Shetland Islands · Scotland
Symbister External Mastic
Our applicators work in Symbister on sealing brickwork movement joints, render, cladding and façade joints. Old material cut out, joints cleaned and sealed neatly.
- Failed sealant between panels on a façade
- Damp patches traced to an open external joint
- Movement joints filled with mortar instead of sealant
Why act early in Symbister
Pointing a movement joint with mortar might seem a neat fix, but it stops the joint moving. The wall then cracks somewhere else. A flexible sealant over backing rod is what the joint needs. Around Symbister, water from a failed joint in an older stone home can soak into timber and plaster.
There are no prices on our website, because each job is priced on what it involves. Call for a quick quote and we will talk you through it.
Why Symbister clients choose us
- Over 20 years’ experience
- A sealant colour to suit the surroundings
- Experience in homes, commercial sites and hotels
- A choice of colours where the product allows
See our cost guide or what customers say.
How we handle external mastic in Symbister
External mastic is a job where short cuts show quickly. New sealant over old, joints packed with mortar and beads with no backing all tend to fail early. We strip the joint back and start again. If you have plants rooting in failed movement joints and sealant pulling away from one side of the joint, we can put it right, on render & cladding joints, copings & trims and brickwork movement joints alike.
Outside joints can only be sealed when they’re dry, so work in Symbister depends on the weather, and longer journeys are planned in advance. Tell us how to reach each wall, gutter and roofline.
Big or small, it’s backed by our one-year guarantee.
- Location
- Symbister (ZE2)
- Wider area
- Shetland Islands
- Cover
- A year, on every job
- Quote
- Quoted before any work starts
- info@mrmastic.co.uk
- Updated
- 26 October 2026
The process
We bring everything the job needs with us, so you don’t need to buy or prepare anything. After a quick look at the joints together, we protect the area and start. Most jobs take anything from a few hours to several days, depending on the building. Around Symbister, distance and access matter more than parking. Let us know how to find you and how to reach the joints.
- 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.
- The joint faces are cleaned and primed where the sealant needs it.
- Backing rod goes in next, setting the depth and keeping the sealant off the back of the joint.
- We gun in a flexible exterior sealant in a colour that suits the wall and tool it neatly.
How to prepare
- Mention any tricky access
- Mention any sign-in or site rules at work premises
- Let us know about parking restrictions
Get a quote
For external mastic in Symbister, drop us a line at info@mrmastic.co.uk. Tell us what the problem is and where, and you will get a clear quote before work begins.
Related advice
Symbister questions
Is Symbister in your area for external mastic?
Yes, Symbister is within the area we cover. We work across all of Scotland. Just email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk with a few details of the job.
Does living near the coast affect external mastic in Symbister?
Coastal homes put outside sealant through more weather than inland ones, so preparation and the right sealant matter all the more. Walls facing the sea are generally the first to need attention.
Can you seal joints between render and window frames?
Yes. We cut out the old sealant, prepare both faces and reseal with a flexible exterior product. We pick a colour that works with both materials.
How long does external mastic last?
It varies with how exposed the wall is and how much the joint moves. Look for splits, hardening or edges coming away.
Do you work at height?
Each building is different. Tell us the height, the number of joints and what’s below them, and we’ll confirm what access is needed.
How do I get a quote for external mastic in Symbister?
Size, access and the old material all affect the cost. Call for a quick quote and we will talk you through it.
I rent my home. Can I book you?
Yes. Check with your landlord; we can send the quote to them too.
Is the work guaranteed?
Yes. Every job comes with our one-year guarantee.
What the job involves on each surface
Concrete and blockwork
Concrete faces can be dusty and porous, so preparation is key. We prime where the sealant needs it.
Cladding and façade panels
If the façade has a specified sealant, that’s what we use. Send us any details you have about the façade.
Keeping the joints in good condition
To keep the joints looking good and working properly:
- Never let anyone fill a movement joint with mortar
- Tell anyone working on the walls about the movement joints
- Fix overflowing gutters above sealed joints
- Check the sealant is paintable before painting near it
Have a quick look at the joints each spring. Watch for splits, edges coming away or growth in the joint.
Act while the splits are small. At that stage it’s a simple cut out and reseal before water has had years to get in.
When it is not the sealant
We’ll always be straight with you, so here’s what sealant can’t fix:
- Damp that isn’t coming from the joint
- Movement that is more than a sealant joint can take
- Walls that need new movement joints cut into them
If you’re not sure, just drop us a line at info@mrmastic.co.uk and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking.
What we seal
- Façade panels
- Copings & trims
- Brickwork movement joints
- Render & cladding joints
- Joints between brick and frames
- Concrete & block
How we quote for external mastic
The quote reflects the job in front of us. We look at:
- The size of the job
- How easy the joints are to reach
- Working hours on commercial sites
- Whether old sealant or filler has to be cut out
Leaving a failed joint normally makes the job bigger, not smaller, as water and mould keep getting in. If you are not sure whether it needs doing, drop us a line at info@mrmastic.co.uk and we will give you an honest view and a quote.
What we need to know
When you contact us, these details help:
- Access, such as stairs, a lift or height
- Photos by email, if that’s easy
- How many joints, rooms or windows are involved
- Whether it’s a home or a business
Getting a quote is simple: tell us what needs doing and where. A few photos by email make the job easier to understand, and we’ll come back to you with a quote.
Symbister buildings and the weather
Symbister is close to the coast, and homes near the sea take more wind-driven rain, with salt in the air closer to the shore. That’s hard on movement joints and outside wall joints, especially on the side facing the sea. On the islands, wind and salt spray are hard on outside sealant.
For jobs in and around Symbister, choosing the right material for each joint is as important as a tidy finish.
Symbister is in the Shetland Islands. Whether you are in the middle of Symbister or further out, we cover external mastic for every kind of property. Symbister is one of 63 places in the Shetland Islands we cover for external mastic.
Here we cover the ZE2 postcode area for external mastic. We cover properties on Rocky Road, Saeter and North Gardentown. Close by, we work in Sandwick (1 mile south-west), Clate (1 mile south), Hamister (1 mile north), Huxter (1 mile east) and Tripwell (1 mile north-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Lerwick (14 miles south), Sound (15 miles south) and Brae (12 miles west). Remote and island addresses need a little more planning, so tell us where you are when you ask for a quote.
Landmarks near Symbister
For a walk, there’s Ward of Clett and Bu Water.
More services for Symbister
Signs you need external mastic in Symbister
Poor preparation causes many early failures: joint faces that were dusty or damp, unprimed where they needed it, or still carrying old sealant. The sealant never bonds properly.
The most common problems we see are:
- Panel joints letting water in
- Joints with sealant missing in places
- Hard, crazed mastic that has stopped moving
- Water getting into walls through failed joints
In and around Symbister, as anywhere, good external mastic starts with a clean, dry, properly prepared joint.
What your quote should include
- Which colour the sealant will be
- Whether they’re fully insured
- Which sealant they’ll use, and why
- When the joint can take water or movement