How Long Should A New Building Last Before Needing Structural Repairs?

How long a new building is able to last before needing any kind of structural repairs depends almost entirely on what materials the building was constructed from, who carried out the work, and whether any quality maintenance has been carried out in subsequent years. Generally speaking, a property should last for a minimum of 60 years and still be in good structural condition, but some within the construction industry say that the figure should be much closer to 100 years.

Let’s look in more detail at some of the factors that can cause a home to age:

Materials

You don’t have to be an expert in the construction industry to know that the better quality the building materials are, the longer a structure will last. Below are some commonly used materials for home-building that have the ability to endure in good condition for between 60 and 100+ years:

• Clay
• Natural stone
• Bricks
• Concrete
• Metals
• Wood
• Insulator materials
• Locally sourced materials

Workmanship

A home constructed by a professional builder who takes the time to hone his skills and build with care and precision, is always going to be more likely to last longer than one built by cowboys and unskilled construction workers. As such, it’s imperative that new-build homes that are constructed en masse, adhere to the same quality standards to ensure longevity and stability of every property. The majority of new-build homes come with a structural warranty certificate for at least a decade, giving homeowners some peace of mind.

Maintenance

While a new home may not require much maintenance, keeping on top of it and watching out for cracks and other issues, can help ensure that it remains standing and stable for many more years to come.

Environmental factors

Mother Nature is uncontrollable, and unfortunately, there may be times when your home is subjected to weather conditions that are anything but favourable. One way of helping your home withstand the climate and adverse weather conditions, is to have it built from locally sourced materials, which are already more capable of enduring the type of weather most commonly seen in your locality.

What can you do to help your home live longer?

There are some simple things that all homeowners can do to help their homes last for longer, and they include:

• Clean it regularly

By keeping the external structure of your home clean with appropriate measures (this may include power washing, but you should consult with a local building firm), you can help stop bacteria, and unsightly mould and fungus from growing on the walls of your home, and compromising its longevity.

• Carry out pest control

While not a huge problem for everyone, pests such as mice, rats and cockroaches can cause damage to your home if left untreated.

• Monitor for damp

Any signs of damp must be addressed swiftly before they have a negative impact on the structure of your home.

• Seek repairs as and when needed

As with many types of repairs, leaving them untreated tends only to lead to bigger problems further down the line, and will generally do nothing but harm to a building if not repaired in a timely fashion.

While there is no hard and fast rule as to how long a newly constructed home should last before requiring any structural repairs, you should be able to expect it to last for a good many decades if it was built by professionals and high-quality materials were used.