Midlothian · Scotland
Old Pentland External Mastic
Sealing brickwork movement joints, render, cladding and façade joints in Old Pentland, with a 12-month guarantee on every job. Ask us for a quote.
- Gaps where render, brick and frames meet
- Movement joints filled with mortar instead of sealant
- Leaking joints around cladding and façade panels
Common problems we fix in Old Pentland
The wrong product in a moving joint is a classic cause. A high-modulus or general-purpose sealant can be too rigid for a busy joint, and it tears off the sides.
The most common problems we see are:
- Sealant pulling away from one side of the joint
- Failed sealant between panels on a façade
- Brick movement joints where the sealant has split
- Moss and dirt in joints with no sealant left
If you look after a building such as Gracemount High School, its movement joints, gutters and trims need looking after like any other building’s.
What to look for in a quote
- Who does the work, and how experienced they are
- How hidden problems are handled
- Which colour the sealant will be
- Whether VAT is included
External mastic for homes and businesses in Old Pentland
Ground-floor and low-level joints are straightforward to reach. For joints higher up, give us some details of the building and we will confirm what’s needed to reach them safely. If you’re dealing with cracked joints where brick meets render or frames and failed sealant between panels on a façade, we can help, on joints between brick and frames, concrete & block and render & cladding joints alike.
External sealant needs dry surfaces, so outdoor work around Old Pentland is planned around the weather, and longer journeys are planned in advance. Tell us how to reach each wall, gutter and roofline.
There’s a 12-month guarantee on every job.
- Location
- Old Pentland (EH20, EH10)
- Wider area
- Midlothian
- Cover
- 12 months on all our work
- Quotes
- A clear quote up front
- info@mrmastic.co.uk
- Last updated
- 26 October 2026
Should I try it myself first?
If you’re set on DIY, put the effort into preparation: remove every trace of old sealant, clean and dry the joint, and follow the product’s cure time. If it fails, we can still redo it.
If you’ve already had a go yourself, that is fine. We remove it and do the joint properly.
Walls and rooflines in Old Pentland
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. 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.
If you let a flat or house near Slateford station, split movement joints are easy to miss on a rental until damp shows inside. Melville Castle, about 3.1 miles east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Old Pentland, and older homes nearby need a sealant that suits their walls.
Old Pentland is about 3 miles west of Bonnyrigg, in Midlothian. Wherever you are in the EH20 postcode area, we can carry out external mastic at your property. 33 places in Midlothian are on our list, large and small.
All of EH20 and EH10 is covered for external mastic. Close by, we work in Hillend (1 mile west), Bilston (1 mile south), Loanhead (1 mile east), Burdiehouse (1 mile north-east) and Roslin (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Bonnyrigg (3 miles east), Dalkeith (5 miles east), Penicuik (4 miles south-west), Gorebridge (6 miles south-east), Newtongrange (5 miles east) and Mayfield (6 miles east).
What’s near Old Pentland
The nearest railway station is Slateford station, roughly 3.8 miles north-west. Other landmarks nearby include Cameron Toll Shopping Centre (3.1 miles north) and Princess Margaret Rose Orthopaedic Hospital (1.2 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Caerketton Hill and The New Leaf Co-op.
Honest limits
Honest advice matters more to us than a booking, so here’s what new sealant will not do:
- Render that’s blown, hollow or coming away
- Cracks in the bricks or render themselves, away from the joints
- Damp that is not coming from the joint
Not sure which it is? You can email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
What we seal
- Copings & trims
- Concrete & block
- Render & cladding joints
- Façade panels
- Joints between brick and frames
- Brickwork movement joints
How we quote for external mastic
The quote reflects the job in front of us. We take into account:
- How easy the joints are to reach
- The old material and how stubborn it is
- Whether there’s mould to deal with
- Which sealant suits the joint
Every job is a little different, so we quote each one individually. The number of joints, how easy they are to reach and the sealant needed all play a part.
What we need to know
When you contact us, these details help:
- If it’s domestic, commercial or a hotel
- What the problem is, such as mould, gaps, leaks or cracking
- Access, such as stairs, a lift or height
- Whether it has been sealed before
We do not publish a price list, because every job is different. Instead, your job gets its own clear quote. To get started, drop us a line at info@mrmastic.co.uk.
Your questions about external mastic in Old Pentland
Can you do external mastic in Old Pentland?
Yes. Our work covers the whole of Scotland, and Old Pentland is part of that. Just send an email to info@mrmastic.co.uk with a few details of the job.
I let a flat near Slateford station. Can you help?
Yes, we work for letting agents and landlords. Just drop us a line at info@mrmastic.co.uk and tell us about the property, and we’ll give you a clear quote.
Can a movement joint be filled with mortar?
No, not where the gap is a movement joint. Filling it with mortar defeats its purpose and can lead to cracking. We will reseal it with a flexible sealant.
Do I need to be at home?
Access is agreed with you when the job is booked. Indoors, that usually means someone at home.
Can you do several jobs on one visit?
Yes, and it often makes sense. Doing several areas at once is usually more efficient.
What colours does the sealant come in?
Exterior sealants are made in a range of colours, from greys and browns to whites and stone shades. We choose the closest to your brick or render so it does not stand out.
Do the sealants smell?
Some sealants have a smell while they cure, which fades as it sets. Opening a window helps.
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.
Looking after it afterwards
Good habits help new joints last longer. A few tips:
- Leave the joints unpainted unless we’ve said otherwise
- Have failed joints looked at early
- Keep soil, plants and ivy away from the joints
- Point out the joints to other trades
Avoid pressure-washing straight into the joints. High-pressure water can lift the edges.
Act while the splits are small. Then it’s a straightforward cut-out and reseal.
What we do, step by step
We bring everything the job needs with us. Once we’ve agreed what’s being done, the area is protected and the work begins. Most jobs take a few hours to a few days, depending on the length of joint and the access. Outdoor work around Old Pentland depends on the weather, as sealant needs a dry surface, so external jobs may need to move if the day turns wet. Work indoors isn’t affected.
- We start by walking round the building and agreeing the joints and the access.
- Every bit of old sealant and any mortar or debris is cut out.
- The faces are brushed clean and primed where the product requires it.
- Backing rod sized to the joint goes in to set the depth.
- We apply the sealant, tool it and check the whole run.
Getting ready for the visit
- Keep children and pets away from the work area
- Mention if the joints have been sealed before
- On commercial sites, let us know about site rules
Getting a quote
Call for a quick quote, or email us if that is easier. Describe what needs sealing and we will explain what’s involved and give you a clear quote.
Related advice
Also in Old Pentland
Different surfaces, different methods
Joints between dissimilar materials
Brick against render, concrete against metal, stone against timber: every change of material is a joint. We seal the joint with a flexible exterior sealant so the movement is taken up.
Render joints
Render has movement joints and stop beads that need sealing. They’re resealed in a sealant that suits the render.