Edinburgh · Scotland
Sand mastic for sash & case windows in Alnwickhill, Edinburgh
We cover Alnwickhill for traditional burnt sand mastic around sash and case windows and doors in stone and brick. Old material cut out, joints cleaned and sealed neatly.
- Mastic that needs renewing before redecorating
- Weathered mastic on the most exposed windows
- Cement or filler used on old window joints that has cracked
How it works
All our tools and materials come with us in the van. After a quick look at the joints together, we protect the area and start. Most jobs take anything from a few hours to a full day, depending on how many windows. Many homes in Scotland’s cities are tenement flats, reached through a shared close and up a common stair. In Alnwickhill, it helps to know the floor, the door entry arrangements and the nearest parking.
- We look at the surrounds with you and agree the joints to renew.
- Old mastic and any loose material are raked out.
- Deep gaps are packed so the mastic sits at the right depth.
- The sand mastic is mixed and pressed into the joint by hand.
- We dress the finish so it sits neatly against the masonry.
Before we arrive
- Tell us about any water getting in
- Mention any parking rules near the property
- Mention if the joints have been sealed before
Getting a quote
Need a quote? Please send an email to info@mrmastic.co.uk with a few details. We will explain what we’d do and send you a clear quote before we start.
Related advice
Sand mastic in Alnwickhill
For a listed home or one in a conservation area, ask your local planning authority whether consent is needed for work to windows. Like-for-like sand mastic is often the preferred finish. We work on sash and case windows, brick reveals and period & listed homes, and people most often call us about gaps between timber frames and stone or brick and gaps round a timber door in stone or brick.
Alnwickhill is in one of Scotland’s four big cities, where many older buildings are sandstone or granite. Stone needs a sealant that suits it, so acetoxy silicones, which can attack some stone, are best avoided.
A 12-month guarantee comes with the work, just as it does everywhere we cover.
- Place
- Alnwickhill (EH16, EH17)
- Wider area
- Edinburgh
- Guarantee
- One year on every job
- Quote
- A clear price before work begins
- info@mrmastic.co.uk
- Page updated
- 26 October 2026
Surface by surface
Period and listed homes
A traditional finish suits a period property, and sand mastic is one of them.
Timber door frames
Sand mastic is used round timber door frames too. The method is the same as for windows.
Frames and glazing around Alnwickhill
Historic houses like Melville Castle (about 2.7 miles east) are a reminder that the area around Alnwickhill has older buildings as well as new. Where a home is older, older frames set in brick or stone need a sealant that suits them, and sometimes that’s traditional sand mastic. The Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 sets out how owners share the upkeep of common parts like the roof and outside walls, and many buildings use a factor to arrange it. Who owns the windows depends on the title deeds.
Schools such as Gracemount High School are buildings too, and its window and door frames need their mastic kept sound, just like a home’s. For landlords with property near Shawfair station, any sash windows need sound mastic to keep draughts and rain out.
Alnwickhill is about 3 miles south-east of Edinburgh, in Edinburgh. Jobs in Alnwickhill get the same care as everywhere else we work: the old material taken out, joints prepared properly and a 12-month guarantee. We cover 175 towns and villages across Edinburgh, from the larger towns to small villages.
Here we cover the EH16 and EH17 postcode area for sand mastic. We cover properties on Soutra Road, Little Road and Kedslie Road and the roads around them. Neighbouring places we cover for sand mastic include Howden Hall (1 mile south-east), Kaimes (1 mile south), Gracemount (1 mile east), Mortonhall (1 mile west) and Southhouse (1 mile south-east). Larger places within reach include Edinburgh (3 miles north-west), Leith (5 miles north), Bonnington (5 miles north), Greenside (4 miles north), Broughton (4 miles north) and Bellevue (4 miles north).
Landmarks near Alnwickhill
In Alnwickhill, that means homes and buildings near Inch Park and Liberton Parish Church and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Shawfair station, about 3.2 miles east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Liberton Hospital (0.6 miles east) and Natural History Collections (1.3 miles north). Open spaces near Alnwickhill include The New Leaf Co-op and Blackford Hill.
When it isn’t the sealant
Some problems need a builder, plumber or other trade rather than us:
- Planning or listed building consent (your local planning authority decides)
- Sash cords, weights and draught-proofing of the sashes
- Damaged stone surrounds
Not sure which it is? You can email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk and we will tell you honestly before booking.
Where we work in Alnwickhill
- Brick reveals
- Tenement windows
- Timber door frames
- Stone surrounds
- Period & listed homes
- Sash and case windows
How to look after the new joints
A little care helps the new joints last. Our advice:
- Clear gutters so water does not pour onto the windows
- Don’t paint over the new mastic
- Plan mastic work ahead of painting
- Check the mastic when you check the paintwork
Do not touch or press the mastic while it hardens. It skins over quickly but needs longer to fully harden.
An open joint round the box lets weather through. Left, the gap tends to get bigger as more mastic falls out.
What we are called out for in Alnwickhill
Scraping and sanding before painting can loosen old mastic. It’s often found when windows are being prepared for paint.
If you can see any of these, it’s time to have the joints looked at:
- Mastic dropping out of the joint
- Mastic round period door frames that has failed
- Cement or filler used on old window joints that has cracked
- Wind and rain getting in round a sash window
Historic houses such as Melville Castle, about 2.7 miles east, show how far back building around Alnwickhill goes.
What to look for in a quote
- What the cure time is
- Whether VAT is included
- Whether they seal over old material or remove it
- Which colour the sealant will be
DIY sealant or a professional job?
Not every job suits DIY: work at height, external movement joints, fire-rated sealant and large areas call for the right materials, safe access and experience.
If you’ve already had a go yourself, that is fine. We remove it and do the joint properly.
Towns and villages near Alnwickhill
Also in Alnwickhill
Your questions about sand mastic in Alnwickhill
Can you do sand mastic in Alnwickhill?
Yes. We work across all of Scotland, and Alnwickhill is part of that. Just drop us a line at info@mrmastic.co.uk with a few details of the job, and we’ll give you a clear quote.
Do you work for landlords with property near Shawfair station?
Yes, we work for landlords and letting agents. Just email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk and tell us about the property, and we will send you a clear quote.
Are you insured?
Yes. We’re fully insured, and we’ve been doing sealant work for more than 20 years.
Are you an approved applicator?
Yes. We are ARBOMaster approved, the scheme for applicators of Arbo sealants.
Can you do several jobs on one visit?
Yes, we can. More than one area can go on one quote.
Can I do it myself?
Some simple jobs can be done by a careful DIYer. The usual mistakes are sealing over old sealant, sealing a damp joint and using too much.
How do I get a quote for sand mastic in Alnwickhill?
Every job is different, so each one gets its own quote. To get one, drop us a line at info@mrmastic.co.uk and tell us what needs doing and where.
What should I tell you?
Where the job is, what the problem is and roughly how big it is. Photos by email help too.
Why act early in Alnwickhill
Gaps round a sash window let in rain and draughts. Water can get to the frame and the masonry so renewing it early protects the window. Wind-driven rain gets into any failed joint on the outside of a city building, and in Alnwickhill, damp can spread through stone and plaster before anyone sees it.
The cost reflects the work involved, not a rough estimate. That’s why we ask a few questions first and agree the price before starting.
What you get with us
- Arbo and Everbuild products
- Full insurance on every job
- Experience in homes, commercial sites and hotels
- We leave the area clean and tidy
Take a look at what affects the cost and our reviews.