Need It or Want It?

To drive demand, Broan-NuTone constantly adds finishes and features. It made deeper cabinets to create storage space above pedestal sinks. It added more electrical outlets for iPods and cellphones. And it created soft-close features and doors that open flat against a wall.

"It's all about innovation," Pringle said. "Medicine cabinets are an easy change."

Change comes most easily to younger people, Washington architect Reena Racki said. "In a strange way, it ties into young people's attitude about throwaway fashion," Racki said. "When you're young, time doesn't have the same significance, and you expect a lot of change."

Then there's the pocketbook factor. Not everyone can afford the top-of-the-line, longest-lasting products, which is why some consumers might settle for asphalt shingle roofs, for instance, instead of paying for more durable copper roofs, Racki said.

But the long term is important, said Frank Lesh, president of the American Society of Home Inspectors. Think about your house as you would a car, he urged. "It's like a machine. And machines wear out."

They wear out more quickly if not cared for properly, and when they fail, it always seems to be at the least convenient time. A furnace dies in the dead of winter when it's under the most stress, he said.

So pace yourself. Adopt what Lesh calls "the 1 percent rule" when it comes to your home's upkeep: Budget 1 percent of the value of your home each year for maintenance.

"In the long term, it's cheaper to do a little preventive maintenance," Lesh said. "You don't have to wait until there's a flat tire."