Essex · England
External & façade joints in Shellow Bowells, Essex
External mastic in Shellow Bowells from a team with over 20 years’ experience. 180+ five-star Google reviews and a 4.9 rating.
- Damp patches traced to an open external joint
- Gaps where render, brick and frames meet
- Sealant that has lost its bond to the brick or render
About our external mastic in Shellow Bowells
A movement joint is only as good as its depth. Backing rod controls how deep the sealant goes and keeps it off the back of the joint, leaving it bonded to two faces so it can move with the wall. We work on render & cladding joints, brickwork movement joints and joints between brick and frames, and common reasons people get in touch are movement joints filled with mortar instead of sealant and weeds or debris growing in open joints.
Somewhere as small as Shellow Bowells, homes and farm buildings often face open ground, so walls and rooflines take the full force of wind and rain. Joints on those walls need a sealant that moves with the building and stays in place.
All our work is covered by a one-year guarantee, wherever you are in Essex.
- Where
- Shellow Bowells (CM5)
- Region
- Essex
- Guarantee
- One year on every job
- Price
- A clear quote up front
- Call
- 0345 464 0079
- Updated
- 26 October 2026
What the job involves on each surface
Render joints
Rendered walls have joints at beads, openings and changes of material. They’re resealed in a sealant that suits the render.
Concrete and blockwork
Wide joints in concrete need the depth controlling carefully. We size the backing rod to the gap and keep the sealant to the right depth.
What external mastic looks like in Shellow Bowells
Rainfall in the South East is lower than in much of the UK, but outside sealant still needs a dry, clean surface, so outdoor work is planned around the forecast.
Around Shellow Bowells, as everywhere, external mastic is only as good as the preparation behind it. Homes close to Church of St Peter and St Paul include some older properties, and an extension built onto an older house moves differently, and the joint between them takes the strain.
Shellow Bowells is about 7 miles west of Chelmsford, in Essex. Across the CM5 area, our applicators can take on external mastic. We cover 644 towns and villages across Essex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Chelmsford, roughly 7 miles from Shellow Bowells.
Every address in CM5 is covered for external mastic, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Neighbouring places we cover for external mastic include Willingale (1 mile west), Berners Roding (1 mile west), Radley Green (2 miles south), Chalk End (2 miles north-east) and Roxwell (2 miles east). We also work in nearby towns such as Chelmsford (7 miles east), Basildon (13 miles south-east), Braintree (14 miles north-east), Harlow (9 miles west), Brentwood (8 miles south) and Maldon (15 miles east).
What’s near Shellow Bowells
Well-known places in the area include Willingale Doe (0.7 miles west) and Chelmsford and Essex Hospital (5.7 miles east).
How the visit works
There isn’t much for you to do on the day. Point us to the joints and we’ll get on with it. The job generally takes a few hours to a few days, depending on the length of joint and the access from start to finish. Somewhere as small as Shellow Bowells, access is often the only tricky part. If the job is outside, mention outbuildings, exposed walls and how to reach them.
- First we look over the joints with you, agree which to renew and talk through access.
- The old mastic and anything lodged in the joint is removed.
- Both sides are cleaned back to sound material and primed if needed.
- Closed-cell backing rod is fitted to set the depth and stop three-sided bonding.
- We gun in a flexible exterior sealant in a colour that suits the wall and tool it neatly.
Before we arrive
- Mention any sign-in or site rules at work premises
- Mention any leaks or damp you’ve noticed
- Mention if the joints have been sealed before
Get a quote
Call for a quick quote, or send an email if you’d rather. Describe what needs sealing and we’ll talk you through the work.
Advice
What sealant work can’t fix
New sealant cannot fix everything, and we’d rather say so up front. It won’t solve:
- Damp that is not coming from the joint
- Walls that need new movement joints cut into them
- Failed render or damaged cladding panels
If you are not sure, just call 0345 464 0079 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer before you book.
Where we work in Shellow Bowells
- Façade panels
- Concrete & block
- Brickwork movement joints
- Copings & trims
- Render & cladding joints
- Joints between brick and frames
Why deal with it now?
The longer a joint stays open, the more water the wall takes in. Wet masonry is more easily damaged by frost around the joint, so the damage spreads beyond the joint. In a small place like Shellow Bowells, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
A few things move the cost up or down: the old material and how easily it comes out, any mould to treat, and whether the work is at height. Your quote takes all of that into account.
Why choose Mr Mastic in Shellow Bowells
- White, clear, grey or coloured to suit, where the product allows
- Domestic, commercial and hotel work
- Anti-fungal sanitary silicone in wet areas
- Fully insured
Read how sealant jobs are priced and customer reviews.
Shellow Bowells: your questions answered
Is there a guarantee on external mastic in Shellow Bowells?
All our work, in Shellow Bowells and everywhere else, comes with a 12-month guarantee. We are fully insured, and an ARBOMaster approved applicator.
Can you do external mastic in Shellow Bowells?
Yes, Shellow Bowells is within the area we cover. Our work covers London and the South East. You can phone 0345 464 0079 or email us and tell us what needs doing.
What is a movement joint?
Most straight vertical gaps in brickwork are movement joints. It lets the bricks expand without cracking.
Can you seal over the old sealant?
No, because it fails. The old sealant always comes out first.
Can I add another job to the visit?
Yes. Several rooms, windows or areas can go on one quote.
How long will you be here?
Most jobs take a few hours to a few days, depending on the length of joint and the access, including the preparation. We will confirm how long when we quote.
When will the joints need doing again?
That depends on the wall, the weather and the movement. Look for splits, hardening or edges coming away and have them redone then.
Can you reach joints on upper floors?
It depends on the building. Send us photos and a rough idea of the height, and we’ll confirm what access is needed.
Work for landlords, hotels and businesses
Failed sealant is one of the commonest items on a check-out report, and it’s easy to sort out between tenants. Several properties can be quoted together.
We also work for property managers and facilities teams. We can quote a run of properties together, and we are fully insured for the work.
Places near Shellow Bowells
More services for Shellow Bowells
Looking after it afterwards
Joint life depends on how it’s used and looked after. We suggest:
- Clear growth from the base of walls and joints
- Point out the joints to other trades
- Look over the joints every year, ideally after winter
- Have failed joints looked at early
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.
Leave a failed movement joint and water keeps getting into the wall. Over time it can mean damp inside, stained render or frost-damaged brick.
What affects the cost of external mastic
The price is agreed before any work begins. It’s based on:
- Whether the work is at height
- Working hours on commercial sites
- How many areas need sealing
- Which sealant suits the joint
Rather than a set price list, we price the job in front of us: how many joints, what’s in them now and how we reach them. The price is agreed before we begin.
What to tell us for a quote
When you contact us, these details help:
- Pictures of the joints, sent by email
- How many joints, rooms or windows are involved
- What’s wrong with the joints now
- Whether it has been sealed before
We quote each job on its own, so the first step is telling us about yours. Simply phone 0345 464 0079 or drop us an email and describe the job and send photos if you have them.