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.

Component	Lifespan	Replacement cost
Wood facade	50 yrs (30-80)	150 000-400 000 kr
Brick facade	100 yrs (80-150)	200 000-600 000 kr
Rendered facade	40 yrs (30-50)	150 000-500 000 kr
Fibre cement facade	50 yrs (40-60)	120 000-350 000 kr
Sheet metal facade	50 yrs (40-60)	130 000-380 000 kr
Facade paint, alkyd	10 yrs (8-12)	40 000-120 000 kr
Facade paint, acrylic	12 yrs (10-15)	40 000-120 000 kr
Facade paint, linseed oil	7 yrs (5-8)	50 000-150 000 kr
Facade paint, red ochre	8 yrs (5-10)	30 000-80 000 kr

How often does a facade need repainting?

It depends on the paint type and which way the wall faces. Red ochre and linseed oil age gently and are touched up in stages, while covering alkyd and acrylic paint stays tight but flakes more visibly when it lets go. A south-facing wall wears faster than a north one. The table shows typical intervals per paint type.

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 and fibre cement are nearly maintenance-free but expensive to replace, while wood panel 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

Some build years carry known risks for exactly these parts. Here are the most common ones.

Single-layer rendered facade (EIFS) Houses built 1990–2007

Rendered facades from this era may be single-layer (enstegstätad) - Sweden's largest building scandal.

Asbestos Houses built 1930–1982

Asbestos was widely used during this period. Sampling is required before renovation.

PCB in sealants Houses built 1956–1973

PCB in sealants around windows, doors and balconies, and between concrete elements. An environmental and health risk. Legal requirement: survey by 2008 at the latest, remediation when above 500 mg/kg.

Is a rendered facade riskier than others?

Rendered facades from certain years can be single-layer, a 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 single-layer facades.

Is repainting enough, or must the panel be replaced?

Sound panel that has only lost 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.