places around equator do not require thermal insulation, forestry and soil become main source of materials.

What Countries Have Most Long Lasting Homes?

There are two factors that dictate how long homes are going to last from the day they were built. First and far most important factor is what is the intention of construction and how is it approached.

Travelling through Europe we can spot homes made out of stone that have lasted for centuries and only minor structural upgrades were performed. Their initial though process was directed towards long lasting structures no matter how much resources it took.

Another way to increase how long houses last is to continually upgrade building codes and prioritize structural integrity. Developed countries with laws and inspections in place on home construction on average have longer lasting structures.

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Each building has some sort of driveway or at least should have. The main reason is for vehicles to come closer without need to walk all the way. Some homes are residential with small driveway for their car to come in and park before garage or front entrance, and others can be large commercial buildings with loading docks, delivery entrances and casual parking entrances. On Point Remodeling was asked for suggestions on residential driveway for new home construction, and we decided to write detailed article for all our readers. Using this guide you can select the material for your driveway and see what works for your budget. Here are the materials for driveway we will be discussing in our guide:

Asphalt
Concrete
Paver Stone
Crushed stone
Brick
Seashell
Gravel

To find good contractor for your driveway, you can either ask our team by email or try to find someone local that worked with neighbors or nearby buildings.

Installation process of any material surface on your driveway

a) Demolition and Excavation – Before anything is done, your contractor will get heavy machinery and scratch off old layer of driveway. They need to go down at least 5-6 inches to insure proper layering before your final layer of material is installed. b) Material Purchase and Delivery – At this point your contract is signed and you already know how the surface will look. Contracting company purchases necessary materials and delivers them to site. Double check if material is correct and not damaged. c) Preparation of Sublevel – Whatever you place as final material, it cannot just be installed directly on top soil. Gravel is the first choice of material that goes down at this stage. Other preferred material is screen sand that can go on top of gravel and works better with stone and bricks. d) Compaction of Ground – To prevent your driveway from moving and changing shapes, all the layers from bottom up have to be properly compacted. Do not leave any spot untouched while doing this or you can get small holes and cracks in driveway after installation. E) Final Installation – This is when all the magic happens. After all preparations and dirty work the final installation is made literally within hours and you can enjoy new driveway. Stone and brick is set up by hand, while other materials require some sort of machinery with manual labor to even out surface.

1. Asphalt

Probably the most used material for road top surfaces as well as driveways is asphalt. This is a mix of gravel and sand that is mixed in and combined by asphalt cement with crude oil. Pros of Asphalt Driveway

Very popular and easy to find materials/contractor
Completed in 1 day and you can drive on it after
Patches and small holes can be fixed fast

Cons of Asphalt Driveway

Easy to damage and cracks appear in few years
Almost everyone else has same surface
Oily surface and chemicals used in mix

Prepared for asphalt driveway will cost you around $5 per square foot to finish. The contractors that take care of entire process from taking out old driveway surface, install subsurface and compact the ground with new asphalt on top, will charge on average $5500 per regular size driveway at single home property.

2. Concrete

What we call concrete is a mixture of Portland cement, aggregate as well as sand with gravel. Suggested thickness of concrete for driveway is 6 inches. The mixture needs to cure without being touched or driven on top for several days. Pros of Concrete Driveway

Durable material for large weights
Long lifespan if installed properly
Winter and summer friendly

Cons of Concrete Driveway

Has marks and stains over time
Hard to repair without replacement
Super hard to DIY

To hire contractors for concrete driveway it will cost around $7-$9 per square foot. This will include site preparation with gravel spread and new concrete installation. They will order full truck of concrete (or several for larger driveways) to pour inside forming. Smoothening and curing is required after installation.

3. Paver Stone

The most luxurious material that you can use to create driveway path with is paver stone. It is made out of natural stone with uneven rough shapes that have different line patterns. Paver stones are very heavy and are perfect for weights on top of them. Almost every city in Europe has roads and walks made out of stone that were installed centuries ago. Pros of Paver Stone Driveway

Creative designs can be done
Personal looks, can match the house
Can replace single stone in minutes

Cons of Paver Stone Driveway

Weeds growing through
Stone can move over time
Most expensive material

There is wide selection of stone that can be purchased for your driveway. On average we recommend settling with $17-$20 per square foot for stone with installation included. Working with this material is very intense labor and we recommend hiring professionals that do this type of work every day.

4. Crushed Stone

Our readers sometimes mistake crushed stone with gravel, but this is not the same material. Crushed stone material is achieved when machine is mechanically crushing larger pieces of unused stone for this specific purpose. It is larger than gravel and can have smooth finish. Crushed stone can also have a mix of colors, which is much pleasant to eyes than gravel. Pros of Crushed Stone Driveway

Low maintenance required
Fits rural area style
Can be reused for other purposes

Cons of Crushed Stone Driveway

Gets very hot during summer
Can be messy after many drives
Hard to remove snow and ice

Buying crushed stone and installing it on your driveway is as easy as it gets. Similar to other rough materials discussed in this post, only small tools like shovels, dolly and buckets are required to spread it on the road. The cost of crushed stone driveway is between $4 and $6 per square foot from professional local contractors that can finish the job in several days.

5. Brick

The same brick we see being used in wall construction can be installed as top driveway surface. Brick is manufactured by compressing clay with plastic mass. It is heated to extreme temperature and dried up to become as solid as you know it. Pros of Brick Driveway

Variety of selections in shapes and shades
Bricks are recyclable
Slip resistant with rough top part

Cons of Brick Driveway

Needs regular maintenance
Change color over time
Old fashion looking

Installing brick on driveway costs $10 per square foot, which is not too far from masonry brick laying as part of the wall. To save money you can use or purchase old brick, that was part of a wall before. Do not mix these two jobs and contact landscaping professionals instead of masonry contractors that work with bricks.

6. Seashell

This material is popular on the coast line where shells can be found near the water. Construction companies use seashells to add in other materials as well as spread them on driveway in rough condition, without adding anything else. It usually comes in white or pearl color and darkens within year because of mixing with sand and dirt. Pros of Seashell Driveway

Environmentally friendly
Has natural drainage
Creates worm vibe of beach house

Cons of Seashell Driveway

Break and crack under light weight
Sharp and very hard to walk on
Gets stuck in shoes and tires

To deliver and spread seashells on driveways costs below $4, which is only slightly more expensive than rough gravel. As you go further from coast line, cost of material increases due to delivery. This material is elegant and very soft. We recommend adding edge lines with darker color landscape material to create visual path.

7. Gravel

This material is used in other construction mixes and underlayment systems. It’s literally fragments and small crushed stones that are put on top of soil. It is easily spread out by hands and anyone can do it. Pros of Gravel Driveway

Cheapest of them all
Easy DIY Job
Can install another material on top

Cons of Gravel Driveway

Needs to be graded very often
Will mix with dirt and leaves
Washes up with heavy rains

It is rough material and can be purchased in bulk (by metric tons or cubic meters). The cost of driveway with gravel should not exceed $3 per square foot, but you can save tons of money by purchasing materials and doings installation by yourself. You do not require specific tools or heavy equipment for the job and delivery of gravel can be arranged directly to your project.

Conclusion

To properly finish any and all of these driveways requires skills and experience. There is no way you can complete any of these projects without heavy equipment and tools that regular home owner’s just store in their garages. Most of those who will read this post will prefer to install asphalt driveway, because of its popularity and low costs. We want to encourage home owners to go for personal preference and what matches your house, rather than getting the most affordable and popular items. Driveway jobs have to be completed fast; otherwise you will need to park elsewhere while the project is running. To not overpay, ask us for quotation sample on material you prefer in specific region where the work need to be done and our team can provide some numbers.

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