Edinburgh · Scotland
External Mastic in Pilrig
Problem with your movement joints in Pilrig? We cut out the old, prepare the joints and apply the right sealant, with a one-year guarantee.
- Damp patches traced to an open external joint
- Joints where the bead has come unstuck
- Leaking joints around cladding and façade panels
External mastic in Pilrig
For buildings in Pilrig, we reseal external joints of all kinds, from brick movement joints to cladding panels. The preparation is the same whatever the wall: clean, sound faces and a controlled depth. If you have rain getting behind render or cladding at a joint and gaps where render, brick and frames meet, we can help, whatever the surface.
On a four-storey tenement, gutter joints are a long way from the street, and a slow drip can stain and soak the stone for a long time before it’s spotted. In Pilrig, access needs planning, and work on shared parts may need the other owners’ agreement.
The work is covered for a year after we finish. If there’s a problem with it, please send an email to info@mrmastic.co.uk.
- Place
- Pilrig (EH6, EH7, EH1)
- Region
- Edinburgh
- Cover
- A year, on every job
- Quotes
- A clear quote up front
- info@mrmastic.co.uk
- Page updated
- 26 October 2026
Looking after it afterwards
Simple care keeps the joints in good condition. We recommend:
- Look over the joints every year, ideally after winter
- Never let anyone fill a movement joint with mortar
- Deal with leaking gutters that soak the joints below
- Check the sealant is paintable before painting near it
Look over the joints once a year, ideally after winter. Splits, gaps at the edges or plants in the joint are early warning signs.
Act while the splits are small. Then it’s a straightforward cut-out and reseal before water has had years to get in.
DIY sealant or a professional job?
A careful DIYer can reseal a simple joint, like a short, easy-to-reach joint indoors. Where it goes wrong is sealing over the old bead, working on a wet joint or overloading the gap.
Overfilling a joint is a classic DIY mistake. A thick, smeared bead looks untidy and does not move well, and getting the depth right matters as much as the look.
What happens on the day
We work through the job in order: protection first, then preparation, sealing and a tidy-up. For most jobs that takes a few hours for a handful of joints, longer for a whole elevation and we leave things clean and tidy. In a city area like Pilrig, parking may be by permit or pay-and-display, so tell us what’s nearby. For flats, mention the door entry system and any shared-stair arrangements.
- We inspect the joints and agree which need resealing and how they’ll be reached.
- Old sealant and any debris are cut and raked out.
- We clean both faces of the joint and prime them where the product calls for it.
- We push in closed-cell backing rod so the sealant is the right depth and bonds to the sides only.
- The new sealant, chosen to suit the brick or render, is applied and tooled to a neat finish.
Preparing for the visit
- On commercial sites, let us know about site rules
- Let us know if you’ve seen damp or leaks
- Let us know about stairs, lifts or work at height
Get a quote
There’s no standard price list, as no two jobs are quite the same. Instead, we send you a clear quote for your job. To get started, drop us a line at info@mrmastic.co.uk.
Related advice
Walls and rooflines in Pilrig
Pilrig is within about 1 mile 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. Plenty of Scottish homes have harled walls, and where harling meets frames, pipes and other materials, the joint needs a flexible sealant that grips a rough surface.
For an older house near a landmark such as Pilrig Dalmeny Street Church, older walls, gutters and the joints where extensions meet them need a flexible sealant.
Pilrig is about 2 miles north-east of Edinburgh, in Edinburgh. Wherever you are in the EH6 postcode area, we cover external mastic for homes and businesses. Our Edinburgh coverage runs to 175 places, Pilrig among them.
Postcode districts we cover here for external mastic: EH6, EH7 and EH1. That includes homes and businesses on Fyfe Lane, Haig Lane and Easter Road. Pilrig sits on or near the A900, so getting to you is simple. Close by, we work in Bonnington (1 mile north), Gayfield (1 mile south-west), Powderhall (1 mile west), Greenside (1 mile south) and Broughton (1 mile south-west). Larger places within reach include Queensferry (9 miles west), South Portobello (3 miles south-east), Southhouse (5 miles south), Gilmerton (5 miles south-east), Shandon (3 miles south-west) and Muirhouse (3 miles west).
Local landmarks in Pilrig
In Pilrig, that means homes and buildings near 23 Elm Row and 2 Montgomery Street pub, McDonald Road Library and Taylor Gardens. Also close by are London Street Primary School (0.5 miles south-west) and Drummond Community High School (0.5 miles south-west). The closest station to Pilrig is Edinburgh Waverley station, roughly 1 mile south-west. A little further out are St. James Centre (0.8 miles south-west) and Leith Community Treatment Centre (0.5 miles north). Not far away are Dunsapie Loch and Salisbury Crags.
What affects the quote in Pilrig
The price is agreed before any work begins. It’s based on:
- Whether the work is at height
- How much there is to do
- The type of sealant required
- Working hours on commercial sites
Commercial jobs are quoted on the same basis as homes: how much there is to do, how we reach it and what it needs. Ask us for a quote and we will explain what it covers.
What to tell us for a quote
To help us quote quickly, let us know:
- Where the property is
- What the problem is, such as mould, gaps, leaks or cracking
- Access, such as stairs, a lift or height
- Pictures of the joints, sent by email
For external mastic in Pilrig, send an email to info@mrmastic.co.uk. Tell us what the problem is and where, and we will agree the price before any work begins.
Landlord and commercial work in Pilrig
Whether it’s one flat or a portfolio, you get the same standard of work: the old material taken out, careful preparation and a 12-month guarantee.
Housing providers, facilities teams and property managers book us too in Pilrig and across Edinburgh. We can quote a run of properties together, and we are fully insured for the work.
Towns and villages near Pilrig
What else we do in Pilrig
Surface by surface
Brickwork movement joints
Brick moves with heat and moisture, and grows a little over time. The movement joint takes that up, so the sealant in it must stay soft and stretchy.
Joints between dissimilar materials
Wherever two materials meet, they move differently. We seal the joint with a flexible exterior sealant.
Signs you need external mastic in Pilrig
Poor preparation causes many early failures: joint faces that were dusty or damp, unprimed where they needed it, or still carrying old sealant. The new sealant then lets go long before it should.
Any of these means the joints need attention:
- Panel joints letting water in
- Cracked joints where brick meets render or frames
- Movement joints filled with mortar instead of sealant
- Damp patches traced to an open external joint
For landlords with property near Edinburgh Waverley station, outside joints that have cracked can let damp into a rental, so check them between lets.
Comparing quotes
- How much experience the applicator has
- Whether the sealant suits the joint
- How the joint is cleaned and prepared
- Whether they’re fully insured
Pilrig: your questions answered
Can you help a landlord with a rental near Edinburgh Waverley station?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. Just drop us a line at info@mrmastic.co.uk with the address and what needs doing, and we will send you a clear quote.
Is external mastic in a coastal place like Pilrig any different?
Coastal weather is harder on outside sealant: there’s more wind-driven rain and, closer to the shore, salt in the air. The right product, a clean joint and the right depth all help it cope.
Do the sealants smell?
That depends on the sealant. Some products have a noticeable smell, others very little.
What do you need from me for a quote?
Where the job is, what the problem is and roughly how big it is. Photos by email help too.
Is the work guaranteed?
Yes. There’s a 12-month guarantee on every job.
Do you remove the old sealant?
Yes, always, and completely. New silicone doesn’t stick to old silicone, so the joint is cleaned back first.
Do you hold any approvals?
Yes. We’re ARBOMaster approved, the scheme for applicators of Arbo sealants.
How long will you be here?
As a guide, most jobs take a few hours for a handful of joints, longer for a whole elevation. Larger jobs naturally take longer, and we will say how long yours will take.