Scotland

Sand Mastic in East Lothian

Sand mastic in all 48 towns and villages of East Lothian, done properly, quoted clearly before any work starts and a one-year guarantee.

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Sand mastic in every part of East Lothian

Traditional burnt sand mastic around sash and case windows and doors in stone and brick. Pick your town below to see the details for your area, and call or email us for a quick quote.

Main towns

How sand mastic works in East Lothian

Sand mastic has long been used to fill the joint between timber frames and masonry. It’s made from sand and a linseed-oil-based binder and built up by hand. On period homes, it looks right where silicone wouldn’t. We work on stone surrounds, tenement windows and timber door frames, and common reasons people get in touch are mastic worn away on windows facing the weather and draughty sash windows at the surround.

On the day, there’s very little for you to do. Show us the job and we’ll take it from there. The work itself takes anything from a few hours to a full day, depending on how many windows, including the tidy-up.

We check the window surrounds and agree which joints need renewing.
We rake out the old mastic and clean the joint.
We pack any deep gaps so the mastic sits at the right depth.
We mix the sand mastic and apply it by hand, shaping it to the joint.
We dress the surface so it sits neatly against the masonry.

What affects the price in East Lothian

The cost depends on the amount of work, how hard the old material is to remove and access to the work. We give a clear quote before work begins.

What you get with us

ARBOMaster approved applicator
Neat joints and a tidy finish
4.9 on Google from 180+ five-star reviews
Over 20 years’ experience

Getting a quote

For sand mastic in East Lothian, email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk. A short description of the job and where it is helps us quote, and you’ll get a clear quote before we start.

Around Musselburgh

Typical jobs here are in homes near Musselburgh, Loretto School and The David Macbeth Moir pub. The nearest railway station is Musselburgh station, about 0.8 miles south-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Carberry Tower (2.2 miles south-east) and Musselburgh Doll Museum (under half a mile north-east). For a walk, there’s The New Leaf Co-op and Whinny Hill.

Sand mastic across East Lothian: local notes

Across East Lothian, from Musselburgh, Haddington and Dunbar outwards, frames range from older timber to modern uPVC and aluminium. Each needs the right sealant, and every joint wears out eventually.

Our work covers the whole of Scotland, East Lothian included. Journeys are planned ahead, and outside jobs are booked around the forecast. Along the coast in East Lothian, holiday lets and guest houses can have bathrooms in near-constant use, so their sealant and grout wear faster than most, and the weather is hard on the outside too.

Musselburgh: Managing a site like Loretto School? Then its window and door frames need their mastic kept sound, just like a home’s. Historic houses such as Hamilton House, about 3.1 miles east, show how far back building around Musselburgh goes.

What affects the cost of sand mastic

The price is agreed before any work begins. It’s based on:

Any working-time requirements on site
Any mould that needs treating
The type of sealant required
Whether the work is at height

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. You will know the price before we begin.

Helping us quote

Photos by email are helpful but not essential. Try to tell us:

A few pictures by email, if you can
Where the property is
The type of property
What the problem is, such as mould, gaps, leaks or cracking

We quote each job on its own. Just send an email to info@mrmastic.co.uk with the details, and photos are welcome.

How the job changes by surface

Stone surrounds

Stone openings are rarely perfectly straight, so the joint varies in width. Sand mastic is shaped by hand to suit.

Tenement and terrace windows

Windows above ground floor need the right access. Let us know the floor and we will confirm access.

Looking after it afterwards

No joint lasts for ever, but care makes a real difference. A few tips:

Make sure water runs off the sill
Avoid heavy scraping on the mastic joint
Sort the mastic before the decorators arrive
Inspect the joints round the windows every year or so

Avoid painting over the new mastic, as traditional guidance advises. Ask us before any decorating around it.

Crumbling mastic lets rain into the joint. That water can reach the timber frame and the wall, so renewing it early is worth it.

Can I do it myself?

If you’ve already had a go yourself, that is fine. We cut it out and start again, so just mention it when you contact us.

If you do try it yourself, take your time over the preparation: remove every trace of old sealant, clean and dry the joint, and follow the product’s cure time. If it fails, we can still redo it.

When it is not the sealant

To be straight with you, some problems need a different trade:

Sashes that rattle, stick or won’t open
Damaged stone surrounds
Whether work needs listed building consent

Questions from East Lothian

Which is right for my windows, sand mastic or modern sealant?

That depends on your windows. Period windows in stone or brick generally suit sand mastic and newer frames usually get a flexible sealant.

Do you guarantee sand mastic work?

Our one-year guarantee covers every job, sand mastic included.

What sealant do you use?

It depends on the joint: sanitary silicone where it gets wet, and sealants suited to movement or weather elsewhere. Brands we use include Arbo and Everbuild.

Can sand mastic be painted?

The usual advice is to leave sand mastic unpainted. If you are redecorating the window, ask us first and we will advise.

Is there any odour?

It depends on the product. Some products have a noticeable smell, others very little, and any smell fades as they cure.

Where is Mr Mastic based?

We’re a Crawley-based firm. We work across South East England, London and Scotland.

Is consent needed for window work on a listed home?

It’s best to ask your local planning authority first. Like-for-like sand mastic is often the preferred finish but the decision is theirs.