The house we’re living in today was built by the previous owners back in 1978. They actually left us a photo album of the house being built, and from my own construction experience, I can honestly say they built a small fortress. While it doesn’t match current building codes, it has successfully fought off almost 50 years of Florida hurricanes and tropical storms.
We bought the place in 2015, specifically looking for a fixer-upper in an older neighborhood. I was an experienced carpenter, my wife was incredibly helpful, and I even managed to drag my son into doing some physical labor. Good times.
Fortunately, the bones were good. The roof was recently replaced, the AC system wasn't ancient, and the water heater was relatively new. Even the electrical system had already been upgraded. The inside, however, was a different story.
There was wall-to-wall orange shag carpet that looked original, and popcorn ceilings that I slowly scraped away. The kitchen cabinets were a half-laminated pressboard that still carried the distinct smell of 1970s formaldehyde. But the amazing part was this: all of the appliances were original KitchenAid—and they all still worked.
Let’s do the math: 1978 to 2015 is 37 years. Thirty-seven years of a working fridge, dishwasher, and stove. I didn’t even think about it at the time. We wanted a modern look, so with new cabinets came new appliances.
Back in 2015, our plan was to stay in this house for just two or three years and move on to the next project. But as it turned out, this older neighborhood in Northeast Palm Bay was quiet and extremely convenient. So here we are, eleven years later, still in the same house—already repairing and replacing the appliances we put in. Ha!
We originally bought a matching set of GE appliances. The dishwasher stopped working after seven years. Since then, I’ve taught myself how to be an appliance repairman. Thank you, YouTube.
I’ve repaired the side-by-side refrigerator three times now—two defrost elements and a fan—and I’ve recently noticed hairline cracks in the inner plastic walls. I also repaired the dishwasher twice, but it recently died beyond my abilities and has officially become a dish drying rack. When I checked the price for a similar replacement model, I was shocked. So, I looked up the statistics: a dishwasher used once per day has a 21% chance of needing repair within the first five years, and a life expectancy of just six to eight years.
In the eleven years of being here, I’ve had to replace the washing machine, the water heater, and the AC. Now I’m looking at a new dishwasher, and I’m not sure how long I can keep this “modern” fridge going.
Thinking back to when I was growing up, I can’t remember my parents ever buying a new refrigerator, or replacing any appliance. In the '60s and '70s, people bought big-ticket items with the intention of keeping them forever. Today, you have to budget in those same items as a monthly expense.
So, to those perfectly good, orange sunburst appliances we discarded without a thought, I tip my hat. And to this older home that has stood the test of time and Florida weather, thank you for making me think about our modern world.
Are we building anything to last anymore? Or did we peak in 1978?
— Nathan
A quick shoutout to my brother-in-law, Jim. Without his help, with the renovations and showing us around, it never would’ve happened.
Some smart fellow bought those old appliances at a second hand store. They may still be running!