Shetland Islands · Scotland
External Mastic in Houbie
Sealing brickwork movement joints, render, cladding and façade joints for homes and businesses in Houbie and across the Shetland Islands. ARBOMaster approved applicators, fully insured, with a 12-month guarantee.
- Rain getting behind render or cladding at a joint
- Sealant pulling away from one side of the joint
- Moss and dirt in joints with no sealant left
DIY sealant or a professional job?
If you’ve already had a go yourself, that’s fine. We remove it and do the joint properly.
Some sealant jobs are within reach of a careful DIYer, such as a straightforward joint indoors. Where it goes wrong is sealing over the old bead, working on a wet joint or overloading the gap.
How we handle external mastic in Houbie
Joints between dissimilar materials, like brick against render or concrete against a steel frame, see movement from both sides. A flexible exterior sealant takes up that movement where a rigid filler would soon crack. We work on brickwork movement joints, joints between brick and frames and copings & trims, and the jobs we see most are brick movement joints where the sealant has split and weathered mastic that no longer stretches.
Across smaller places in Scotland, stone and harled cottages, farm buildings and newer houses often stand exposed to wind and rain. Outside joints on exposed walls work hard, so they need a sealant that moves with the building.
All our work comes with a one-year guarantee.
- Place
- Houbie (ZE2)
- Wider area
- Shetland Islands
- Guarantee
- A year, on every job
- Price
- A clear quote up front
- info@mrmastic.co.uk
- Last updated
- 26 October 2026
What else we do in Houbie
External mastic in Houbie: local notes
Houbie is close to 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. Work on the islands has to be planned around ferry crossings and the weather, so the more notice, the better.
Managing a site like Fetlar Primary School? Then larger buildings have long runs of movement joint that eventually need resealing.
Houbie is in the Shetland Islands. From the centre of Houbie to the outskirts, external mastic is available for homes and businesses alike. Our the Shetland Islands coverage runs to 63 places, and Houbie is one of them.
We cover every part of ZE2 for external mastic. We also cover Clivocast (6 miles north), Aywick (6 miles south-west), Mid Yell (7 miles west), Camb (7 miles west) and Burravoe (9 miles south-west). Remote and island addresses need a little more planning, so tell us where you are when you ask for a quote.
Local landmarks in Houbie
Other landmarks nearby include Fetlar Interpretive Centre (under half a mile south-east). The countryside around Houbie includes Vord Hill and Skutes Water.
What we do, step by step
On the day, there’s very little for you to do. Show us the job and we will take it from there. The work itself takes a few hours to a few days, depending on the length of joint and the access, including the tidy-up. Outdoor work around Houbie depends on the weather, as sealant needs a dry surface, so external jobs may need to move if the day turns wet. Indoor work goes ahead whatever the weather.
- Each joint is checked and the colour of the new sealant agreed.
- Failed sealant is removed back to clean, sound faces.
- Closed-cell backing rod is pushed in so the sealant bonds to two sides only.
- We prime the faces where required.
- A low-modulus exterior sealant is gunned in and tooled to a neat finish.
How to prepare
- Clear the area around the work
- Let us know about parking restrictions
- Keep pets and children clear of the area while we work
Ask for a quote
Every job is quoted individually. Just email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk with the details and send photos if you have them.
Advice
Questions from Houbie
Can you do external mastic in Houbie?
Yes. We work across all of Scotland, and Houbie is part of that. Just send an email to info@mrmastic.co.uk with a few details of the job.
Does the coastal weather in Houbie affect outside sealant?
Near the coast, wind-driven rain and, nearer the shore, salt air make outside sealant work harder. Choosing the right sealant for the frame and wall, laid at the right depth, helps it last.
Do you work for landlords and businesses?
Yes, often. Several properties can go on one quote, and between tenancies is a good time for the work.
Can I add another job to the visit?
Yes, and it often makes sense. Doing several areas at once is usually more efficient.
Is it messy?
No. We protect the surfaces around the joints, and we clear up the old sealant and our materials before we leave.
What sealant do you use?
Products from Arbo and Everbuild, among others, chosen to suit the joint. We’ll tell you what we’re using and why.
How much does external mastic cost in Houbie?
The cost depends on the size of the job, access and how much old sealant has to come out. Call for a quick quote and we will talk you through it.
Can I do it myself?
You can, for simple jobs. The key is preparation: remove all the old material and work on a clean, dry joint. If it doesn’t work out, we can redo it.
What affects the cost of external mastic
Every job gets its own quote. These are the things that affect it:
- Any mould that needs treating
- The size of the job
- The product the joint needs
- How easy the joints are to reach
Every job is a little different, so each one gets its own quote. Size, access and the product the joint needs all make a difference, and we will explain the quote if you ask.
What we need to know
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote. When you get in contact, it helps to mention:
- Pictures of the joints, sent by email
- The problem you’ve noticed
- The address or postcode of the job
- Whether it has been sealed before
To get a quote, email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk and tell us where the job is and what the problem looks like. You will have a clear quote before any work starts.
Do you need external mastic in Houbie?
UV, rain and frost all age exterior sealant. In time it goes hard, crazes on the surface and stops stretching, so the joint eventually tears or comes away from one side.
People usually contact us after spotting something like this:
- Failed seals between different materials
- Joints pointed up with cement by mistake
- Leaking joints around cladding and façade panels
- Water getting into walls through failed joints
In the older streets around Fetlar Church, the joints between older walls, newer extensions and the roofline need a sealant that can move.
What to look for in a quote
- Whether they’re fully insured
- The length of the guarantee
- How the joint is cleaned and prepared
- Whether the sealant suits the joint
Why act early in Houbie
A low-modulus sealant is chosen because it moves without pulling hard at the edges. That matters on brick, render and concrete, which can be weaker at the face. A stiffer product can damage the joint edge as it fails. When the nearest tradesperson is a drive away, it’s tempting to leave a small leak, but water behind a failed seal does the most damage when nobody’s watching.
The cost reflects the work involved, not guesswork. That is why we ask about the job first and give you a clear quote before work begins.
Why us?
- Anti-fungal sanitary silicone in wet areas
- Rated 4.9 stars on Google
- 20+ years of sealant experience
- 12-month guarantee on every job
Read our cost guide or customer reviews.
What sealant work can’t fix
A few problems are outside what sealant work can do:
- Rising or penetrating damp from elsewhere in the wall
- Cracks in the bricks or render themselves, away from the joints
- Movement that is more than a sealant joint can take
If you are not sure, just email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book.
Joints and surfaces we work on
- Copings & trims
- Joints between brick and frames
- Brickwork movement joints
- Concrete & block
- Façade panels
- Render & cladding joints
How the job changes by surface
Copings and trims
Coping and trim joints face rain and sun head on. Each is resealed with a weatherproof, flexible sealant.
Render joints
Render is weaker at the surface than brick, so a sealant that stretches easily protects the edges. Priming is done where the sealant calls for it.