Building Lifespans - From Castles to Cavity Walls

In this episode, we explore the true lifespan of buildings around the world, from ancient Japanese timber frames and Italian stone dwellings to Victorian terraces and modern brick homes in the UK. We separate design intent from real-world durability, unpack the role of maintenance, environment, and material science, and challenge common myths about how long homes really last. We also examine the expected lifespan of key materials like concrete, stone, brick, timber, and mortar under nominal conditions, and discuss what realistic expectations homeowners should have, especially when buying properties already 100 years old.