Will modern houses last hundreds of years?

[aircooled]

A house built in the modern age (let's say the 1990's). Engineering is good, insulation and windows are good, all the standards are hammered out. Maybe a vinyl or cement exterior. Will these homes still be here 100 years from now? 200 years from now?

 

[dman]

Too many variables. The ones that were built right, and don't suffer from disasters, and have maint. done probably will.

 

[Goosemaster]

LOL....no way in hell, unless it's made of brick.

 

[aircooled]

I like 1930's and older American built homes, but I hate 50's-70's built homes (US). With modern enginerring, I just wondered if these houses will be here hundreds of years from now.

 

[Gunbuster]

The engineering may be good but the people building them are fatass slobs who get the job by putting in the lowest bid.

 

[LAUST]

Modern homes are crap though. so cheaply built

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: Gunbuster
The engineering may be good but the people building them are fatass slobs who get the job by putting in the lowest bid.

That's why you get a good contractor. It might cost more, but it will be done better. There are still good tradesmen left.

 

[Ornery]

Houses aren't 'made of brick', they have brick veneers, which are prone to falling apart due to moisture penetration of the mortar.

There's no reason at all why any modern house wouldn't last more than 100 years, so long as there is a well drained foundation, no leaking plumbing, ventilation of moisture from the basement, living space, & attic, and roofing and flashing material are maintained.

 

[Chaotic42]

I should also ask, in 2150, who is going to want a house built in 2003?

I live in a house built in like 1845. It's not a good house. Creaks and cracks. No internal wiring, it's all on the walls in conduit. I only have one 3 prong outlet in my room, there is no washer/dryer area, no built in shower, it's a calw-foot tub. The water pressure is horrendous, there is no central heat/air, no adjustable radiator for heat, noise travels through the house really well, and the insulation is a joke. It's 20-30F hotter upstairs than it is down stairs.

 

[Ornery]

In 2150 they may not mind having a house built in the '40s. The HVAC, electrical and plumbing can be brought up to snuff. Many times the cast iron drains and copper pipes won't need updating. The balance of the house is way over built. 3/4" pine sheathing on all exterior surfaces including the roof and floors. Tongue & groove oak flooring and true plastered walls throughout. Brick or stone veneer with copper guttering and real functioning wood shutters. All worth the trouble to restore and maintain as built.

 

[zCypher]

Who cares?

 

[PatboyX]

i doubt many of the 12 dozen identical homes i see being built in old farm communities will last for 100+ years.

 

[Chaotic42]

Yeah, but just like the people in 1845 couldn't have imagined that I would like central AC and lots of 3 prong outlets for my dual 333 Celeron, I'm sure there are some "super space ultra connectors" or "food replicators" or whatever that a 2003 house just couldn't handle well.

 

[Zedtom]

It all depends on how the dwelling was constructed. The trend since 1950 is to build subdivisions with a limited number of models and variations. This is why most suburban areas have a bland similarity in the neighborhoods. The developers use economies of scale to build as many homes as will fit the land.

There are exceptions, of course. Many custom built homes should last two hundred years or more.

I predict that you will see entire neighborhoods dismantled and rebuilt in the next fifty years.