Facade: lifespan and cost
The facade protects the whole house, and most of the cost is upkeep rather than replacement. The table shows how long the materials last and what a replacement or repaint usually costs.
The ranges apply to a normal-sized house. Actual cost depends on size, access and region. Lifespan means technical lifespan with normal upkeep. In a share-based flat the big repairs are a share of the housing company’s project and show up in the charge or the company loan.
| Component | Lifespan | Replacement cost |
|---|---|---|
| Wood facade | 40 yrs (30-60) | 25 000-120 000 € |
| Brick facade | 60 yrs (50-100) | 30 000-150 000 € |
| Rendered facade | 40 yrs (25-60) | 25 000-120 000 € |
| Concrete element facade | 40 yrs (30-60) | 40 000-200 000 € |
| Facade painting | 12 yrs (8-18) | 8 000-40 000 € |
How often does a facade need repainting?
It depends on the paint type and which way the wall faces. A wood facade needs recurring paint, while brick and concrete element get by with less. A south-facing wall wears faster than a north one. The table shows typical repaint intervals.
What does replacing a facade cost?
Replacing panel or re-rendering is a bigger job than painting, and the price follows the size of the house and how much scaffolding is needed. Brick is nearly maintenance-free but expensive to replace, while a wood facade is cheaper but needs recurring paint. The cost in the table applies to a normal-sized house.
What the age of the house tells you
Certain build years carry known risks for exactly these parts. Here are the most common ones.
False plinth (valesokkeli) Houses built 1960–1990
False plinth — the most common Finnish risk structure; investigate the moisture.
Unventilated wood-framed exterior wall Houses built 1950–1980
Unventilated exterior wall — moisture can rot the timber frame; investigate.
Concrete-element era Houses built 1960–1975
In concrete-element buildings from this period, facades can erode and balconies plus the outer-wall reinforcement may need repair.
Is a rendered facade riskier than others?
Render from certain years can be a single-layer construction where moisture can be trapped behind the render. This mostly concerns houses built around the turn of the millennium. See the age note below and the guide on risk constructions.
Is repainting enough, or must the panel be replaced?
Sound panel that has only lost its paint just needs scraping and repainting. Panel that is rotten or split needs replacing in part or fully. A moisture reading and a close look at the south wall and near ground level usually settles which.
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