Indeed, it's one big money pitt, once serious renovation starts you can see the money flowing away faster than bitcoin goes up, and most of the times those old buildings keep having moisture problems, because of bad work all those years ago. But hey, that's why it was so cheap to buy it in the first place...
I'm a builder by trade and you've got no idea what you're talking about. I'd take something built back then over the shitty mass produced buildings we have these days. Sure, they didn't have a lot of the special materials (and knowledge) we have these days to fight things like salt damp, however they were built tough, were labours of love and have oodles of character. I applaud Risto on his plans with this place. It may seem daunting on the outset but in the end; if done right, it will be something amazing
Not sure where you live, but where I live, new buildings are A LOT better build than the old ones, regarding insulation, most old buildings have mistakes like concrete floors touching the outer walls, causing moisture problems and cold creeping in, because there's no seperation with insulation. New buildings also have no salt damp. Wooden constructions in the old homes, like the roofs, are all poorly done. The list is endless. And those old houses are probably high end in other parts of the world...
Regarding structural strength, the new buildings are build tougher.
So from my point of view, you don't know what you are talking about and I wouldn't hire you as a builder.
The fact that old buildings were made with love and character doesn't make them better or change the fact that Risto his castle is going to be a big money pitt, if he is going to restore it according to western europe standards. And in the end he will have to deal with problems he probably can't fix to keep it financially viable, wich he wouldn't have had with a new building. But Risto has enough money, so no problem there.
Thanks for your input, but to me it looks like a poor response from a poor builder.