Inspect the components, not a fixed lifespan sequence
DWR is a renewable surface treatment. Gore explains that lost repellency and face-fabric wet-out do not by themselves establish membrane failure. The reviewed documentation does not assign a universal renewal interval.
Tape, inner treatments and laminates can deteriorate, but the reviewed sources do not establish a universal time to failure or show that membranes always outlast other parts.
What shortens the life — and what extends it
Gore and the garment-care guides cited in the washing article recommend cleaning to remove contamination that can impair performance. Use the products, temperature and drying method permitted by the garment label; this is not a guarantee of a particular service life.
Abrasion and damage deserve inspection. Follow garment-specific storage guidance and dry the jacket before putting it away; the reviewed sources do not establish how many months or years any storage practice adds or removes.
Repair, reproof or replace
Lost beading with no identified structural damage: clean and reproof if needed. Tears or lifting tape: ask the maker or a specialist about repair. Widespread laminate separation may prevent repair; Patagonia lists delaminated items as unrepairable, but another garment’s options need its own assessment.
Age alone is not a reason to replace. A ten-year-old shell that beads water, holds its tape and shows no delamination is still a waterproof jacket. The relevant question is never 'how old is it?' but 'which component has worn, and is that component renewable or repairable?'.