Medway · England
Borstal External Mastic
Specialist external mastic for Borstal: careful preparation, the right product and tidy work. Call for a quick quote.
- Hard, crazed mastic that has stopped moving
- Joints where the bead has come unstuck
- Movement joints filled with mortar instead of sealant
External mastic in Borstal, done properly
A movement joint is only as good as its depth. Backing rod controls how deep the sealant goes and keeps it off the back of the joint, leaving it bonded to two faces so it can move with the wall. Typical jobs include panel joints letting water in and joints where the bead has come unstuck, across joints between brick and frames, render & cladding joints and brickwork movement joints.
In and around Borstal, older properties sit alongside newer ones, each with its own outside joints. Older homes need their gutter and trim joints kept tight, newer ones their movement joints.
All our work comes with a one-year guarantee, wherever you are in Medway.
- Where
- Borstal (ME1, ME2)
- Region
- Medway
- Cover
- 12 months on all our work
- Quotes
- A clear price before work begins
- Telephone
- 0345 464 0079
- Page updated
- 26 October 2026
What sealant work can’t fix
Some problems need a builder, plumber or other trade rather than us:
- Cracking across the wall rather than at a joint
- Movement that’s more than a sealant joint can take
- Cutting new joints into brickwork, which is building work rather than sealant work
If in doubt, call 0345 464 0079 or email us and we will say what we think before you book.
Where we work in Borstal
- Copings & trims
- Joints between brick and frames
- Concrete & block
- Render & cladding joints
- Brickwork movement joints
- Façade panels
External mastic in Borstal: local notes
Compared with the north and west, the South East gets less rain, though outdoor sealant still has to go onto a dry joint, so the forecast decides the day. With historic houses such as Temple Manor (about 1 mile north) nearby, there’s older building stock in the area around Borstal as well as newer homes. Where a home is older, older walls and rooflines need a sealant that moves with them and suits the material.
Managing a site like St William of Perth Roman Catholic Primary School? Then movement joints, cladding joints and gutters on larger buildings need the same care as a house’s. In the older streets around St Matthew's, an extension built onto an older house moves differently, and the joint between them takes the strain.
Borstal is about 1 mile south-west of Rochester, in Medway. Our applicators cover external mastic for homes and businesses in Borstal, as part of our work across Medway. Borstal is one of 68 places in Medway where we work. You can also see our page for Chelmsford, about 25 miles away.
Jobs for external mastic in ME1 and ME2 is quoted and booked the same way as anywhere else. You’ll find streets such as Hill Road, Manor Lane and Mount Road. Being close to the M2, Borstal is easy for our applicators to reach for external mastic. Other places close to Borstal include Rochester (1 mile north-east), Strood (1 mile north), Cuxton (1 mile west), North Halling (2 miles west) and Wouldham (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Gillingham (4 miles east), Rainham (5 miles east), Park Wood (5 miles east), Lordswood (4 miles south-east), Twydall (4 miles east) and Hoo St Werburgh (5 miles north-east).
Landmarks near Borstal
Around Borstal, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School, Former Ordnance Store At Chatham Gun Wharf and St John Fisher RC Comprehensive School. For rail, the closest station is Cuxton station, roughly 1 mile west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Six Poor Travellers House (1.3 miles north-east) and Rochester Castle (1.3 miles north-east). For a walk, there’s Blue Bell Hill and Ranscombe Farm.
What we’re called out for in Borstal
A lot of failed joints come down to preparation: joint faces that were dusty or damp, unprimed where they needed it, or still carrying old sealant. The sealant never bonds properly.
Keep an eye out for any of the following:
- Rigid filler in a joint that should flex
- Cracked joints where brick meets render or frames
- Leaking joints around cladding and façade panels
- Old sealant gone brittle and cracked
If you let a flat or house near Cuxton station, split movement joints are easy to miss on a rental until damp shows inside.
What your quote should include
- How long the guarantee is
- Whether all the old sealant comes out first
- Who turns up on the day
- How hidden problems are handled
What the job involves on each surface
Cladding and façade panels
Where a cladding system has its own specified sealant, we follow it. Send us any details you have about the façade.
Render joints
The face of render can be soft, so a sealant that stretches easily protects the edges. Priming is done where the sealant calls for it.
Landlords, agents and businesses in Borstal
If you manage several properties in or around Borstal, jobs at different addresses can go on one quote. Send us the addresses and the work at each, and photos by email help.
In hotels, rooms out of use cost money, so the work can be planned room by room around your bookings where we can. We have worked in hotels as well as homes and businesses.
Quotes for external mastic in Borstal
There’s no set price list, because no two jobs are the same. The quote depends on:
- Access and height
- How many rooms, windows or areas are involved
- When we can work, for business premises
- The old material and how stubborn it is
The cost reflects the work involved, not guesswork. That’s why we ask a few questions first and give you a clear quote before any work starts.
What we need to know
To make quoting easier, let us know:
- How many joints, rooms or windows are involved
- Where the property is
- A few photos by email, if you can
- Access, such as stairs, a lift or height
A good description makes for an accurate quote. Tell us where the job is, what’s wrong and how much there is, and email photos if that’s easy.
Nearby places to Borstal
Other services in Borstal
How it works
We keep the work tidy and contained to the joints we’re treating, so you can get on with your day. Expect the work to take anything from a few hours to several days, depending on the building, and we explain the cure time before we leave. Parking around Borstal is usually easier than in a town centre, but mention any lanes, gates or long drives. If the job is outside, tell us about side access and how high the joints are.
- First we look over the joints with you, agree which to renew and talk through access.
- We cut out the failed sealant and rake out any dirt or growth.
- Both sides are cleaned back to sound material and primed if needed.
- Closed-cell backing rod is fitted to set the depth and stop three-sided bonding.
- A flexible exterior sealant is applied and tooled in a colour to suit the wall.
How to prepare
- Clear the area around the work
- Mention if the joints have been sealed before
- Mention any parking rules near the property
Ask for a quote
We quote each job on its own, so start by telling us what you need. Simply ring 0345 464 0079 or email us and describe the job, and photos are welcome.
Read more
DIY versus a professional finish
The biggest DIY mistake is sealing over old sealant. New silicone won’t bond to old, so it peels away and traps moisture behind it. All the old material has to come out first.
Too much sealant is as bad as too little. A heavy bead looks messy and copes badly with movement, and getting the depth right matters as much as the look.
Questions from Borstal
Do you cover smaller places like Borstal?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We work across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Is Borstal in your area for external mastic?
Yes. Our work covers London and the South East, and Borstal is part of that. You can call 0345 464 0079 or send us an email and let us know what needs doing, and we will give you a clear price.
How do I get a quote for external mastic in Borstal?
Every job is different, so each one gets its own quote. To get one, call 0345 464 0079 or drop us an email with a short description of the job.
Are you ARBOMaster approved?
Yes. We’re ARBOMaster approved, the scheme for applicators of Arbo sealants.
What do you put in the joint?
The product depends on the job: anti-fungal sanitary silicone in wet areas, and other sealants where joints move or face the weather. Brands we use include Arbo and Everbuild.
Is it OK to fill a movement joint with cement?
No. Rigid materials can’t move with the wall and the joint fails. If it has already been filled, we can generally cut it out and reseal it.
What’s an expansion joint in brickwork?
It’s a deliberate gap that lets the wall expand and contract without cracking. It should be filled with flexible sealant, never mortar.
Do I have to be there?
It depends on the job. Inside work needs someone to give us access.