An asbestos survey for a cottage is needed just as it is for a permanent home: if the cottage or its structures date from before 1994 and are going to be repaired or demolished, asbestos has to be investigated first. Typical materials to test in cottages are corrugated asbestos cement roofs, bitumen roofing, sauna heater shields and chimney penetrations. If the cottage is far away, a single material can also be checked with a sample sent by post.
Does the survey requirement apply to summer cottages?
Yes. Finland’s Asbestos Act (684/2015) and Government Decree 798/2015 make no distinction between holiday homes and permanent residences. What matters is the year of construction and whether repair or demolition work is being done on the structures. Many cottages were built between the 1960s and the 1980s and have been extended and patched up by their owners over the decades. That is exactly why they often contain materials from many different eras, and nobody necessarily remembers which boards were used where.
What is checked at a cottage?
Corrugated cement roofs
Grey corrugated sheet roofs are very common on cottages, saunas, woodsheds and outbuildings. Older sheets are often asbestos cement. An intact sheet on the roof is not an immediate hazard, but removing, sawing, drilling or pressure-washing it releases fibres. Read more about asbestos cement boards.
Bitumen roofing
Old roofing felt, bitumen shingles and their adhesives may contain asbestos. They often come to light when a new roof is laid over the old one or when the old covering is stripped.
Sauna heater shields
Behind the heater and on the ceiling of a cottage sauna there are often fire boards that may be asbestos cement. They are always part of the survey when the sauna or heater is replaced. The same materials are covered in more detail in asbestos in a sauna renovation.
Chimney and flue penetrations
Where the chimney of a fireplace, stove or wood-burning cooker passes through the roof and ceiling, the opening is often protected with boards, and the flue pipe joints may contain sealing compounds or tapes. These are small parts, but they almost always come off when the fireplace or chimney is renewed.
Other typical spots
Cottage floors may have old vinyl flooring with adhesive, and the walls may have boards or filler from different rounds of renovation. The surveyor goes through the materials that the planned work will affect.
How do you arrange a survey when the cottage is far away?
The cottage is often hundreds of kilometres from home, and there is not always someone there to open the door. You have two options:
A surveyor on site
Surveyors visit on site in southern Finland: Uusimaa, Pirkanmaa, Southwest Finland, Kanta-Häme, Päijät-Häme and Kymenlaakso. Depending on the city, a survey costs from 119 € incl. VAT, and the price includes the survey, all samples, the laboratory analysis, travel and the report. If a whole building, such as an old sauna or woodshed, is being demolished, demolition projects cost an extra 100 €. See the price for your area in the price list. The visit is scheduled in advance, so you can pick a day when you are at the cottage yourself or someone else can let the surveyor in.
A sample by post
If you only want to check one material, such as a roof sheet or the board behind the heater, you can take the sample yourself and send it to the laboratory by post. The analysis costs 39,90 € + VAT per sample, and the results arrive by email on the day the sample reaches the lab. Samples are analysed with a JEOL SEM-EDS electron microscope. This is also a practical option when the cottage is outside the area covered by on-site surveys.
When taking the sample yourself, wear an FFP3 respirator and disposable gloves, wet the material with water and remove a small piece with as little dust as possible. Pack the sample in a sealable bag and label where it was taken. If you are working on the roof, make sure you are protected against falls. You will find detailed instructions in taking an asbestos sample yourself.
Remember that a self-taken sample only tells you about that particular material. A larger renovation or a demolition needs a survey that covers every material affected.
Cottage renovation checklist
- Find out when the cottage and outbuildings were built and any earlier extensions.
- List what the work involves: roof, sauna, fireplaces, floors or the whole building.
- A mail-in sample is enough to check one material; for a larger renovation, order a survey.
- Do not saw, drill or pressure-wash an old corrugated roof until you know what it is.
- If asbestos is found, the asbestos-containing parts are removed by an authorised removal contractor.
Before the surveyor arrives, it is worth reading how to prepare for the visit. Ready to order? Order an asbestos survey.