Orkney Islands · Scotland
Sand mastic for sash & case windows in Balfour, Orkney Islands
We cover Balfour for traditional burnt sand mastic around sash and case windows and doors in stone and brick. Old sealant removed completely, joints prepared properly and every job guaranteed for a year.
- Mastic round period door frames that has failed
- Old cement repairs round a window that have failed
- Weathered mastic on the most exposed windows
About our sand mastic in Balfour
Sand mastic is the traditional way to point the gap between a timber window frame and the stone or brick around it. It’s made from sand and a linseed-oil-based binder, applied by hand. On older homes, it suits the building far better than silicone. We work on stone surrounds, period & listed homes and brick reveals, and the jobs we see most are window mastic to renew ahead of painting and crumbling sand mastic round a window.
Outdoor sealant needs a dry surface, so window work around Balfour is planned around the weather, and longer journeys are planned in advance. Let us know about access to every frame, including any upstairs.
All our work comes with our 12-month guarantee.
- Location
- Balfour (KW17)
- Region
- Orkney Islands
- Cover
- One year on every job
- Price
- Quoted before any work starts
- info@mrmastic.co.uk
- Updated
- 26 October 2026
Sand mastic in Balfour: local notes
Balfour is close to the coast, and homes near the sea take more wind-driven rain, with salt in the air closer to the shore. Both are hard on the mastic around older windows and doors, which can dry out and crack sooner where a building faces the weather. Under the Repairing Standard, private landlords in Scotland have to keep homes wind and watertight, and sound outside sealant is part of that.
Around Balfour, as everywhere, sand mastic is only as good as the preparation behind it.
Balfour is about 4 miles north-east of Kirkwall, in the Orkney Islands. Jobs in Balfour get the same care as everywhere else we work: the old material taken out, joints prepared properly and a 12-month guarantee. 51 places in the Orkney Islands are on our list.
Here we cover the KW17 postcode area for sand mastic. Other places close to Balfour include Kirkwall (4 miles south-west), Gorseness (5 miles north-west), Blackhill (5 miles south-west), Tankerness (6 miles south-east) and Isbister (6 miles west). If you’re somewhere remote, the job takes a little more planning, so mention it when you ask for a quote.
Landmarks near Balfour
Nearby you will also find Langskaill House (4.2 miles north-west) and Balfour Hospital (4.8 miles south-west). Open spaces near Balfour include Loch of Westhill and Ward of Gairsay.
What we’re called out for in Balfour
Paint, silicone or cement used over old mastic causes problems. They do not move with the timber, and they usually need raking out.
It’s worth asking for a quote if you see:
- Draughts and rain around sash boxes
- Modern sealant on a period surround
- Open joints round the window box
- Mastic round period door frames that has failed
Whether the job is in Balfour itself or nearby, the right material for each joint matters as much as a neat finish.
Before you book anyone
- What happens if they find a problem under the old sealant
- Which sealant they’ll use, and why
- Whether they’re fully insured
- How much experience the applicator has
How it works
On the day, we look over the joints with you first, so you know exactly what we’re doing. We protect the surfaces around the joints before any work begins. The work normally takes anything from a few hours to a full day, depending on how many windows. In smaller Scottish places, parking is generally less of an issue than access and distance. Let us know how to find you and how to reach the joints, and the visit is planned around that.
- We look at the surrounds with you and agree the joints to renew.
- We remove the old, loose mastic.
- We pack any deep voids first.
- We apply the mastic by hand and shape it.
- The surface is finished to suit the stone or brick.
Before we arrive
- Let us know about parking restrictions
- For business premises, tell us about site rules or sign-in
- Tell us about any water getting in
How to get a quote
Call for a quick quote, or email us if that’s easier. Tell us about the joints that need doing and we’ll talk you through the work.
Read more
Landlords, agents and businesses in Balfour
Mouldy or split sealant often shows up at the end of a tenancy, and it’s easy to sort out between tenants. We can quote for more than one property at once.
Letting agents often deal with us directly. Tell us the address, the job and how access works.
How the job changes by surface
Tenement and terrace windows
Upper-floor windows need access planning. Let us know the floor and we’ll confirm access.
Timber door frames
A neat sand mastic joint round a front door suits a period home.
Balfour questions
Can you do sand mastic in Balfour?
Yes, Balfour is within the area we cover. Our work covers the whole of Scotland. You can drop us a line at info@mrmastic.co.uk and tell us what needs doing, and we’ll give you a clear quote.
Will you come out to Balfour?
Yes, we do. We work across all of Scotland, islands included, from towns to the smallest places. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
What does sand mastic cost?
We do not publish prices, because the cost depends on the job: its size, the old material, access and the product needed. We agree the price before any work begins.
Do you remove the old sealant?
Yes, every time. New silicone does not stick to old silicone, so any old material comes out before anything new goes in.
Will it make a mess?
Tidy work is part of the job. We protect what’s around the joints, and the area is left clean when we finish.
When will the new mastic be hard?
The surface skins quite quickly and it hardens fully over a longer time. Timing depends on the weather and the joint.
Do you guarantee sand mastic work?
Our one-year guarantee covers every job, sand mastic included.
Can you match the sealant colour?
Normally, yes. White, clear and grey are common, and other colours are available for many products, and we will agree it with you first.
Why act early in Balfour
New mastic over crumbling mastic will not hold. We remove the loose material first so the new work lasts. In an older home around Balfour, damp from a failed joint can get into timber and plaster.
The cost reflects the work involved, not guesswork. That’s why we ask about the job first and agree the price before starting.
What you get with us
- Trusted Arbo and Everbuild sealants
- Old sealant always removed completely
- 12-month guarantee on every job
- Fully insured
Read our cost guide or our reviews.
Keeping the joints in good condition
Aftercare is simple:
- Inspect the joints round the windows every year or so
- Keep sills and gutters clear so water drains away
- Plan mastic work ahead of painting
- Have rotten timber repaired before new mastic goes in
Make sure water drains away from the window surround. Water sitting against the mastic shortens its life.
Crumbling mastic lets rain into the joint. That water can reach the timber frame and the wall, so renewing it early is worth it.
Other services in Balfour
DIY sealant or a professional job?
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.
A careful DIYer can reseal a simple joint, such as a straightforward joint indoors. The common mistakes are sealing over old sealant, sealing a damp joint and using far too much.