A sixty-year-old panel that is correctly sized, undamaged and not a recalled brand can be perfectly serviceable. A ten-year-old panel packed to the last slot is not.
What we check first
Service size, available slots, signs of heat at the lugs, and whether the brand is one of the ones with a documented failure history. Two of those four decide most jobs.
The load calculation matters more than the age
If you are adding an EV charger, an induction range or air conditioning, the question is arithmetic, not opinion. We run the numbers and show you them.