The housing stock of Ukraine includes many houses built in different eras. The quality of housing directly affects the comfort and safety of living. To understand the condition of your house, it is important to know how many years it can serve, what factors affect its durability and how the current situation in the country, including military actions, can affect buildings.
Service life of houses: what is it
The service life of a house is the period during which the building is considered safe and suitable for habitation, provided it is properly maintained. It depends on the materials from which the house is built, construction technologies and operating conditions. Standards adopted in the past and partially valid in Ukraine determine the average service life for different types of houses:
- Brick houses : about 100-150 years. They are durable, retain heat well and are resistant to wear.
- Panel houses : 50–100 years, depending on the series and quality of construction. Modern panel houses can serve up to 120 years.
- Monolithic houses : 120–150 years. These are the most durable buildings due to their solid reinforced concrete structure.
- Block houses : about 100 years. Their durability depends on the quality of the blocks and maintenance.
Operating conditions: how to extend the life of your home
In order for a house to serve for a long time, it needs to be looked after. The main operating conditions include:
- Regular major repairs : Conducted every 20–25 years. This includes replacing communications (pipes, wiring), repairing the facade, roof, and seams in panel houses.
- Timely maintenance : Repairing minor defects such as cracks or leaks prevents serious damage.
- Thermal insulation : Especially important for panel houses, which often have low thermal performance.
- Depreciation control : If the depreciation of a building exceeds 70%, it may be declared unsafe, which requires demolition and resettlement of residents.
Without proper care, the service life of a house can be reduced several times. For example, panel houses built in the 1960s and 1970s often suffer from poor sealing of seams, which leads to freezing of the walls and rapid wear.
Housing stock of the 70-90s of the last century
In the 70s–90s of the last century, housing for mass settlement was actively built. The main types of buildings were:
Brick houses
Brick houses of that time are 5-14-storey buildings with an improved layout. They have ceilings of 2.6-2.75 m, isolated rooms, kitchens of 6-9 m², balconies and loggias. Brick provides good heat and sound insulation, and the service life of such houses reaches 100-150 years with proper operation. However, without repair of communications (pipes, electrical wiring), the comfort of living is reduced.
Panel houses
Panel houses were built according to standard designs, such as series 108 or 1-515-9ш. These are 5-9-story buildings with reinforced concrete panels. Their advantages are speed of construction and low cost. But there are also disadvantages: low thermal insulation, weak sealing of seams and a shorter service life (50-100 years). Modern panel houses built after the 1980s have improved characteristics and can serve up to 120 years.
Reinforced concrete monolithic houses
Monolithic houses began to be built towards the end of the 1980s. They are distinguished by a one-piece structure, where concrete is poured directly on the construction site. Such houses are stronger than panel houses, have better sound insulation and a service life of up to 150 years. However, their construction was more expensive, so they were less common.
Modern Homes: What Has Changed
Modern houses in Ukraine, built after the 2000s, are distinguished by improved technologies and materials. The main types are:
- Monolithic frame houses : The most popular today. They are durable, allow for free layouts and have a service life of 120-150 years. Facades are often finished with durable materials, which increases their resistance to weather conditions.
- Brick houses : Still built, but less frequently due to high cost. Service life is up to 150 years, and heat and sound insulation remain at a high level.
- Improved series panel houses : Thicker panels with insulation are used, which increases energy efficiency. The service life of such houses is 100-120 years.
Modern homes often feature improved utilities, elevators, garbage chutes, and spacious layouts. However, their longevity also depends on the quality of construction and maintenance.
The impact of hostilities on housing quality
Since 2014, and especially since 2022, the fighting in Ukraine has seriously affected the condition of the housing stock. Explosions, shelling and vibrations can damage even new houses. Here are the main factors that reduce the service life of buildings:
- Damage to load-bearing structures : Explosions can cause cracks in the foundation, walls and floors, which reduces the strength of the home.
- Sealing failure : In panel houses, the seams between panels can be destroyed due to vibrations, which leads to freezing and leaks.
- Wear and tear of utilities : Power, water and heating outages accelerate the wear and tear of pipes and wiring.
- Lack of repairs : In war conditions, major repairs are often impossible, which leads to the accumulation of defects.
Even houses that are not directly hit by shelling can suffer from indirect factors such as temperature fluctuations or increased humidity due to damaged roofs. This is especially critical for panel houses, where poor sealing of seams is already a weak point.
How to protect your home
Residents should pay attention to the condition of their home and, if possible, take action:
- Check the condition of the seams and facade, especially in panel houses.
- Report any cracks or leaks to the housing association or local authorities in a timely manner.
- Participate in resident meetings to initiate repairs using the capital repairs fund.
The quality of housing in Ukraine depends on the type of house, materials and operating conditions. Houses from the 70-90s of the last century, built of brick, panels or monolith, can last 50-150 years, but without regular repairs their condition deteriorates. Modern houses are more durable, but their quality also depends on care. Military actions create additional risks, accelerating the deterioration of buildings. To extend the life of your home, it is important to monitor its condition and carry out repairs in a timely manner. Check the documents for your house through the Administrative Service Provision Centers (TSP) or online services such as «Diya» and find out when the last major repairs were carried out — this will help you understand how many more years your home will be safe.