Vanha house purchase demands patience and deep pockets

Two couples bought a 100-year-old log cottage on impulse at Finland’s Abandoned Houses fair for €10,000, even though none had planned to purchase a property.

Sirpa and Terhi Alho, together with their partners, acquired the 55-square-metre building known as Mörrimöykyn kolo after stepping inside and feeling immediate affection for its original condition.

Architect Pekka Hänninen, who specialises in ecological renovation, warns that old houses rarely behave as expected. “You cannot force an old building into a predetermined shape,” he says. “Accept what it is and let it guide the repairs.”

Hänninen advises prospective buyers to prioritise two structural elements: the roof and the foundations. A sagging roof that still keeps water out may not need urgent work, but any leak or ground water directed toward the walls threatens the entire structure. Temporary corrugated roofing can buy time if a full replacement is unaffordable right away.

Windows, doors and hidden pasts

Original windows and doors are valuable heritage features, but they must be properly sealed to prevent draughts. Hänninen recommends consulting Finland’s Heritage Agency for guidance on restoring historic joinery rather than replacing it.

Previous renovations can also create problems. Concrete screeds, vinyl flooring, unsuitable exterior paints and inadequate ventilation trap moisture inside walls designed for far lower humidity levels. Bathroom upgrades are especially risky because modern showering produces far more steam than 19th-century dwellings anticipated. Hänninen suggests placing new wet rooms in an attached porch or similar annex to isolate moisture.

Money and time expand without warning

Costs and schedules for old-house repairs are notoriously unpredictable. A full gut renovation can equal the price of building a new home of the same size. Hänninen urges buyers to live in the house for a season before committing to major changes, letting the building reveal its true needs.

The Alho sisters and their partners plan to research the cottage’s history by talking to neighbours, preserving both the fabric and the stories of Mörrimöykyn kolo.