Finland’s building stock faces challenges from climate change as experts call for proactive maintenance practices

Finland’s building stock is facing serious challenges as climate change accelerates. The rising humidity and milder winters are increasingly damaging structures, primarily due to moisture issues. Additionally, the more frequent fluctuations between freezing and thawing temperatures during winter are putting added stress on buildings. Extreme weather events, such as autumn storms, are becoming more common in this changing climate.

Anu Soikkeli, a professor of architecture at the University of Oulu, emphasizes the need for a shift in approach to building maintenance, advocating for increased monitoring and upkeep. Soikkeli suggests that building care should be proactive, similar to vehicle maintenance, involving continuous observation and regular assessments. The specifics of such assessments still require further exploration, particularly regarding which variables—such as temperature—should be monitored and the methods for doing so.

The call for a cultural shift in maintenance practices is echoed by Janne Salakka, a community relations manager at a Finnish property association, who highlights the release of a guide for property companies to prepare for worsening weather conditions. However, he notes that it may take time for the implications of climate change to be fully integrated into maintenance planning.

Soikkeli points out that Finland’s post-war multi-storey building trends complicate maintenance, as contemporary buildings are constructed with varied materials layered together, which can lead to severe damage from moisture that bypasses the exterior. She asserts that preserving and repairing existing structures is far more beneficial for the environment than demolition and new construction. Protecting Finland’s historic buildings is essential as a majority of the nation’s wealth is tied to its built environment.