North Lanarkshire · Scotland
External Mastic in Hirst
Problem with your movement joints in Hirst? We cut out the old, prepare the joints and apply the right sealant, with a one-year guarantee.
- Sealant that has lost its bond to the brick or render
- Water getting into walls through failed joints
- Weeds or debris growing in open joints
Surface by surface
Brickwork movement joints
Vertical joints in long brick walls let the brickwork expand without cracking. They’re resealed over backing rod with a low-modulus sealant in a colour to suit the brick.
Joints between dissimilar materials
Different materials may need different primers. Both surfaces are cleaned and primed as the product requires.
External mastic for homes and businesses in Hirst
Failed sealant is cut out, the depth set with closed-cell backing rod, and the joint resealed with a low-modulus sealant made for outside. We pick a colour that sits well with the wall so the line blends in. If you have failed sealant between panels on a façade and brick movement joints where the sealant has split, we can help.
Older stone buildings need a sealant that suits the stone, not an acetoxy product that can mark or attack it. Newer houses need their movement joints and roofline trims kept sound.
The work is guaranteed for twelve months. If something isn’t right with it in that time, tell us and we will put it right.
- Location
- Hirst (ML7)
- Region
- North Lanarkshire
- Guarantee
- A year, on every job
- Price
- Quoted before any work starts
- info@mrmastic.co.uk
- Last updated
- 26 October 2026
Should I try it myself first?
Some sealant jobs are within reach of a careful DIYer, like a short, easy-to-reach joint indoors. The common mistakes are sealing over old sealant, sealing a damp joint and using far too much.
Overfilling a joint is a classic DIY mistake. A thick, smeared bead looks untidy and does not move well, and the joint depth matters as much as the finish.
Hirst: your questions answered
Is Hirst in your area for external mastic?
Yes, Hirst is within the area we cover. Our work covers the whole of Scotland. You can drop us a line at info@mrmastic.co.uk and tell us what needs doing, and we’ll send you a clear quote.
I let a flat near Shotts station. Can you help?
Yes. We work for landlords and agents as well as householders, and several properties can be quoted together. You can email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk with the details for a clear quote.
Do you use backing rod?
Backing rod goes into deeper joints as a matter of course. It controls the depth and stops the sealant bonding to the back, so the joint can move.
Where do you work from?
Mr Mastic is based in Crawley. Our applicators cover Hirst, along with the rest of our area.
What does external mastic cost?
It depends on the job, so we quote each one individually. For a quick quote, email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk and tell us what needs doing and where.
Can I do it myself?
For a simple, easy-to-reach joint, a careful DIYer can do a reasonable job. Most DIY failures come from sealing over old material, wet joints or too much sealant.
Are you fully insured?
Yes. Full insurance covers our work, and we can confirm the details when we quote.
What information do you need?
The location, the problem and the rough size of the job. If you can, email a few photos.
For landlords and businesses
Failed sealant is one of the commonest items on a check-out report. Several properties can be quoted together.
For anyone letting property in or around Hirst, jobs at different addresses can go on one quote. Send us the addresses and the work at each.
Outside joints around Hirst
Harled (roughcast) walls are common in Scotland, and where harling meets frames, pipes and other materials, the joint needs a flexible sealant that grips a rough surface. Private landlords in Scotland must meet the Repairing Standard, which includes keeping a home wind and watertight, and sound outside sealant is part of that.
In and around Hirst, as anywhere, good external mastic starts with a clean, dry, properly prepared joint.
Hirst is about 6 miles east of Airdrie, in North Lanarkshire. Jobs in Hirst get the same care as everywhere else we work: the old material taken out, joints prepared properly and a 12-month guarantee. We cover 89 towns and villages across North Lanarkshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our Glasgow page covers work nearby (18 miles or so).
All of ML7 is covered for external mastic, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you need external mastic at a property on South Hirst Road and Hirst Road or anywhere close by, our applicators can take on the job. Close by, we work in Eastfield (2 miles east), Shotts (2 miles south), Salsburgh (2 miles west), Harthill (3 miles east) and Torbothie (3 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Motherwell (8 miles south-west), Cumbernauld (10 miles north-west), Coatbridge (8 miles west), Airdrie (6 miles west), Wishaw (7 miles south-west) and Bellshill (9 miles west).
Around Hirst
The nearest railway station is Shotts station, about 2.3 miles south of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Shotts Heritage Centre (2.3 miles south) and Murdostoun Castle (4.6 miles south-west). Not far away are Black Loch.
Other services in Hirst
Keeping the joints in good condition
Good habits help new joints last longer. Our tips:
- Clear growth from the base of walls and joints
- Keep movement joints as flexible joints, not mortar
- Deal with leaking gutters that soak the joints below
- Show decorators and builders where the movement joints are
Only paint over the joint if we have confirmed the sealant can take paint. Many exterior sealants aren’t designed to be painted, and paint can crack as the joint moves.
Leave a failed movement joint and water keeps getting into the wall. That can lead to damp patches, staining and frost damage.
Do you need external mastic in Hirst?
Many joints fail because they were sealed too deep or with nothing behind them. If the sealant sticks to the back as well as the sides, it cannot stretch and rips as the joint opens.
It’s worth asking for a quote if you see:
- Leaking joints around cladding and façade panels
- Plants rooting in failed movement joints
- Sealant that has lost its bond to the brick or render
- Rigid filler in a joint that should flex
If you let a flat or house near Shotts station, outside joints that have cracked can let damp into a rental, so check them between lets.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether they’re fully insured
- Whether they seal over old material or remove it
- Whether the sealant suits the joint
- Who does the work, and how experienced they are
The process
All our tools and materials come with us in the van. After a quick look at the joints together, we protect the area and start. It normally takes a few hours to a few days, depending on the length of joint and the access. Somewhere like Hirst may be a longer drive, and the journey is planned ahead. Mention tracks, gates, ferries or anything else about the route.
- We start by checking each joint, agreeing the ones to redo and how we’ll reach them.
- The old mastic and anything lodged in the joint is removed.
- The joint faces are cleaned and primed where the sealant needs it.
- We push in closed-cell backing rod so the sealant is the right depth and bonds to the sides only.
- A flexible exterior sealant is applied and tooled in a colour to suit the wall.
Before we arrive
- Mention any tricky access
- Mention any leaks or damp you’ve noticed
- For business premises, tell us about site rules or sign-in
Ask for a quote
Asking for a quote is easy: let us know the job and the location and its rough size. Photos by email help us understand the job.
Read more
When something else is needed
A few problems are outside what sealant work can do:
- Damp from another source, such as a leaking gutter or a bridged damp-proof course
- Render that’s blown, hollow or coming away
- Adding movement joints to masonry that has none
Not sure which it is? You can send an email to info@mrmastic.co.uk and we will tell you honestly before booking.
Joints and surfaces we work on
- Façade panels
- Render & cladding joints
- Joints between brick and frames
- Concrete & block
- Copings & trims
- Brickwork movement joints