Kent · England
Mastic man in Folkestone
Weatherproof window mastic, bathroom resealing and external joint work for Folkestone’s Leas villas, seafront flats, hotels and harbour-side homes.
- Anti-fungal silicone as standard
- 20+ years in the trade
- Guaranteed for a year
Mastic and sealant work in Folkestone
Folkestone faces straight out over the Channel, and its homes feel it. Sea air, wind and a lot of sunshine all take their toll on sealant, inside and out. Mr Mastic is based in Crawley, and Folkestone is part of the Kent coast we cover: we reseal bathrooms and kitchens, renew window and door mastic and seal the joints that keep the weather out of a building.
People often ask us how long a bead should last before it needs doing again. The honest answer depends on the product, the joint and how much sun and use it gets, and our article on how long silicone sealant lasts sets out the main factors. On a cliff-top frame in Folkestone, expect it to work harder than it would inland.
Stucco terraces on the Leas, villas in the West End
Much of Folkestone’s character comes from the Earl of Radnor’s West Cliff Estate, laid out from the mid-19th century with architects such as Decimus Burton involved. The early streets along Sandgate Road and the Leas have stuccoed terraces and paired villas, and the estate grew quickly between 1860 and 1900. Many of these big houses are now flats, and several former hotels, the Metropole among them, are private apartments. In a converted building, one failed shower seal can soak the ceiling of the flat below.
The town has a large conservation area with 95 listed buildings. Stucco moves differently from uPVC or timber, so the joint between frame and wall needs a flexible sealant, and on painted fronts we’ll discuss whether a paintable product is needed. Towards Sandgate, the later Queen Anne and Arts and Crafts style houses have their own mix of timber frames and brick.
Newer homes are going up too, including Shoreline Crescent on the old Rotunda site below the Leas. Fresh developments right by the sea face both the settling of a new building and full exposure to the weather, so it pays to check external joints and shower seals after the first winter and deal with any small splits before water finds its way through.
Sun, salt and Channel winds
Folkestone is one of the sunniest towns on the British mainland, which is hard on external mastic, which dries out and stiffens under strong UV. Add salt-laden air and wind off the Channel, and joints on south-facing and seafront elevations crack sooner. We use durable weatherproof sealants on external joints, set at the right depth with backing rod so they can stretch.
Hotels, harbour businesses and holiday lets
The Grand and the Burlington on the Leas still trade as hotels, and the town has plenty of guest houses, holiday lets and serviced flats besides. The regenerated Harbour Arm and the Creative Quarter around the Old High Street have brought new cafés, bars and studios too. For hotel and guest-house bathrooms we can work room by room, and our hotel sealant page explains how we keep disruption low. Out-of-hours working can be arranged for commercial jobs, and we also work for landlords and managing agents looking after the town’s many flats.
How a job runs
- Call or email. Tell us what needs doing, where it is and anything about access. Photos by email help.
- Quote and booking. We quote clearly before anything starts and fix a day that works for you.
- Strip back the old joint. Every bit of old sealant is removed and the joint is cleaned, treated for mould and dried.
- Neat new sealant. Each joint gets the sealant that suits it, laid and smoothed to a tidy finish.
- Guaranteed work. You’ll know the cure time before we leave, and every job comes with a one-year guarantee.
Jobs we take on in Folkestone
- Bathroom & kitchen resealing: Every joint in the bathroom and kitchen, from the bath edge to the worktop, stripped back and resealed with anti-fungal silicone.
- Window & door mastic: Cracked or shrunken mastic around window and door frames, sills and patio doors replaced with a weatherproof sealant.
- Commercial & hotel sealant: Hotels, offices, washrooms and welfare areas resealed room by room, with out-of-hours working possible to arrange.
- Remedial sealant & repairs: Failed, botched or over-sealed joints stripped out, the cause found and the joint resealed properly.
- Fire-rated sealant: Fire-rated sealant for service penetrations and frame gaps where it has been specified, applied to the tested details.
- External & façade joints: Outside movement joints given new backing rod and a flexible, weatherproof sealant in a colour to match the wall.
- New-build mastic & snagging: Early-failing sealant in new homes fixed properly, plus mastic packages and snagging for developers.
- Floor & skirting joints: Skirting-to-floor gaps, tiled floor movement joints and concrete floor joints sealed with the right product.
- Regrouting: Shower and splashback grout replaced where it has cracked or stained, with silicone in the movement joints.
- Glazing & conservatory sealant: Glass-to-frame joints on conservatories, rooflights and shower screens cut out and resealed.
- Gutter, fascia & soffit sealing: Dripping gutter joints and end caps, and gaps at fascias and soffits, sealed with weatherproof exterior sealant.
- Sand mastic for sash & case windows: Sash and case window surrounds in stone and brick re-pointed with traditional sand mastic.
What you get with Mr Mastic in Folkestone
Coastal work calls for the right products and patience with old buildings. We bring 20+ years’ experience, full insurance and ARBOMaster approved applicator status, and we seal with Arbo and Everbuild materials. Our 2,847+ projects and 4.9-star Google rating from more than 180 five-star reviews speak for the standard. You’ll know the cost before we begin, through a clear quote, and every job is backed by our one-year guarantee.
Getting around Folkestone
From the centre, the nearest railway station is Folkestone Central station. Places most people will know nearby are Folkestone Museum (0.7 miles south-east) and Folkestone Castle (1 mile north). Around the centre, our work takes us to homes, rentals and businesses close to Stella Maris Catholic Primary School, The Harvey Grammar School, The Folkestone Academy and United Reformed Church. Nearby green spaces include Sugar Loaf Hill.
What customers say
Rated 4.9 on Google from 180+ five-star reviews. Read the reviews on Google.
“1950s terrace on Crossways — bath had black mould coming back constantly. Mr Mastic stripped it all back and did it properly. Bathroom looks brand new.”
“New build in Forge Wood — shower seal had failed after 16 months. Mr Mastic came out quickly, removed everything and did it properly. Perfect finish and no more leaks.”
“Harper Drive in Maidenbower — kitchen worktop had been leaking behind for a while. Came out the next day, sorted it properly. Really tidy job.”
Parts of Folkestone we work in
Select your area for more local detail, or call 07833 053749 or email us with your postcode.
Towns near Folkestone
Questions we’re asked in Folkestone
Why does the mastic on my Folkestone sea-facing windows keep cracking?
Strong sun, wind and salt air dry external sealant out until it can’t move with the frame. Cutting it out and using a flexible weatherproof sealant gives a longer-lasting joint.
Do you work in converted flats on the Leas?
Yes. If access involves shared areas or the outside of the building, we’ll check it with you and the managing agent before we quote.
Can the sealant be painted to match a stucco front?
Silicone can’t be painted. Where a joint needs to be painted, we’ll suggest a suitable paintable sealant instead.
Do you reseal hotel and guest-house bathrooms?
Yes. We can reseal one room at a time so the rest stay in use, and out-of-hours working can be arranged.
Can you seal around balcony doors on a seafront flat?
Yes, where the joints can be reached safely. We cut out the old mastic, check the sill joint and reseal with a weatherproof product suited to the frame.
How soon can I use the shower after resealing?
Usually after around 24 hours. We’ll confirm the cure time for the product we used before we leave.
Do you cover Sandgate, Cheriton and Hythe too?
Yes. We cover Folkestone and the surrounding area, so just give us your postcode when you get in touch.