Prevalence and extent of moisture damage in Finnish housing

Abstract

Moisture damaged homes are a significant problem in Finland, with implications for occupant health, the economy, and building structures. Understanding the prevalence of moisture damage in buildings with different construction methodologies and structures will help inform ways to manage this damage now and in the future. We analyse pre-sale condition inspection data from 14,996 Finnish detached and semidetached houses, surveyed between 2016-2019, examining the presence and prevalence of moisture and mould damage within risk structures. Confirmed or moisture damage was found in 15% of inspected houses, with around 4% having damage in multiple locations. House age was the greatest risk factor for damage, while log external walls, fibreboard roofs, and no mechanical or gravitational ventilation system were also significant.Peer-review under the responsibility of the organizing committee of the ICMB23.