Thurrock · England
External Mastic in Grays
Professional external mastic in and around Grays, with every bit of old sealant taken out first and a 12-month guarantee.
- Sealant pulling away from one side of the joint
- Brick movement joints where the sealant has split
- Failed seals between different materials
External mastic in Grays, done properly
We are ARBOMaster approved applicators, and each external joint gets a sealant suited to it. Porous or awkward surfaces are primed where the sealant needs it and we use one wherever it does. Typical jobs include joints where the bead has come unstuck and brick movement joints where the sealant has split, across concrete & block, copings & trims and brickwork movement joints.
Extensions are a common sight on houses around Grays, and the joint where new wall meets old is a classic place for water to get in. Getting the joint depth right matters as much as the sealant itself.
We stand behind the work with a one-year guarantee.
What we do, step by step
The work is kept neat and contained to the joints we’re treating, so you can get on with your day. Expect the work to take a few hours for a handful of joints, longer for a whole elevation, and we tell you how long to leave it before we go. For a job in Grays, we need access to where the work is and somewhere nearby to park. For outside work, let us know about side access, gates and any upper-floor joints.
- First, the joints are inspected and the access agreed.
- We cut out the old mastic and rake out anything in the joint.
- The faces are brushed clean and primed where the product requires it.
- We fit closed-cell backing rod to control the depth.
- We apply the sealant, tool it and check the whole run.
How to prepare
- Let us know if you’ve seen damp or leaks
- Let us know about earlier repairs to the joints
- For business premises, tell us about site rules or sign-in
How to get a quote
Call for a quick quote, or email us if that’s easier. Describe what needs sealing and we will talk you through the work before giving you a price.
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Walls and rooflines in Grays
Grays is within about 3 miles of the coast, and homes near the sea take more wind-driven rain, with salt in the air closer to the shore. Both are hard on movement joints and outside wall joints, which can dry out and crack sooner where a building faces the weather. Compared with the north and west, the South East gets less rain, but outside sealant still needs a dry, clean surface, so outdoor work is planned around the forecast.
Letting a property close to Grays station? Then outside joints that have cracked can let damp into a rental, so check them between lets. Managing a site like Quarry Hill Academy? Then larger buildings have long runs of movement joint that eventually need resealing.
Grays is about 5 miles north-east of Dartford, in Thurrock. Homes, rented property, offices and hotels in Grays can book us for external mastic. Every job comes with our 12-month guarantee. We cover 26 towns and villages across Thurrock, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for London, about 18 miles away.
Jobs for external mastic in RM17, RM16, RM20 and RM18 works the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you need external mastic at a property on London Road, College Avenue and Cresthill Avenue or a nearby road, our applicators can take on the job. Main roads around Grays include the A126 and B149, which makes travel easy. If you are just outside Grays, we cover Little Thurrock (1 mile north-east), Chafford Hundred (1 mile north-west), Orsett Heath (1 mile north-east), North Stifford (2 miles north-west) and Chadwell St Mary (2 miles east). We also work in nearby towns such as Stanford-le-Hope (5 miles north-east), South Ockendon (3 miles north-west), Balstonia (5 miles north-east), Corringham (6 miles north-east), Aveley (4 miles west) and Purfleet-on-Thames (4 miles west).
Local landmarks in Grays
Typical jobs here are in homes near Thurrock and Basildon College, Grays Convent High School and The Traitors Gate pub. The nearest railway station is Grays station, roughly 0.6 miles south-west. Nearby you will also find Stone Castle (3.6 miles south-west) and Thurrock Community Hospital (0.9 miles north). The countryside around Grays includes Chafford Gorges Nature Park and Sawyers Lake.
When something else is needed
Honest advice matters more to us than a booking, so here’s what new sealant will not do:
- Walls that need new movement joints cut into them
- Render that’s blown, hollow or coming away
- Cracking across the wall rather than at a joint
Not sure which it is? You can call 0345 464 0079 or email us and we will tell you honestly before you book.
What we seal
- Copings & trims
- Joints between brick and frames
- Brickwork movement joints
- Render & cladding joints
- Façade panels
- Concrete & block
Signs you need external mastic in Grays
Every building moves. Clay bricks expand slightly over their life, concrete and block shrink, and everything moves with temperature and wet. All of that ends up in the joint sealant.
People usually contact us when they notice something like this:
- Water getting into walls through failed joints
- Old sealant gone brittle and cracked
- Leaking joints around cladding and façade panels
- Weeds or debris growing in open joints
For an older house near a landmark such as St John the Evangelist, old and new materials meet at the roofline and walls, which is where sealant earns its keep.
Comparing quotes
- What preparation is included
- Whether VAT is included
- How long to leave it before use
- Is the old sealant removed completely?
Why it’s worth doing now in Grays
A failed movement joint lets water into the wall, behind render and cladding. Dealing with it early keeps the repair to the joint, rather than the wall around it. Draughts from a gap round a frame, damp under a sill or water behind a bath panel all start small, and early is when they’re cheapest and quickest to sort.
What it costs depends on how much there is to do, how much old material has to come out and access to the work. You will have a clear quote before any work starts, so you know where you stand.
Why choose Mr Mastic in Grays
- Arbo and Everbuild products
- A sealant colour to suit the surroundings
- White, clear, grey or another colour, product permitting
- Anti-fungal silicone where joints get wet
Take a look at what affects the cost or our reviews.
Landlords, agents and businesses in Grays
If you manage several properties in or around Grays, several properties can be quoted together. Just tell us the addresses and what each one needs, and pictures by email help.
We also work for businesses, from offices to washrooms and kitchens. For commercial premises, we can talk through working times when we quote.
Questions from Grays
Do you work for landlords with property near Grays station?
Yes. We work for letting agents and landlords as well as homeowners. You can call 0345 464 0079 or email us with the details for a clear quote.
Do you cover Grays for external mastic?
Yes. Our work covers London and the South East, and Grays is part of that. You can ring 0345 464 0079 or send us an email and tell us what needs doing, and we will give you a clear quote.
Why do you put foam in the joint first?
That’s backing rod, a closed-cell foam. It keeps the sealant at the right depth and bonded to the sides only so it can flex with the joint.
Can you work on commercial sites?
Yes. Larger jobs can be planned room by room or area by area.
Will the old sealant be removed?
Yes, every time. New silicone does not stick to old silicone, so the joint is cleaned back first.
How long does external mastic take?
As a guide, most jobs take a few hours for a handful of joints, longer for a whole elevation. Larger jobs naturally take longer.
When will the joints need doing again?
It varies from wall to wall: sunny, exposed elevations and busy joints wear faster. A yearly look will tell you when they need doing. Our work comes with a one-year guarantee.
How long before the joint can be used?
Most sealants are touch-dry well before they’re fully cured. We will give you the cure time for the product we used before we leave.
DIY sealant or a professional job?
Overfilling a joint is a classic DIY mistake. A heavy bead looks messy and copes badly with movement, and getting the depth right matters as much as the look.
Some jobs are best left to a professional: work at height, external movement joints, fire-rated sealant and large areas need the right product, the right access and the right method.
Keeping the joints in good condition
How long the joints last depends on use and care. Here’s what we suggest:
- Check the sealant is paintable before painting near it
- Fix overflowing gutters above sealed joints
- Point out the joints to other trades
- Walk round the building once a year and look at the joints
If you have more work done on the wall, such as new render, cladding or an opening, show the contractor the movement joints. They should be kept open and resealed, not filled.
If you can see gaps, plants or bare sections in a joint, have it checked. Earlier resealing means a smaller job and a better result.