Hamina’s 100-metre flagpole repair estimated at nearly €500,000 – industry calls cost excessive

The city of Hamina estimates that repairing its 100-metre flagpole would cost nearly €500,000, while dismantling it would cost €120,000, according to a report by Finnish broadcaster Yle. Industry experts, however, consider the repair estimate unusually high.

City development director Toni Puustinen told Yle that dismantling and reassembling the flagpole—required for a durable repair—accounts for half the total cost, at €240,000. The remaining €240,000 covers surface treatment, including sandblasting, cleaning, and applying a two-layer coating inside a temporary on-site shelter.

External companies specialising in surface treatment questioned the high estimate. Sami Suomalainen, CEO of Fincoat, suggested the quoted price for the coating work was steep, though he noted that a precise assessment would require an on-site inspection. Antti Järvenpää, CEO of Järvenpään Pinnoitus, added that while material and equipment costs have recently fallen due to low construction activity, the city’s budget may still be overestimated.

The bulk of the dismantling cost—€50,000—stems from renting a sufficiently large crane for a day, a figure Ari Henriksson, deputy managing director of crane services company Havator, confirmed as realistic. He explained that transporting, assembling, and preparing the crane often takes a full week, significantly increasing expenses beyond the daily rental rate. Additional costs include project planning, contractor insurance, and supervision.

Hamina’s city council has delayed a final decision on whether to repair or dismantle the flagpole, pending further discussion. The structure, installed in 2018, suffers from cracking in its zinc and paint layers, with pieces of the coating detaching. If reassembled, the pole would require a third-party inspection, though the cost of this has not been estimated.

The city previously decided to dismantle the flagpole but reversed course after the council requested additional debate. A final decision will follow a competitive tendering process to determine actual costs.