Scotland

Sand Mastic in Orkney Islands

Wherever you are in the Orkney Islands, we can help with sand mastic. A clear quote before we start, and a one-year guarantee.

Sand Mastic across the Orkney Islands

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Where we work in the Orkney Islands

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.

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How sand mastic works in the Orkney Islands

Traditional burnt sand mastic blends with stone and brick surrounds. It’s a good fit for period properties, where modern sealant can look out of place. We work on brick reveals, sash and case windows and tenement windows, and the jobs we see most are modern sealant on a period surround and mastic worn away on windows facing the weather.

Most of a good job is in the preparation, and we don’t rush it. Joints are cleaned back and dried before anything new goes in. In total, it usually takes anything from a few hours to a full day, depending on how many windows.

We check the window surrounds and agree which joints need renewing.
The loose and crumbling mastic is raked out and the joint cleaned.
Deep voids are packed so the mastic is the right thickness.
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 you’ll pay

Commercial jobs are quoted on the same basis as homes: the amount of work, the access and the products needed, along with when we can work on site. Call for a quick quote and we will go through it with you.

What you get with us

Anti-fungal sanitary silicone in wet areas
ARBOMaster approved applicator
We leave the area clean and tidy
Experience in homes, commercial sites and hotels

Getting a quote

Call for a quick quote, or email us if that is easier. Tell us about the joints that need doing and we will talk you through the work.

Around Kirkwall

Typical jobs here are in homes near Orkney Library and Archive, Kirkwall Grammar School and Paterson Church. Nearby you will also find Balfour Hospital (0.5 miles south-west) and Bishop's Palace (less than half a mile south-west). The countryside around Kirkwall includes Gallow Ha' and Loomi Shun.

Windows and doors across the Orkney Islands

Homes across the Orkney Islands range from period properties with timber or sash windows to new builds with uPVC. Exposed walls are where window sealant generally fails first.

The west of Scotland is wetter than the east, but outside joints take plenty of weather everywhere, while generally soft water means less limescale indoors but no less mould. That shapes the choice of sealant for jobs across the Orkney Islands. In the coastal parts of the Orkney Islands, the sea-facing side of a building takes the most weather, and that is where sealant usually gives up first. Good preparation and the right sealant help it cope.

Kirkwall: For an older house near a landmark such as Paterson Church, the joint between an old wall and a newer frame is generally the first place rain gets in. If you look after a building such as Kirkwall Grammar School, larger buildings have plenty of frames, and the mastic around each one ages.

How the job changes by surface

Stone surrounds

Stone surrounds suit sand mastic well. The finish blends with the masonry.

Timber door frames

Period doors in stone or brick openings are often pointed with sand mastic. The method is the same as for windows.

Keeping the joints in good condition

Good habits help new joints last longer. A few tips:

Inspect the joints round the windows every year or so
Make sure water runs off the sill
Check with your local planning authority if your home is listed
Avoid patching sand mastic with silicone

Keep paint scrapers and sanders off the mastic when redecorating. It can be damaged by heavy scraping.

Fine cracks show the mastic is starting to fail. It’s easier to renew it before it drops out.

Signs you need sand mastic

Over the years, sand mastic weathers. It hardens, cracks and starts to come away from the frame or the masonry.

These are the problems we’re asked about most:

Gaps round a timber door in stone or brick
Silicone on a period window that looks wrong
Mastic dropping out of the joint
Gaps between timber frames and stone or brick

Leave it or put it right?

Silicone might seem the quicker option, but it can look wrong on a period surround. Sand mastic suits the building and blends with the stone or brick.

Questions to ask before booking

What guarantee comes with the work
How the surfaces are prepared before sealing
How hidden problems are handled
How long to leave it before use

What affects the cost of sand mastic

We do not publish a price list, because no two jobs are the same. The quote depends on:

Any mould that needs treating
Access and height
When we can work, for business premises
The size of the job

There are no prices on our website, because the cost depends so much on the job itself. Call for a quick quote.

Asking for a quote

To help us quote quickly, please include:

What the problem is, such as mould, gaps, leaks or cracking
Where the job is, and your postcode
If it’s domestic, commercial or a hotel
If someone has resealed it before

A good description makes for an accurate quote. Tell us where the job is, what’s wrong and how much there is, and email pictures if that’s easy.

FAQs for the Orkney Islands

Will you leave a mess?

Not at all. The area is protected while we work and cleaned up afterwards.

How long will you be here?

Typically it takes anything from a few hours to a full day, depending on how many windows. Larger jobs naturally take longer, and we will say how long yours will take.

Can you quote for more than one area?

Yes, and it often makes sense. Combining jobs makes good use of the visit, so mention them when you ask for a quote.

Where is Mr Mastic based?

We’re a Crawley-based firm, with over 20 years’ experience. We work across South East England, London and Scotland.

How do I get a quote for sand mastic in the Orkney Islands?

There’s no set price, as it depends on the job: its size, the old material, access and the product needed. You will get a clear quote before work begins.

Do you work for hotels and businesses?

Yes. Hotels, offices and other businesses use us.

Should I try DIY first?

Sometimes. Preparation is everything: all the old sealant out, and a clean, dry joint. If it does not work out, we can redo it.